Mayor Solomon and Kushner Real Estate Announce Plan to Build Affordable Housing at 808 Pavonia Avenue
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Mayor Solomon and Kushner Real Estate Announce Plan to Build Affordable Housing at 808 Pavonia Avenue
Developer's flexibility and city's commitment to affordability turn Journal Square project toward affordable housing for Jersey City residents instead of Pompidou Museum
JERSEY CITY, NJ (March 2, 2026) — Mayor James Solomon today announced that his administration will work with Kushner Real Estate Group (KRE) to add affordable housing for Jersey City residents at 808 Pavonia Avenue and to explore ways to provide community space at the space originally designated for the Pompidou Museum.
The agreement represents a significant shift for the long-debated Journal Square project. Under the previous administration, KRE received a 30-year tax abatement in exchange for providing a “cultural arts space” slated for a satellite location of the French art museum. That plan faced persistent funding shortfalls and drew vocal opposition from many residents.
"The previous administration left Jersey City with no financially responsible way to move forward with the Pompidou concept,” said
Mayor James Solomon. "But we appreciate KRE's willingness to partner with us on a new
vision. 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."
Jonathan Kushner, President of KRE Group, expressed the company's commitment to the new direction. "We've been building in Journal Square for over two decades, and we're invested in this community's future," said 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.
Ward C Councilman Tom Zuppa added, "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. 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 soon.
About Jersey City | Jersey City is New Jersey's second-largest city and one of the most diverse communities in America, home to over 290,000 residents representing more than 100 countries. Located directly across the Hudson River from Lower Manhattan, Jersey City combines rich history, vibrant
neighborhoods from the Heights to Greenville, and a commitment to opportunity for all. Mayor James Solomon and his administration are dedicated to building a government as good as its people—one that makes Jersey City affordable, delivers competent service, and upholds the public
trust.