By Laura D.C. Kolnoski
FORT MONMOUTH – One of Fort Monmouth’s largest structures, the Albert J. Myer Center located on the edge of the Camp Charles Wood Area in Tinton Falls will be demolished after efforts to market it for redevelopment proved unsuccessful.
The five-story concrete building is considered a local landmark, built in a hexagon shape and visible from the Garden State Parkway. During the Cold War era, it was used for military electronics development. Today, however, it has been deemed in poor condition; too large and costly to retrofit and reuse. Despite efforts by the Fort Monmouth Economic Revitalization Authority (FMERA) and its Master Broker Cushman & Wakefield, six years of “active marketing” have not yielded a qualified new buyer.
“The 70-year-old building was built for specific purposes, making it unfeasible for reuse opportunities, so the state will help us demolish the Myer Center,” said FMERA Executive Director Bruce Steadman on July 20. Steadman noted the site is adjacent to the new CommVault building and a plan by Lennar Corporation to build a large mixed-use development where “substantial investment” has already been made. He said removal of the “blight” the Myer Center represents would be a beneficial improvement to the area.
“We only come in as a last resort,” said Timothy Lizura, who represents the New Jersey Economic Development Authority on FMERA. “That site is zoned for commercial, not residential development. We hope there will be interest from a private developer post demolition.” He said the EDA approved the decision to demolish the 673,540 square-foot Myer Center and 43,230 square-foot Night Vision Lab the previous week. Both buildings were originally slated for renovation into office, data center and/or research and development uses in FMERA’s reuse and redevelopment plan. Along with their parking areas and ancillary structures, the two buildings cover over 38 acres.
FORT MONMOUTH – One of Fort Monmouth’s largest structures, the Albert J. Myer Center located on the edge of the Camp Charles Wood Area in Tinton Falls will be demolished after efforts to market it for redevelopment proved unsuccessful.
The five-story concrete building is considered a local landmark, built in a hexagon shape and visible from the Garden State Parkway. During the Cold War era, it was used for military electronics development. Today, however, it has been deemed in poor condition; too large and costly to retrofit and reuse. Despite efforts by the Fort Monmouth Economic Revitalization Authority (FMERA) and its Master Broker Cushman & Wakefield, six years of “active marketing” have not yielded a qualified new buyer.
“The 70-year-old building was built for specific purposes, making it unfeasible for reuse opportunities, so the state will help us demolish the Myer Center,” said FMERA Executive Director Bruce Steadman on July 20. Steadman noted the site is adjacent to the new CommVault building and a plan by Lennar Corporation to build a large mixed-use development where “substantial investment” has already been made. He said removal of the “blight” the Myer Center represents would be a beneficial improvement to the area.
“We only come in as a last resort,” said Timothy Lizura, who represents the New Jersey Economic Development Authority on FMERA. “That site is zoned for commercial, not residential development. We hope there will be interest from a private developer post demolition.” He said the EDA approved the decision to demolish the 673,540 square-foot Myer Center and 43,230 square-foot Night Vision Lab the previous week. Both buildings were originally slated for renovation into office, data center and/or research and development uses in FMERA’s reuse and redevelopment plan. Along with their parking areas and ancillary structures, the two buildings cover over 38 acres.
A December 2014 Request for Offers to Purchase the site, known as Parcel F-1, resulted in no offers. Officials said that while FMERA staff “encountered limited interest in the buildings, they did receive inquiries about the site due to its location next to the parkway. Working with the EDA, FMERA established a process to identify the cost of environmental remediation and demolition of the site. The EDA will retain an engineering firm to prepare plans, specifications, and a scope of work, which includes asbestos and lead-based paint abatement.
As the U.S. Army still technically owns the fort, FMERA is responsible for obtaining the Army’s consent to convey the property to the EDA for $1. The EDA will provide $1 million in funding. Bids for demolition and remediation will be sought from contracts via the public bidding process.
Steadman said a communication plan with neighbors will be created for all phases of the operation, including information on traffic changes, hours, impacts, and more. Final transfer of the fort from the Army to New Jersey is in its final phases; expected to be completed later this year. Once the transfer is finalized, officials intend to accelerate the fort’s redevelopment, which they say has been slowed in some instances due to lengthy processes and red tape at the federal level.
Steadman said a communication plan with neighbors will be created for all phases of the operation, including information on traffic changes, hours, impacts, and more. Final transfer of the fort from the Army to New Jersey is in its final phases; expected to be completed later this year. Once the transfer is finalized, officials intend to accelerate the fort’s redevelopment, which they say has been slowed in some instances due to lengthy processes and red tape at the federal level.
