In an editorial, Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop explains how the Centre Pompidou project can still move forward despite losing support from the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA).
People who know our administration in Jersey City can appreciate that we never accept failure. If we believe something will benefit our city, we remain persistent, overcoming any odds or obstacles until we accomplish the objective. Period.
I think much of our success over the last 10 years, as Jersey City experienced an unprecedented renaissance, has been a direct result of our relentless pursuit of a better city. Progress doesn’t happen by accident.
This leads me to the fate of the cultural arts center that was scheduled for Journal Square, known as the Centre Pompidou x Jersey City.
It was a historic opportunity for our community to have the North American location of a global institution invested in our city in a manner that doesn’t exist today.
Five years ago, we started this important project because we believed a world-class cultural arts center would put Jersey City on the global map and enhance so many aspects of our community as a result.
It was an idea that the governor enthusiastically supported at the time because he saw how transformative the project would be for New Jersey and beyond – with the biggest beneficiaries being our residents, of course.
It is also true that, unfortunately, Governor Murphy reversed his support for the project after I didn’t support his wife for the US Senate.
He stripped us of crucial state funding, dealing what many viewed as a lethal blow to the project. I called it out publicly, while privately, I was committed to finding a solution without him.
At the next City Council meeting, the Council will introduce an ordinance for our first tax abatement to be granted in seven years to allow the full construction of the Centre Pompidou cultural arts center in Jersey City without state support.
As planned, it would be located in Journal Square, and it would give the city ownership of 100,000 square feet of valuable community space in the heart of the city.
Similar to the highly regarded MOMA across the river, the Centre Pompidou x Jersey City would be located at the base of a residential building directly behind the Loews Theatre.
The community-focused center would also become part of the approved Art Walk from Journal Square to Mana Contemporary.
I wanted to take this opportunity to give residents some more details on the proposal:
This project is different from other PILOT conversations years ago in that the question of whether the building gets built is irrelevant here as part of this PILOT conversation.
KRE has secured the approvals to start construction on the 60-story building this month, with or without an abatement under the pre-existing zoning.
However, KRE’s planned redevelopment project presents us with an opportunity to secure substantial community benefits and make this project a reality. But for the PILOT, this community benefit and the transformational project will not be built.
The choices before the City Council are whether to do nothing and allow this opportunity to pass us by with limited community giveback or to grant a PILOT in exchange for a transformational, multigenerational opportunity for our residents.
Approved today without any abatement:
– 60 story building with financing in place in the heart of Journal Square to start construction this Fall.
– No requirements on union labor and no requirements for affordable housing per approvals made prior to our administration.
What the city will receive if the abatement is approved:
– 100,000 square feet of space the city owns in the heart of Journal Square for Centre Pompidou.
– Union/local labor requirements for $50 million construction project of cultural arts space.
– Full payment of tax equivalent to benefit the Jersey City Board of Education.
– Full payment in lieu of taxes payment.
– Opportunity for the PathSide building to be repurposed for community benefits.
– Nearly $2 million to the Affordable Housing Trust Fund.
What KRE will receive if approved:
– 30 year tax abatement on 808 Pavonia Ave.
– No changes in density or height of approvals.
– PILOT payment instead of conventional taxes.
When you think about what Journal Square will be in five short years, it’s easy to envision all that is underway.
We started the project for Court House Park, which will be one of the largest parks in Jersey City located in Journal Square; we are nearing completion of Homestead Way, a large pedestrian plaza in Journal Square between Cottage Street and the PATH – similar to Newark Avenue downtown; we will have completed the 3,000 seat Historic Loews Theatre restoration to regularly showcase world-class entertainment; we will have global institutions like the Centre Pompidou x Jersey City vibrant with daytime and after school programs; we will have a robust network of bars, restaurants, and small businesses to serve the area as we are reaching a critical mass of residents; and we will have finished the Target along with a soon-to-be-announced supermarket that will be among the big box retailers serving the community.
The future is bright, and I think any reasonable person can see the meaningful benefits to Jersey City here. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
It is a game changer for our city that will expand far beyond enhancing arts, culture, and community development to also deliver lasting economic impacts, creating hundreds of jobs, generating millions in new state and local tax revenue from visitors, boosting local businesses, and countless other opportunities for our community.
When obstacles are put in front of us here in Jersey City – we don’t quit. In Jersey City, we improvise, we adapt, and we overcome.
Steven Fulop
Jersey City mayor
New Jersey taxpayer should not be left paying the enormous bill that this project will run up.
Fulop needed for political reasons needed to try to blunt the justified criticism at least until after his attempted run to be Governor.
You keep saying how this will change the neighborhood but for who? It won’t help the immigrant or traditionally POC communities in the Journal Square area, and it won’t help the 10 years of aggressive gentrification that has priced out even long term homeowners who can no longer afford property taxes. How is the Pompidou connected to this community, Jersey City or even the state of NJ? The loosest connection is the Statue of Liberty and that is it. How will this affect the local arts community? Which has been entirely left out of this conversation thus far? We can no longer afford your aggressive gentrification tactics in the few neighborhoods left with true local culture made by immigrant and POC communities, that with each new thrust of overpriced housing pushes these groups out further. Why not simply state you wish to remove rental protections and want only high earners living in JC? It would be more honest at this point. Where do you expect us to live, Fulop, as you run for governor – Newark is also gentrifying. Elizabeth? Camden? What part of the state would you like to allocate for the poors and immigrants and artists who make life palatable in an otherwise bland approach to gentrification? Just be real with us, the people who made JC interesting enough for people to move to. It would be refreshing but as rare as a real smile on your otherwise contempt showing face.
What is not said in the mayors message is that JC tax payers will be paying tens of millions of dollars per year to support this museum from a foreign country and when the city defaults on paying it, because the tab is out of control, KRE keeps the PILOT anyway. This is a favor to the mayors political supports not to the people of JC. Don’t buy into this nonsense JC. AND, Wake up NJ, he’s coming for the entire state.
Eye agree will all of the above statements. Flop likes blowing smoke up the assessment of JC residents. It’s all politricks as usual.
France is our oldest Ally. General Lafayette dined with General Washington on the grounds of the Historic Apple tree House, which is now the Jèrsey City Museum. The grateful people of this area presented him with a walking cane made from a branch of that tree when he came to the Five Corners Neighborhood on his 50th Anniversary of the American Revolutionary War tour of America. We could not have won our War of Independence from Great Britain without the direct support of the French. The July 21, 1780 Battle of the Blockhouse by Bull’s Ferry in what is now North Bergen Township, that pitted Brigadier General Anthony Wayne against the Loyalists led by Captain Thomas Ward was fought to distract the British in Manhattan from attacking the French forces which had arrived in Rhode Island 10 days prior. While the attack failed to immediately dislodge the Loyalists, it did ultimately render the blockhouse uninhabitable after three weeks time, and was indeed successful in preventing the British from attacking our French Ally. We will soon be celebrating the 250th Anniversary of our Declaration of Independence. Let us find a way to honor our long Friendship with France by giving Safe Haven to this French museum in historic Jèrsey City. Long Live the Franco/American Alliance!
Question to our Mayor Fulop. What is this most important to you? The French Museum or getting affordable housing for Jetsey City residents? Why ?? I trusted you with my vote because I believe the residents come first.You seem obsessed with this Museum. Think of us paying the highest rent after NY. WE DO NOT SPEAK FRENCH!!