By Laura D.C. Kolnoski
OCEANPORT – Over 85 developers, real estate professionals, engineering firms, investment firms, architects, construction professionals and attorneys from the tristate area attended a recent showcase on the future redevelopment of an 80-acre section of the former Fort Monmouth along the NJ Transit tracks, slated to become a transit-oriented development.
Known as the “400 Area,” the parcel will become a residential/commercial/mixed-use development designed to take advantage of the nearby Little Silver train station, with features that encourage walking, biking and transit ridership. Using “smart” design principles, the area should create a sense of place with plazas, parks, seating, wide sidewalks and ample lighting.
The site’s Request for Offers to Purchase (RFOTP) is expected to be released soon by the Fort Monmouth Economic Revitalization Authority (FMERA). Feedback and comments received from attendees at the Jan. 29 showcase are being taken into consideration as FMERA staff prepares the final bid parameters.
“This was the largest turnout we’ve had for a showcase event, so we anticipate a great response to this RFOTP,” said FMERA senior marketing and development officer Sarah Giberson. “Our primary objective was to share what we believe is the ideal development scenario for this property based on the Fort Monmouth Reuse & Redevelopment Plan, Oceanport’s From Fort To Village: A Vision for Oceanport’s Fort Monmouth plan and the surrounding redevelopment projects. We’re targeting a mixed-use, transit-oriented development because the 400 Area presents a unique opportunity to leverage the property’s proximity to the train station, waterfront features and available acreage.”
The 400 Area is one of three town centers planned for each of the municipalities the fort spans – Eatontown, Oceanport and Tinton Falls. The Tinton Falls town center is under construction by homebuilder Lennar, which also just reached an initial agreement with FMERA to create Eatontown’s town center.
The basic FMERA reuse plan for the 400 Area calls for up to 234 residential units, 20 percent of which must be affordable, up to 200,000 square feet of commercial space and a mix of uses including housing, offices, shops, markets, restaurants, services and parking, along with arts, culture and entertainment options. The area borders Parker Creek, where the shops, restaurants and plazas could be located. Jitney service is also planned.
Showcase attendees received an overview of the fort’s redevelopment, viewed a presentation on the transit village and took part in a bus tour of that site and other fort redevelopment highlights.
“While FMERA will consider concepts that do not fully capture a Main Street character, we’re optimistic that this event laid the groundwork for our expectations for this critically important parcel,” Giberson said. Oceanport Mayor Jay Coffey and Councilman Tom Tvrdik also attended.
“It was a great factual presentation of what opportunities are being offered there,” Coffey said Feb. 22. “It’s a blank slate with fewer limitations than other fort parcels. It’s Oceanport’s biggest fort development and the most exciting.” Coffey said his primary concern is the 400 Area’s adjacent existing residential community.
“I spoke to the developers at the presentation and stressed their concept must take the residents there into consideration,” Coffey continued. “We want a development that impacts our school system the least, but provides options for people who want to live in the borough. Oceanport’s part of the fort will look different than the rest of the fort, with a different feel and vibe and that’s OK. This development will infuse new life into our town.”
The article originally appeared in the March 5-11, 2020 print edition of The Two River Times.
