The City of Jersey City is committing to building affordable housing at the former Centre Pompidou site at 808 Pavonia Ave. in Journal Square, Mayor James Solomon and the KRE Group announced.
By John Heinis/Hudson County View
“The previous administration left Jersey City with no financially responsible way to move forward with the Pompidou concept. But we appreciate KRE’s willingness to partner with us on a new vision,” Solomon said in a statement.
“They came to us with a proposal for pivoting from the museum to badly needed affordable housing. That kind of flexibility deserves recognition. It’s exactly the kind of partnership this city needs, and the type of work that will be a trademark of this administration.”
The Centre Pompidou x Jersey City project was announced with great fanfare by then-Gov. Phil Murphy (D) and then-Mayor Steven Fulop in June 2021, but the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA) pulled their funding in June 2024.
While that initially appeared to be the death stroke for the ambitious endeavor, Fulop wrote an editorial to HCV in September 2024 outlining a path forward for the project, including a 30-year tax break to the KRE Group.
Solomon, then the Ward E councilman, quickly came out against the proposal and was one of three who voted against the long-term abatement (the other two were then-Ward C Councilman Rich Boggiano and Ward F Councilman Frank “Educational” Gilmore).
Then last month, Solomon, as the new mayor, said the project was dead at a press conference last mont where he announced a municipal deficit of over a quarter billion dollars, consistent with a campaign pledge he made in July.
“We’ve been building in Journal Square for over two decades, and we’re invested in this community’s future,” added KRE Group President Jonathan Kushner.
“We want what is best for the neighborhood and all of Jersey City and reimagining this project as affordable housing pushes forward our long-term dedication to building a better Jersey City. We’re proud to partner with the city on this.”
The conversion takes place within KRE’s Artwalk Towers development, a two-tower project at 808 Pavonia Avenue directly across from the Journal Square PATH station.
Construction on the first tower is already underway following KRE’s $175 million construction financing secured in late 2024.
“Journal Square’s revitalization is going to be for our residents who deserve access to affordable housing and my expectation is to provide them with much needed space for community, whether that be for recreation, seniors, artists, or a mix of the above,” noted Ward C Councilman Tom Zuppa.
“I’m proud to deliver on these promises for our residents with Mayor Solomon.”
Details on the affordable housing component— including the planned affordable unit count and affordability levels — will be released in the coming days, according to Jersey City spokesman Nathaniel Styer.
“We are still negotiating the number of units. We are exploring ways to continue to provide a community space. More details on all that soon,” he told HCV.
Editor’s note: This story was updated with a comment from Jersey City spokesman
Nathaniel Styer.
“Details on the affordable housing component— including the planned affordable unit count and affordability levels — will be released in the coming days,”
Bingo!
Commercial business first, the rest of us not even second. Racket is hidden right there.
What is the definition of affordable housing? Why is JC using Trenton formulas divorced from reality? You have to make 50k to be legible in some brackets. Real affordable is actually only like 10% of already overall shrunk numbers.
LMK John Heinis when you plan to camp in front of 280 Grove to find out true numbers. I will lend you my warm sleeping bag. I also may bring you a hot meal now and then BC you will not get straight answer form James.