Tuesday, October 20, 2026 · Serving all of Hudson County since March 2011Revised 127 Morgan rules would let the Powerhouse tower reach 28 stories with 20% affordable housing, one floor taller than the version Jersey City tabled
Hudson TV Exclusive JERSEY CITY — Two weeks after tabling a plan for a 27-story tower in the Powerhouse Arts District, the Jersey City Council is set to introduce a…
Hudson TV Exclusive
JERSEY CITY — Two weeks after tabling a plan for a 27-story tower in the Powerhouse Arts District, the Jersey City Council is set to introduce a rewritten version Wednesday that would allow up to 28 stories at 127 Morgan Street.
Ordinance 26-087, item 3.2 on the Oct. 21 council agenda, amends the Powerhouse Arts District Redevelopment Plan for Block 13002. The amended plan text is dated Oct. 15, 2026 and marked “updated at the request of Council.” It creates two height tracks under a “Block 13002 Transition Bonus”:
| Under 20% affordable (15% minimum) | 20% or more affordable | |
|---|---|---|
| Max height | 21 stories / 225 ft above design flood elevation | 28 stories / 290 ft above DFE |
| Top floor | amenity use only | amenity use only |
| Max FAR | 15:1 | 21:1 |
| Coverage, floors 4 and up | 80% (top floor 35%) | 80% (top floor 35%) |
The version the council tabled Oct. 7 (Ord. 26-079) capped the same two tracks at 20 stories and 210 feet, and 27 stories and 275 feet.
The new text also:
- Requires a 5-foot step-back along Morgan Street at the top of the ninth story. The ordinance says this is meant “to improve light and air.” A 10-foot step-back is required at the top floor.
- Requires no parking and one off-street loading berth.
- Requires at least 4,300 square feet of ground-floor space with 15-foot ceilings for a Jersey City–based nonprofit arts group. The space would be leased for $0 for 30 years and then re-leased “in perpetuity.” The owner must advertise a request for proposals on the city’s Office of Cultural Affairs website, and the nonprofit must open a room for free public use at least five hours a week.
- Requires the developer to be designated by the Jersey City Redevelopment Agency and to sign a redeveloper agreement. It must also coordinate sidewalk bump-outs and crosswalk work at Warren and Morgan streets.
Who is behind it
The petitioner is Exchange Towers LLC of 682 Route 440. Its disclosure statement in the packet lists Mohan Myneni as 100% owner of the LLC, and lists the property as Block 13002, Lots 9 through 12, at 127–135 Morgan St. The fact sheet names Danielle Bisordi, an aide to Ward E Councilperson Eleana Little, as project manager and says outreach “was also conducted with the Ward E councilperson.” The Oct. 27 Planning Board agenda lists the case in Ward E. The ordinance is offered by the council as a whole.
The ordinance says the council “does not believe the additional stories provided in exchange for the additional affordable onsite units and step-back requirements will have any detriment on the surrounding area concerning density, height, or light and air.”
What happens next
The council has sent the new changes back to the Planning Board. The board’s Oct. 27 agenda lists “a 20% onsite affordable housing option with related bulk requirements, a step back along Morgan Street, and clarification regarding the Request For Proposal (RFP) process for the arts centric space,” and says formal action may be taken. The board recommended the earlier, lower version on Aug. 11. A second reading and public hearing before the council would follow the board’s review.
Jersey Digs and the Hudson Reporter reported after the Aug. 11 vote that the design then before the board, by MVMK Architecture + Design, showed about 240 apartments in a 20-story building.
The council meets Wednesday, Oct. 21, at 6 p.m. in the Anna and Anthony R. Cucci Memorial Council Chambers at City Hall, 280 Grove St. The Planning Board meets Tuesday, Oct. 27, at 5:30 p.m. at 4 Jackson Square.
Requests for comment
Hudson TV emailed questions at about 11 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 20, to Exchange Towers LLC through its attorney of record, Charles J. Harrington III of Connell Foley; to Ward E Councilperson Eleana Little, copying her aide Danielle Bisordi; and to the City of Jersey City through spokesperson Kim Scalcione, copying Nick Styer. We asked each for a reply by 3 p.m.
Exchange Towers, through Harrington, did not respond by deadline. Little and her office did not respond by deadline. The City of Jersey City did not respond by deadline. This story will be updated with any responses.
Hudson TV asks: Should Jersey City allow a 28-story tower at 127 Morgan St. in exchange for 20% affordable housing? Reply A: Yes, the affordable units are worth the height. Reply B: No, keep it lower.
Share your take in the comments.
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- Jersey City Municipal Council, Oct. 21, 2026 agenda, item 3.2: Ord. 26-087 with amended plan text dated Oct. 15, 2026, fact sheet, disclosure statement and Aug. 11 Planning Board transcript (packet pp. 13–54).
- Jersey City Planning Board, Oct. 27, 2026 agenda, item 8 (case P2025-0125).
- Jersey City Planning Board, case P2025-0125 file.
- Prior version, Ord. 26-079 (tabled Oct. 7, 2026).
- Jersey Digs and the Hudson Reporter, reporting on the Aug. 11, 2026 Planning Board vote (unit count and architect).
- Emails from Hudson TV on Oct. 20 at about 11 a.m. to Charles J. Harrington III (Connell Foley), Councilperson Eleana Little and Danielle Bisordi, and Kim Scalcione and Nick Styer (City of Jersey City). Hudson TV’s inbox was checked after the 3 p.m. deadline.
- What we checked: every height, floor-area ratio, step-back, arts-space term and quotation against the Oct. 21 packet text; the tabled version’s 20- and 27-story caps against the Oct. 7 packet; and the Planning Board item against its posted agenda.
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