New Details On Cost Of Jersey City Pompidou Center

JERSEY CITY, NJ — The City Council started what is sure to be a long journey analyzing the costs and benefits of the proposed Centre Pompidou x Jersey City — the first North American museum outpost for the Pompidou Center in Paris.

At Monday night's caucus meeting, the City Council heard from Mayor Steven Fulop about the project before they are set to hear a first reading on a memorandum of understanding on Wednesday.

The project would turn the iconic Pathside building in Journal Square into Pompidou's Jersey City satellite site, part of the Paris-based center's plan to roll out satellite museums in cities around the world — satellites are already in place in Brussels, Shanghai and Spain.

The museum is set to open by 2024, but not before some costly planning and renovations to the Pathside building. Alongside the first reading of the memorandum of understanding for Pompidou, the City Council will also vote on a second reading on Wednesday for a separate $82 million bonding ordinance — $15 million from the ordinance will help fund, in part, the Pathside building renovations.

According to the memorandum of understanding, Jersey City would pay nearly $6 million for the first three phases of the project alone. After the museum opens, the city will pay another $6 million in fees to the main Pompidou Center. The fee breakdown includes the permissions to use "Centre Pompidou" in the name and costs for artwork and exhibits. The annual fees could decrease over time, according to the memorandum of understanding.

At Monday's caucus meeting, Fulop told the council he expects the museum to earn the city $33 for each dollar invested, between jobs and new business created. The timeframe for those financial returns is not clear. Ticket revenue is being looked at as another big source of revenue through the museum.

Councilman James Solomon asked about plans to fund the renovation of the Pathside building, a costly piece of the museum project puzzle. Fulop answered that the city is exploring state funding from the New Jersey Economic Development Authority.

The Pathside building is 58,000 square feet and Fulop estimates renovations could cost between $10 million and $30 million.

The close microscope on the project cost comes as many councilors highlight the increased need for investment in the community. Increased attention to programs that curve street violence and attention to the schools have been front and center for many city councilors, and that momentum was pushed on Monday night as well.

Councilor at-Large and chairman of the Jersey City Redevelopment Agency, Daniel Rivera, pointed out, alongside Councilman Yousef Saleh, that the city needs to include plans for Jersey City residents and students, relative to the museum.

The goal is for residents to have free admission to the museum, Fulop said, adding "We'll cross that bridge when we come to it."

Part of the selling point for the museum's anchor in Jersey City was the benefit to local students. First Lady Tammy Murphy had a big hand in the collaboration of the project and bringing the Pompidou to New Jersey. During the announcement, she highlighted the importance the Jersey City museum will hold for students.

"Beyond what this will do for our economy, I am just so excited for all that this partnership will do for our students by exposing them to new ideas, cultures and perspectives," Murphy said.

Fulop echoed similar sentiments during the announcement earlier this month, claiming the museum will have programming integrated "So that young people can have their horizons broadened."

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Paris Pompidou Center Plans Jersey City Outpost