By Laura D.C. Kolnoski
FORT MONMOUTH – Almost a decade into the redevelopment of the 1,126-acre former U.S. Army base that spans portions of Eatontown, Oceanport and Tinton Falls, 20 properties have been sold and another 16 are under contract or have contracts approved by the Fort Monmouth Economic Revitalization Authority (FMERA), the public-private agency overseeing the fort’s rebirth.
But over the past month, several projects have sought extensions to completion dates as a result of delays caused by the coronavirus pandemic.
On April 15, FMERA held its second monthly meeting via teleconference. Members and staff participated from their homes instead of the authority’s offices in the fort’s former library, with officials taking actions to continue progress with new timelines.
Developers hope to open the Loft microbrewery and event space by late fall following approval-related delays.
“We are getting our work done to the best of our ability under these circumstances,” said Bruce Steadman, FMERA executive director, adding operations including land surveys, closings, subcommittee meetings, infrastructure work and more are ongoing despite some members of development teams being personally affected by the virus.
“We maintain a presence on the fort, our maintenance team is working, and abiding by safe social distancing and guidelines,” said Kristy Dantes, FMERA’s director of facilities and infrastructure. “All the infrastructure projects are critical to future development. We also assist developers and development teams.”
Ongoing are the planning and design of a water main extension along Route 537, (known as the Avenue of Memories through the fort), coordinating the creation of a clean sanitary corridor through portions of the Oceanport section scheduled for redevelopment, relocation of overhead electric lines, and future build-out of the electrical power grid.
The start of the highly-anticipated process for Fort Monmouth’s McAfee Center has been delayed due to the coronavirus.
FMERA members unanimously voted to give Steadman the authority to grant time extensions to certain projects for pandemic-related reasons only.
“We need agility; our developers are under a lot of pressure,” said Robert Lucky, Ph.D., of Fair Haven, FMERA interim chairman. “If developers want extensions for any other matters they must come before the board.”
Other actions taken April 15 included:
DANCE HALL, OCEANPORT
The Loft Brewery and event space being created by Regional Development Group, LLC in the former 1940s fort Dance Hall was expected to open this summer. Work has been ongoing for about two years, longer than originally projected because the developer expanded the scope of the project, adding 5,900 additional square feet and increasing its capital investment from approximately $1.5 million to $4.6 million.
The expanded portions include the front entrance and lobby, offices and kitchen, which require additional approvals. According to FMERA documents, “the purchaser is still proceeding in good faith toward completion of the project,” but the approvals process has delayed the timeline. FMERA members voted unanimously to give the project a six-month completion extension to November 2020. When completed, The Loft will be a microbrewery, restaurant and entertainment complex with outdoor space.
CHANGES TO REQUESTS FOR OFFERS TO PURCHASE
In March, FMERA released the Request for Offers to Purchase (RFOTP) for the 31-acre Tinton Falls Commercial Parcel, intended for redevelopment into office, research and development, or alternative commercial purposes. The site includes the fort’s former Pulse Power Building, Pistol Range and a large administrative structure with a high bay garage. The deadline for submission of proposals has been changed from April 27 to May 11. The RFOTP can be viewed on FMERA’s website at fortmonmouthnj.com.
Two other substantial Oceanport parcels set for imminent release of RFOTPs will also experience delays – the 400 Area near the Little Silver train station, slated to become a transit-oriented village, and the McAfee Center, a 90,000-square- foot research and development building on 47 acres. Stead-man said it’s “hard to say how long” those delays will be.
“I have attended webinars and teleconferences in the last two weeks with business leaders and real estate investors/ owners,” Steadman said. “No one can predict what the next several months look like. Overall, these people have expressed hope and optimism about the end of this year and the beginning of next year. We want to wait to see what the demand looks like, which parcels may have more interest than others, and then respond accordingly with appropriate RFOTPs.”
BARKER CIRCLE, OCEANPORT
Prior to finalizing the purchase of a fort parcel, every developer undertakes a “due diligence” period during which the site is examined for structural and environmental concerns. Regional Development Group affiliate Barker Circle Partnership had been conducting its 90-day due diligence prior to completing the $4.85 million purchase of the 19.5-acre site off Oceanport Avenue. The firm intends to transform the parcel, located in the fort’s National Register Historic District, into the Barker Circle Complex, a mixed-use site with 75 residential units, a theater, office space and a restaurant. Based on the complexity and historic nature of the property, officials said, additional time is required to fully assess the site. Additionally, the effects of COVID-19 have delayed the process. FMERA members voted unanimously to extend the Barker Circle Complex due diligence period to June 4.
“Working remotely, getting items scheduled, reviewed, and answered takes a bit longer, but our experience with the boroughs and county and state agencies is that they are working through the logistics and still moving forward, albeit a little slower than normal due to the remote protocols,” Steadman said. “The one thing we have seen with all of the review boards and agencies is that their attitudes are good and positive, working through the current difficulties but optimistic about the future, and that there is light at the end of the tunnel.”
This article originally appeared in the April 23rd, 2020 print edition of The Two River Times.
