Jersey City politicians haven’t given up on bagging a Centre Pompidou satellite branch, despite a big setback this summer. In July, New Jersey Economic Development Authority (EDA) CEO Tim Sullivan paused the project indefinitely due to funding concerns.
After Sullivan’s decision was made public, it appeared Centre Pompidou x Jersey City was dead in the water. In August, Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop, who is now running for Governor, proposed an abatement deal to revive the plan. That abatement deal was approved recently and Centre Pompidou x Jersey City is back on the table.
Last week, Jersey City Council passed a 30-year abatement for two 50-story towers on Pavonia Avenue. This deal included 100,000 square feet set aside for Centre Pompidou x Jersey City.
The towers are being designed by Handel Architects and financed by The Kushner Real Estate (KRE) Group. (The buildings are slated for completion in 2026.) Renderings show the ulterior Centre Pompidou x Jersey City located at the base of the towers amid a sea of sculpture gardens and art parks.
Jersey City Council passed the abatement plan by a 6 to 3 vote. Fulop called Centre Pompidou x Jersey City a “once-in-a-generation opportunity,” but he has had detractors. The passage was met with “the collective outcry of a relatively unruly crowd.”
How Did We Get Here?
The first iteration of Centre Pompidou x Jersey City was announced in 2021, as reported by AN. It was designed by OMA and located within the Pathside Building, a 58,000-square-foot structure from 1912 near the Journal Square PATH Station.
With Fulop running for Governor, and the Jersey City mayoral seat up for grabs, Centre Pompidou x Jersey City has become a hot button issue. Jersey City Councilman Frank Gilmore, who opposed the abatement, said that the development team has “failed to provide a detailed financial analysis for us to consider.”
Councilwoman Denise Ridley, who voted yes but had reservations, said “I think what people are saying more than ‘we don’t want the museum’ is that ‘we want you to give us the services that we need’” in the form of affordable housing, and public utilities.
