Jersey City’s historic Pathside Building is finally seeing some action after being stuck in limbo for years. The old plan to turn it into a museum with France’s Centre Pompidou is out. Now, the building at 84 Sip Avenue—also called 25 Journal Square—will become a boutique hotel and cultural spot instead. That Pompidou deal fell apart thanks to ballooning costs and endless logistical headaches, so the city’s taking things in a new direction for this landmark.
The End of the Pompidou Era
Back in 2018, the city bought the Pathside Building, hoping it could become a museum and community center. By 2021, there was real buzz about bringing the Centre Pompidou to the U.S. for the first time—right here in Jersey City. But then, in early 2024, the New Jersey Economic Development Association pulled its financial support. Costs kept going up, supply chains were a mess, and there were big worries about sticking taxpayers with the bill.
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Pompidou Finds a New Home
The Pathside Building won’t host the Pompidou after all, but the museum’s U.S. debut isn’t scrapped. Instead, it’s moving to a huge mixed-use project at 808 Pavonia Avenue, led by Kushner Real Estate Group and Silverstein Properties. The new development is supposed to wrap up by 2030 and will include:
- 1,189 residential units
- A 6,000-square-foot gallery
- A 100,000-square-foot Pompidou space owned by the city for 30 years
Governor Phil Murphy has already flagged some pretty serious financial risks, saying the project could mean long-term losses.
Reimagining the Pathside Building
The Jersey City Redevelopment Agency just gave a conditional green light to 84 Sip Owner LLC—a team-up between Kushner Real Estate and Ironstate Properties—to take over the Pathside Building. Their plan ditches the museum idea and leans into hospitality and lifestyle instead.
A Boutique Hotel with Local Flavor
The new vision? A 38-room boutique hotel that blends modern luxury with the building’s old-school character. Here’s what’s on deck:
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- A food hall packed with all kinds of cuisine
- A rooftop bar with wild views of the Hudson River and Manhattan
- A wellness spa with high-end treatments
They’re hoping this spot will pull in both visitors and locals, maybe even jumpstart more good things in Journal Square.
Surrounding Redevelopment Efforts
The Pathside makeover is really just a piece of what’s happening in these city districts. Right across the street, the same developers want to build a 34-story tower with 320 apartments. Ten percent of those would be affordable housing. The site’s currently Hudson County Community College housing, but it could soon add some real energy to Journal Square’s skyline.
Approvals and Next Steps
Both projects are still at the starting line, waiting for planning board review and final sign-off on the properties. If they get the green light, they’ll bring more jobs, places to live, and new hangouts to Jersey City’s core.
What This Means for Jersey City
For visitors, the boutique hotel will add to the growing list of Jersey City hotels, especially around Journal Square. Whether you’re coming for fun or work, this could be a fresh option when you’re figuring out where to stay in Jersey City. The city’s been on a roll lately, finding new ways to breathe life into historic buildings.
Connecting Visitors to the Community
The hotel’s public spaces—like the food hall and the rooftop—will be open to everyone, not just hotel guests. They’ll fit right in with other things to do in Jersey City, from parks along the water to local arts spots, and should give folks a reason to stick around the city center.
Looking Ahead
Accessibility will play a big role in the hotel’s success. It sits just steps from Journal Square PATH Station.
This spot is perfect for anyone getting to Jersey City from Manhattan or Newark Airport. That kind of convenience is rare, honestly.
The area’s been changing fast, and it’s clear Journal Square could become a major hub in the next few years.
The Pathside Building’s next chapter feels like a snapshot of Jersey City itself—a place trying to balance its past with a push toward something new. Hospitality projects and new apartments keep popping up, and you can tell the city wants to create a lively, welcoming place for everyone.
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Here is the source article for this story: Proposal for Food Hall + Hotel Advances for Former Pompidou Site in Jersey City
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