Finally tonight, Jersey City leaders are trying to help wealth and poverty coexist.

An increasing problem in the ever changing city by redeveloping a neighborhood that sits next to the Holland Tunnel and bringing long needed services to the residents who need them.

Senior political correspondent David Cruz has the story.

For a lot of local residents in this part of Jersey City, Saint Lucy's church has been the mainstay of this long ignored.

But suddenly real estate hot neighborhood near the Holland Tunnel.

The church was a spiritual home for this poor and working class neighborhood since the 1890s closing in 1986.

Soon, though, this neighborhood landmark will look like this, only its facade remaining as the base of a new 400 plus unit luxury high rise.

I guess it's the it reminds me of the changing needs a particular community faces and the consistent response in finding somehow a spiritual meaning a spiritual quest in this community.

That quest has been serving the city's homeless population through Saint Lucy's emergency shelter down the block today with signs of a rapidly changing neighborhood all around Cardinal Joe Tobin, Mayor Steve Fulop and officials from Catholic Charities cut the ribbon on the next phase of that mission.

A new saint Lucy shelter.

It is very challenging for government or the public sector to build resources like this with our own dollars.

And we need to be creative to find solutions.

And creative solutions sometimes are politically tough.

And so it's been a very, very long road with a lot of partners in order to achieve this and compromise including zoning variances that allow the developer to build a 23 story structure atop a historic landmark.

The benefit for the city, say officials, is a new facility that will have a greater impact.

We're actually increasing the size of 20% here.

It's going from 120 women and men to 150 here in Saint Lucy's.

And then on a top floor we have 15 affordable housing, permanent housing for homeless individuals plus more room for social services, including mental health, substance abuse and more.

Toni Brookins spoke here today homeless after losing her job in the early days of the pandemic.

She found shelter and support at the old Saint Lucy's.

Now she's a volunteer here at the new shelter.

I was glad to have a place where I was able to feel safe and, you know, connect with the people.

And I and I use my volunteer services to make me feel.

And I think that makes you feel comfortable.

That's it for me.

The new shelter will be right across the street from the luxury tower.

And as this community further gentrified, its residents will serve as a reminder of the extremes in this city.

Luxury housing high in the sky with amenities like rooftop swimming pools and courtyards.

Just across the street from an emergency shelter where the amenities include clean bathrooms, warm beds and some affordable studio apartments.

I'm David Cruz, NJ Spotlight News