By Laura D.C. Kolnoski
FORT MONMOUTH – Progress continues at the Fort Monmouth Economic Revitalization Authority (FMERA), with staff and board members working remotely. The authority’s March 18 regular monthly meeting took place via teleconference.
TINTON FALLS COMMERCIAL PARCEL ACCEPTING PROPOSALS
Bidders have until April 27 to submit proposals to redevelop 31.25 acres targeted for commercial use along Satellite and Pearl Harbor roads. Intended uses are office, research and development, or alternative commercial purposes. Residential uses on this parcel are excluded.
The minimum purchase price is $4.5 million. FMERA documents state the goal is to develop “a well-defined commercial project complementary to the surrounding uses that furthers the economic growth of the fort’s redevelopment.” The Request for Offers to Purchase is available on fortmonmouthnj.com. In addition to ancillary buildings that may be reused or demolished, on the site are:
Pulse Power Building – A 1988 structure consisting of 15,690 square feet of administrative offices, 10,786 square feet of dry lab and testing space and two 50-foot high bays.
Building 2719 – A 6,574-square- foot administrative building with a 2,448-square-foot high bay garage constructed in 2006.
Pistol Range and Fire & Police Training Area – The fort’s pistol range is envisioned for reuse as a gun range, while the Police & Fire Training Area is intended for reuse as a fire and police training center by state, county or local governmental entities.
NEW WATER MAIN INSTALLATION
FMERA approved an agreement with the New Jersey American Water Company (NJAW), to install new water service along Route 537 (Avenue of Memories), that will service the Eatontown Department of Public Works complex and Monmouth County’s Department of Public Works complex, as well as the planned artists’ village located in six former U.S. Army barracks, and the Bowling Center.
Officials said the existing water mains are outdated and unsuitable for future use requirements. Throughout the fort’s redevelopment over the past seven years, utilities and infrastructure have been replaced or upgraded in an ongoing process.
“In this case, there will be four parcels served,” said Bruce Steadman, FMERA executive director. “At least two will contribute directly to the estimated $425,839 cost.” Officials said the timing is particularly critical as FMERA expects some of the projects to close this year.
The project will be put out to bid. FMERA will provide a $10,000 deposit and anticipates a later contribution for a portion of the costs. The Bowling Center purchaser, Parker Creek Partners LLC, is estimated to pay $104,480. Discussions with Eatontown, which has some sewer line responsibility, are ongoing, Steadman said. The artists’ community will not bear any cost responsibility.
The county’s contribution is expected to be covered by the in-kind services it has been providing since locating a satellite DPW facility at the fort’s former motor pool, including landscaping, snowplowing and more.
“Monmouth County engineering and New Jersey American Water must agree on the traffic plan, like in all road projects,” Steadman noted. “The county will attempt to keep at least one lane open during construction. Following the bid process, New Jersey American Water is in a position to finish the actual work, which should take only a couple of weeks, this summer.”
TWO LIQUOR LICENSES ADVANCE
Two Eatontown properties have been recommended by FMERA for approval for new liquor licenses. The special consumption licenses are for the Bowling Center on Route 537 and Suneagles Golf Course at Tinton Avenue and Hope Road.
Parker Creek Partners LLC is the contract purchaser for the Bowling Center and Martelli Development Group LLC is the contract purchaser for the golf course.
The Bowling Center is slated to be renovated and expanded into an entertainment complex that will include a restaurant/bar, indoor and outdoor games and entertainment. Suneagles will continue as a golf course, with the addition of a new residential community that will include 75 townhomes, a 600-person banquet facility, tavern and pro shop. The course, which includes the historic Gibbs Hall, had been continuously operating under a lease with a concessionaire license until it was temporarily closed via a statewide edict resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic.
“They (Martelli) don’t fully own the property yet,” Steadman said. “All the boxes have been checked except for county review of the site development plan and sanitary sewer review by the Two River Water Reclamation Authority. The target closing is May 1 and I am still hopeful.”
In 2018, to help spur and support the fort’s redevelopment and create jobs, Gov. Phil Murphy authorized expanding the number of on-site retail consumption licenses within its boundaries to 12, to be distributed among the fort’s three host municipalities; six for Eatontown, four for Oceanport and two for Tinton Falls. The issuance of licenses is a cooperative effort between FMERA and the towns. The authority recently set basic criteria, while the municipalities are each establishing their own criteria and sale prices. FMERA is responsible for identifying qualifying projects and recommends those projects to the towns for individual determination. Details of FMERA’s general requirements and evaluation criteria are available on its website.
Commenting on the coronavirus restrictions, Steadman said, “I have been impressed with how quickly all the people at all the various agencies we deal with at the state, county and local levels have gotten into the boat. We are working on a new plan and path forward. We will get up to speed quickly and put that plan into place.”
The article originally appeared in the March 26- April 1, 2020 print edition of The Two River Times.
Tours Canceled as Fort Announces Continuing Operating Procedures
FORT MONMOUTH – As of this week, Fort Monmouth had not been enlisted by the state or federal government to join efforts to combat the coronavirus.
The 1,126-acre fort, which spans portions of Eatontown, Oceanport and Tinton Falls, is in various stages of redevelopment. Some buildings have already been purchased and redeveloped. Others have been purchased and are in the process of renovation. More are in various stages of the purchase process. Officials say that accounts for about 75 percent of the former U.S. Army base.
As The Two River Times has witnessed during several tours, remaining buildings not yet put up for bid or slated for demolition have been vacant and unused for as long as 10 or more years. Those are considered functionally obsolete, with nonworking plumbing and/ or HVAC systems. Some have deteriorated and would require a substantial time period and significant funds to rehabilitate to be suitable for occupancy.
But the fort does have areas that could be used for temporary field hospitals or staging areas.
“We continue to support and work with state and federal officials as needed,” Bruce Steadman, executive director of the Fort Monmouth Economic Revitalization Authority (FMERA) said March 19, the day after that body held its first regular monthly meeting via teleconference after closing its offices two days prior. “Our staff continues to work off-site, using best efforts to continue the successful redevelopment of Fort Monmouth during this challenging time, while ensuring the health and safety of our team, partners, and stakeholders.”
While staff is available via cell phone and email during normal business hours, site tours by prospective bidders are postponed and meetings are being rescheduled as teleconferences. Construction on parcels in the midst of redevelopment is continuing in most cases, subject to Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and other guidelines, including observing social distance requirements, Steadman said, adding particulars of those situations are the responsibility of each parcel’s new owner.
One example is East Gate, the residential development by RPM Development that turned the fort’s 100-year-old Officers Housing into modern townhomes and detached dwellings. Prospective buyers can still tour the community, according to a statement from RPM on March 24: “The development firm, along with CB New Homes, the community’s exclusive sales agent, has enacted measures to allow prospects to safely tour the homes and neighborhood and alleviate some of the concerns associated with COVID-19. The sales gallery is open and buyers can still discuss the homes at East Gate with a sales representative by calling 732- 523-5566.” Additional information is available at eastgateoceanport.com.
Until further notice, all regular mail FMERA mail should be addressed to Fort Monmouth, P.O. Box 267 Oceanport, NJ 07757. UPS and FedEx deliveries and/or package drop-offs should be coordinated through Regina McGrade, FMERA administrative manager, at rmcgrade@njeda.com. Staff advising those involved in fort projects continue to work directly with project managers “using best efforts to move projects for ward, subject to possible closures and other restrictions,” FMERA said in a statement. Additional information is available at fortmonmouthnj.com.
“I could make a list of things that are interrupted, but the focus of our team is first and foremost to remain open daily, remotely working on FMERA business,” Steadman said. “During this unprecedented public health crisis, FMERA remains committed to its mission. Although we’ve shifted our operations, we’re working diligently to maintain the utmost continuity.”
