Fort News: Another Extension for Microbrewery and a New Liquor License Recommendation

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Architectural rendering of a modern brick building.
Currently under construction, The Loft, a microbrewery and event space on the former Fort Monmouth, is expected to be completed by December. Courtesy The Loft Partnership

By Laura D.C. Kolnoski

FORT MONMOUTH – Revelers will have to wait at least eight more months to quaff a brew or book an event at The Loft, the new microbrewery, coffee house and banquet facility being created from Fort Monmouth’s 1940s Dance Hall in the Oceanport section of the 1,126-acre former U.S. Army base.

COVID-19-related delays and financing changes for the developer, The Loft Partnership LLC, caused the entity to request its fourth completion extension from the Fort Monmouth Economic Revitalization Authority (FMERA), which unanimously granted it March 24.

“The Real Estate Sub-Committee saw no reason not to give it to them with all the COVID delays and so many other hoops they had to go through,” said Robert Lucky, FMERA chairman. The original purchase agreement for the 16,420-square-foot dance hall on 4.2 acres was executed in December 2016. Deteriorated from age and Super Storm Sandy damage, the building on Saltzman Avenue presented numerous challenges to the developer, which sought to preserve much of the structure’s historic features. The property closed in April 2018, with construction beginning shortly thereafter.

A subsequent extension was granted after The Loft Partnership decided to expand its plans with a 5,905-square-foot addition, raising its initial investment of approximately $1.5 million to $4.6 million and requiring additional reviews and approvals. Third party delays, exacerbated by COVID-19, meant two more extensions granted.

“As the pandemic began, the purchaser diligently continued pursuit of financing and outstanding approvals, however, the ongoing pandemic caused unforeseen delays,” according to FMERA documents. “The purchaser ended negotiations with his previous financer and began negotiations with an alternative lender, who required an updated appraisal and additional supporting material that required additional time for review and consideration.”

FMERA officials said the project “continues to make excellent progress on the construction and rehabilitation of the facility.” The new anticipated completion date is Dec. 19, 2021.

FMERA UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS LIQUOR LICENSE FOR OCEANPORT PROJECT

The redevelopment of Fort Monmouth’s Allison Hall Parcel on Signal Avenue under new owner TetherView Property Management, (which also bought, refurbished and reopened the fort’s Russel Hall), will see the site converted into office, retail and commercial uses, including a ground-floor restaurant with an indoor/outdoor bar. On March 24, FMERA ap- proved a liquor license letter of consent for the project, which will be sent to Oceanport.

Allison Hall is a 36,665-square-foot building along Parker Creek. The entire parcel spans 12 acres and includes five buildings, some of which will be demolished. A hotel is approved for the site, but there are no plans to build one at this time, officials said.

Three evaluators from FMERA’s professional staff reviewed the liquor license request, which received an average score of 167 out of a possible maximum 220 score. During the March 24 meeting, FMERA also voted to approve a streamlined process for granting liquor license letters of consent.

“The purpose is to simplify the review process,” said Bruce Steadman, FMERA executive director. “We must zero in on the details of implementation. In general, we want to make sure the licenses aren’t the thing that attracted the purchaser to that parcel and the property would be flipped to make money off the liquor license. It’s all designed to ensure that liquor licenses are an attractive tool for investment in the fort.”

In 2018, the state granted 12 new on-site retail consumption licenses under New Jersey’s Alcoholic Beverage Control Act to Eatontown (six), Tinton Falls (two), and Oceanport (four), within the fort’s boundaries to attract new businesses, gener- ate jobs and support overall economic revitalization. FMERA is responsible for identifying fort projects that qualify for the licenses and recommending them to the municipalities, which in turn can award the licenses after their own review and approval processes.

“We are thrilled to have this liquor license legislation that is solely directed at the fort,” Steadman said. According to Sarah Giberson, FMERA marketing and development man

ager, liquor licenses for The Loft (Oceanport), Suneagles Golf Course (Eatontown), The Bowling Center (Eatontown), and now Allison Hall have been recommended by FMERA for municipal approval. The first three have been approved at the local level to date.

IN OTHER FORT NEWS…

Although it has been open and operating since 2015, readers may be surprised to learn that the Marina at Oceanport restaurant at the fort’s former base marina finally had its property sale closing March 25. The owner is Mario Criscione, who runs the eatery with his family. Severely damaged in Super Storm Sandy, repairs, renovations and final approvals took years.

“We are thrilled to take ownership of the property and have exciting plans for The Marina at Oceanport as our community begins to recover from the pandemic,” Criscione said. Added Steadman, “The marina will contribute to the local economy, furthering FMERA’s mission, and bring highly-anticipated tax revenue into the borough.”

Giberson said 80 percent of the fort is now sold, under contract, or in various stages of the purchase process, with 28 total parcels sold. Steadman said three to four more closings are anticipated over the next six months.

This article originally appeared in the April 1 – 7, 2021, print edition of The Two River Times.