WeWork executives seem to be at odds over whether or not Jersey City is ‘cool’.
According to Real Estate Weekly:
Sean Black, an executive vice president at WeWork, told attendees at a CoreNet panel at the Grand Hyatt in Midtown that his firm is looking closely at Bushwick to open its next outpost, because, unlike Jersey City, it’s “cool.”
“Brooklyn has really emerged as this epicenter of where people want to be,” said Black. “If you look at Jersey City, it’s so far ahead relative to a lot of different product it has, but it doesn’t have life, it doesn’t have vibrancy, it’s not cool, it’s got no vibe.”
Black, who joined the firm in March, must not have been brought up to speed on how ‘cool’ his fellow execs find Jersey City. In June, the company announced plans for an outpost of their WeLive concept in Journal Square at the One Journal Square project where they’ve taken 100,000 square feet. Last November, the company received a $59 million tax break from the state for the location.
Black further went on to say, the best way to find the next trendy growth centers is to follow the artists. Apparently he’s unfamiliar with Mana Contemporary, Green Villain, or our burgeoning art scene as highlighted at JCAST2016 where over 900 artists’ work was on display at numerous locations all over Jersey City.
A WeWork spokesperson walked back Black’s comments, saying his statements “do not reflect the view of our company. Jersey City has a vibrant and innovative community that we would love to be a part of. We’re looking at opportunities there and we hope to have more to announce in the near future.”
