Story and photo by Liz Sheehan
LINCROFT – The Fort Hancock 21st Century Committee met at Thompson Park on June 17 to brainstorm ideas on how to promote the leasing of the historic buildings at the fort on Sandy Hook.
Led by Stacie Nicole Smith, a senior mediator from the Consensus Building Institute, Cambridge, Massachusetts, committee members and representatives of the National Park Service discussed eight topics ranging from “incentivizing a lease to take on multiple buildings,” to “brainstorming ‘magic wand/blue sky’ solutions to overcome administrative obstacles.”
Gerry Glaser, co-chair of the committee, said some ideas from the group included inviting boaters to the fort by putting in moorings and having a place where the sailors could spend the night.
Another suggestion was to turn some of the buildings into hostels, where stays could be up to a week, and having retail establishments, restaurants and a general store.
It was also suggested that Habitat for Humanity have the opportunity to renovate two of the buildings and then keep one either for use as its headquarters or for affordable housing.
Asked by Glaser if affordable housing at the fort could be credited to Middletown’s obligation, Anthony Mercantante, township administrator in Middletown, said it was possible. Although its borders do not touch Middletown, Sandy Hook is part of Middletown.
Jennifer Nersesian, the superintendent of Gateway National Recreation Area, of which Fort Hancock is a part, said there were a number of different co-housing options, many of which are popular in the western United States, which are usually small units in large buildings with shared facilities.
She said the barracks at the fort might be suitable for such facilities.
Glaser added that a high-end restaurant, which would serve as a destination point, was suggested.
Co-chair Shawn Welsh explained that any building rented out for less than one-month by an lessee with a long-term lease at the fort would require the installation of a sprinkler system. This zoning requirement will prove costly, and could be an impediment to leasing.
LINCROFT – The Fort Hancock 21st Century Committee met at Thompson Park on June 17 to brainstorm ideas on how to promote the leasing of the historic buildings at the fort on Sandy Hook.
Led by Stacie Nicole Smith, a senior mediator from the Consensus Building Institute, Cambridge, Massachusetts, committee members and representatives of the National Park Service discussed eight topics ranging from “incentivizing a lease to take on multiple buildings,” to “brainstorming ‘magic wand/blue sky’ solutions to overcome administrative obstacles.”
Gerry Glaser, co-chair of the committee, said some ideas from the group included inviting boaters to the fort by putting in moorings and having a place where the sailors could spend the night.
Another suggestion was to turn some of the buildings into hostels, where stays could be up to a week, and having retail establishments, restaurants and a general store.
It was also suggested that Habitat for Humanity have the opportunity to renovate two of the buildings and then keep one either for use as its headquarters or for affordable housing.
Asked by Glaser if affordable housing at the fort could be credited to Middletown’s obligation, Anthony Mercantante, township administrator in Middletown, said it was possible. Although its borders do not touch Middletown, Sandy Hook is part of Middletown.
Jennifer Nersesian, the superintendent of Gateway National Recreation Area, of which Fort Hancock is a part, said there were a number of different co-housing options, many of which are popular in the western United States, which are usually small units in large buildings with shared facilities.
She said the barracks at the fort might be suitable for such facilities.
Glaser added that a high-end restaurant, which would serve as a destination point, was suggested.
Co-chair Shawn Welsh explained that any building rented out for less than one-month by an lessee with a long-term lease at the fort would require the installation of a sprinkler system. This zoning requirement will prove costly, and could be an impediment to leasing.
In May, the park service announced that it had issued the first lease on a building in Officers Row. The 60-year lease was given to Brian Samuelson, Atlantic Highlands, who plans to use the building for a family residence in the off-season and for seasonal rentals in the summer months.
Suggestions were also made to reach out to real estate mar
kets through meetings with brokers.
The park service is seeking tenants to lease and rehabilitate the fort’s buildings because it says it does not have the funds to renovate the structures which were built in the late 1800s.
Suggestions were also made to reach out to real estate mar
kets through meetings with brokers.
The park service is seeking tenants to lease and rehabilitate the fort’s buildings because it says it does not have the funds to renovate the structures which were built in the late 1800s.
