HOLMDEL – A technology company with a history of working with the military, including Fort Monmouth, will be the first to occupy space at the former Bell Labs complex, now called Bell Works.
Holmdel Mayor Eric Hinds said Symbolic Systems will be the first official occupant of the 2,000,000 square-foot Bell Works, currently undergoing a massive renovation under owner Somerset Development of Lakewood.
Regarding the hotel/conference center, Hinds would only say that a deal “is close but not done. We’re hopeful for an announcement by July. We hoped to announce it last January.”
In addition to the new tenant, local officials will soon launch a fund-raising effort to cover the costs of relocating the municipal library from the basement of Township Hall to a new 18,000 square-foot space inside Bell Works, donated by Somerset. The township must supply construction, equipment and furnishings.
Symbolic Systems Inc., a provider of information technology, data engineering and software development is currently located in an office building at 106 Apple Street, Tinton Falls. Other offices are located in Aberdeen, Maryland, where many former Fort Monmouth employees and personnel transferred to the U.S. Army’s Aberdeen Proving Ground (APG) after the New Jersey base closed in 2005.
Founded by Frank Ponzio Jr. in 1968, Symbolic Systems, Inc. also works with private industry, the federal Dept. of Defense, and government entities. Its Maryland facility was established as part of the federal BRAC (Base Realignment and Closure) process. Ponzio holds several patents for his inventions and designs.
Fort Monmouth, which is still owned by the Army, has been on an almost parallel course with Bell Works to attract technology and business tenants.
“I’ve been frustrated, but it’s best I remain positive,” Mayor Hinds said last week. “I’m excited about all the activity going on now. About two dozen solid companies are in the loop but nothing has closed. My biggest hope is that the hotel/conference center would take a substantial piece, leading to a lot of other synergistic tenants. The vision is to make Bell Works the East Coast Silicon Valley. It has that history.” He said prospective tenants include primarily technology companies and professionals, including a certified public accounting firm, a law firm and an engineering company. Most are from New Jersey.
Bell Works also envisions retail, restaurant, and entertainment uses, creating an indoor “town square” for Holmdel.
Somerset President Ralph Zucker told the Two River Times on May 26, “Bell Works has received much interest including letters of intent from potential tenants. Although (we are) unable to share specific information at this time due to legal reasons, we are excited to see the vision of Bell Works come to life.”
“The public can expect to see a completely revamped pedestrian street spanning the entire length of this magnificent building. Everything that cluttered the atrium has been removed to create an incredible cathedral-like space,” he added. Internationally renowned architect Eero Saarinen designed the building in 1959.
Bell Works was recently featured in filmmaker Daniel Arsham’s “Future Relic ‘03”, which premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival in April. According to Beckerman PR of Hackensack, Somerset’s public relations representative, Arsham’s team reached out in 2014 through Bell Works’ architect, Alex Gorlin. Arsham, a fan of Saarinen’s work, visited the 473-acre site and deemed it the “perfect location.”
“The building is so far ahead of its time,” Mayor Hinds said. “The infrastructure is there for mixed use. A lot of capital is being spent. In fairness to Somerset, it is a challenging time in New Jersey. I’ve met with people from the state’s ‘Choose NJ’ economic development program. New Jersey is not doing a good job driving business into it; we’re doing a good job of driving business out. There are not enough large employers south of the (Driscoll) bridge. It’s going to take six to eight years for the building to be fully occupied. We need to be patient, realize the right vision, and get the right mix of tenants.” Hinds said that commercial real estate firm Garibaldi Group of Chatham has been working on securing tenants for Bell Works for over a year, but much work had to be done before it could be marketed.
As far as the donation of space for the township library and learning center, Deputy Mayor Gregory Buontempo said, “Ralph Zucker wanted to do something positive to make the building part of the community.” Other options for the relocation and expansion were considered but discounted due to high costs. “Having it inside Bell Works saves taxpayers the extra financial burden.”
“We want a dynamic library that will accommodate today’s needs and Holmdel’s future needs,” Buontempo said. “We hope to kick off the effort in the next few months with the goal of raising $1.8 million.”
Township Architect Anthony Iovino is working with Somerset Development on the design. Iovino has previous experience creating libraries and studied Saarinen’s work in school.
“At first I was concerned about locating the library in a multi-use building,” Buontempo said. Our architect told me it’s just the opposite. Minneapolis put their library in a mall and attendance went up 400 percent. Times have changed and libraries are evolving. Now I think it’s a home run.”
“Somerset is willing to help us move in sooner,” Mayor Hinds said. “We want to be in sooner than later. It will be more than a library. It will be a community heartbeat.”
Toll Brothers’ plan for 40 estate homes and 185 “active adult” carriage homes on the main interior road leading to the building remain on hold. In its agreement with Somerset, Holmdel officials built in a stipulation that residential construction cannot begin until 20 percent of the building is leased or occupied.
“That’s how we protected ourselves,” Hinds said. The homes, which generated significant controversy among local opponents, must also undergo the lengthy approval processes of the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection.
