$20 Million Without Laying a Single Brick
Jersey City spent $20 million in taxpayer money on a branch project for France's Pompidou museum — but didn't lay a single brick or hang a single artwork.
Newly elected Mayor James Solomon declared this month: "We're not doing Pompidou. The project is dead." The decision closes the plan announced in 2021 to bring the Centre Pompidou — the famous modern art museum in Paris — to the Journal Square area.
Spending on Nearly 30 Consulting Firms
According to a New Jersey State Senate report, the Jersey City Redevelopment Agency spent approximately $20 million on nearly 30 consulting firms: elevator consultants, lighting, sound, culinary, three roof consultants, lawyers in Paris, and many other items, even though the location was later canceled when state funding was withdrawn.
Architectural firm OMA (New York branch) received $11.6 million for the design of the Pathside Building at 25 Journal Square — a historic 1912 transit hub measuring 58,000 square feet, near the PATH line to Manhattan. In 2024, the plan for this site was completely abandoned. An additional $4.5 million was paid to Pompidou for brand rights and licensing.
$255 Million Budget Deficit
Mayor Solomon cited the project as one of the financial missteps leading to the city's $255 million budget deficit — approximately 30% of its budget. Previously, the total estimated investment was $200 million; annual operating costs were projected to reach $34 million while revenue was only about $4 million.
Community Opposition
The project faced opposition from local artists, anti-gentrification groups, and budget watchdogs. In 2024, 19 art professionals in Jersey City signed an open letter of opposition, arguing it was unreasonable to pour large taxpayer funds into a foreign institution when schools, parks, public transport, and affordable housing lacked resources. In the same year, the state canceled $24 million in funding, with the remaining $34 million in state and federal aid being reallocated after Solomon's announcement.
The project had previously shifted to a new option: a 100,000-square-foot space in the podium of a high-rise apartment building owned by Kushner Real Estate Group, with a 30-year tax abatement. It is unclear whether OMA's design will be transferred to this alternative.
The Centre Pompidou stated it had worked with Jersey City partners since 2021 and acknowledged the new mayor's decision to halt the project; the statement did not mention the reimbursement of the $4.5 million licensing fee.
