In an editorial, Jersey City resident Elvin Dominici Encarnación urges all stakeholders involved not to let developers dictate what happens next with the Heights University Hospital land.
My name is Elvin Dominici Encarnación. I have been a resident of Jersey City for over 25 years.
Some of you know me from my candidacy for Ward D Council in past elections. Others know me for my community work and my support of small local businesses. But many know me simply as a friend, someone always willing to help those in need.
When you live in a city for so many years, you put down roots. Bonds, stories, and connections are formed that mark generations. That is why today I am reaching out with an urgent call: to defend and save Christ Hospital.
For years we have seen the debate over how to keep this hospital open. The need is clear. Our community needs nearby, accessible, and dignified medical services.
Today we face a serious reality. The company CarePoint Health which operated this hospital, declared bankruptcy with debts exceeding hundreds of millions of dollars.
After this process, control passed to Hudson Regional Health a company that is not only operating the hospital but is also interested in acquiring the property.
This is more than just a financial crisis. This hospital sits on a piece of land with enormous value, just steps from Manhattan. Developers are watching closely, ready to turn this vital community resource into luxury apartments and high-end projects.
If they succeed, the health of our community will be traded for profit. That is a reality we cannot ignore, and one that requires every one of us to act.
For me, this is deeply personal.
In 2013, I had the blessing of seeing my son Kelvin born in this hospital. But I also experienced one of the most painful moments of my life.
In 1992, my older brother, Carlos Alberto, “Amauris,” passed away in this same hospital after a hard battle with a brain tumor.
At that time, my mother was in this country undocumented, and she had to face not only the loss of a son but also the difficult decision to send his body back to the Dominican Republic for burial.
This hospital is not just a building. It is part of our lives, our stories, and our most important moments.
Today, because of this financial crisis, the hospital faces a possible closure.
The municipal government, under the leadership of Mayor James Solomon, has considered measures like using eminent domain to protect this property and ensure it remains dedicated to medical services.
It is an important step, but not enough without community support.
In a recent forum organized by the Riverview Neighborhood Association (RNA), a clear call was made: the community must be present in force at the upcoming meeting on April 15th at Christ Hospital.
Exact location and details are not yet available, and this delay risks slowing community engagement and reducing the support we urgently need to prevent this hospital from closing.
That is why today I call on everyone:
To political leaders
To activists
To churches
To community organizations
To business owners
And to every resident of Jersey City
It does not matter if you have lived here for decades or just arrived. We are all part of this city.
On April 15th, we must be present.
Defending this hospital is defending our health, our families, and our future. We cannot stand by while financial interests and developers decide the fate of an essential community resource.
Very moving piece about the impact of losing a beloved community institution. Thank you, Mr. Encarnacion, for sharing your family’s engagement with Christ Hospital as well as the hospital’s history in the Jersey City community. As someone who has directly engaqed in community service, would you be able to speak at the NJ DOH Public Hearing on the closure of Christ hospital to be held at 5 pm, April 15th, at 176 Palisade Avenue? (An address you know well)! Many of us who have been treated at the hospital would be very grateful .