Rebuilding: Fort Monmouth – Part 3

This portion of the article series on rebuilding Fort Monmouth will focus on the reuse of older buildings on the site, the plans for new building projects, and the latest ideas for development of specific parcels of land throughout the entire site. The political impact of the redevelopment process will also be covered in this installment.

Buildings Old & New

The proposed redevelopment of Fort Monmouth contains many provisions for the use of existing military buildings both old and new. The challenge will be to find appropriate partners in the construction, real estate, and business communities who will work to repurpose the existing buildings in the most efficient manner.

The massive barracks buildings along Oceanport Avenue will remain intact, and while their use is still uncertain, the most likely scenario would have them be refurbished into apartment units (www.app.com).  That proposed usage would also count towards the housing component of the rebuilding plan for the site.

The historic buildings on the Oceanport side of the base will be preserved and restored, but their eventual end use is still in question at this point. The proposal which had the most traction was the relocation of the municipal government offices for Oceanport onto that portion of the site (www.app.com).

However, after some discussions between officials from Oceanport and the FMERA board, the decision was made to not pursue the relocation of the municipal government offices to that site. In my opinion, I think that was a mistake because those buildings are a great location for a local government office setup. The FMERA board has stated that they want to pursue a business tenant for that area.

In my view, I think that strategy is not feasible because most businesses do not want to be constrained by moving into an older facility that they cannot alter or upgrade. In addition, most businesses do not want the responsibility and cost factor associated with maintaining the historic facades on those types of historic buildings. The most reasonable tenant for that area of the site would be a local, state, or federal government entity.

The former health clinic on the fort and the adjoining 16 acres was sold to Acute Health Care Systems in September 2012 for $2.7 million (www.app.com). That clinic was very busy having at one point served all of those on the base. The facility expanded their health care service to include the retired and former military service members and their families across a wide regional radius.

The former fitness center, which includes a swimming pool, is in the process of being put up for sale. The bowling center, complete with 21 lanes, is also close to being posted for sale. The FMERA board has stated that both facilities are in good condition and are ready for operation by the right prospective owner (www.app.com). These additions would be welcomed by the residents in those local towns because both the fitness center and the bowling alley fill a void for recreational activity.

The FMERA board is also working to find the appropriate developer for a proposed “Commerce Center” on Pinebrook Road (www.app.com). The search for     a developer continues for some of the buildings on the Main Post site including building 286, and the McAfee Center, both which are slated to be developed as office and laboratory space, if the right private sector tenants can be identified. 

The parcel “B” land is currently in negotiations with a developer for an as yet undisclosed purpose, according to FMERA. That part of the site contains barracks which date back to the Korean War which will be demolished once the deal is finalized with the developer and the contractor (www.app.com). The fort contains many areas like this section with unused older buildings which should see a dramatic change during this redevelopment process.

The parcel “C” section of land located in the Charles Wood section of the base is potentially going to be redeveloped as a mixed-use residential and retail town center for Tinton Falls (www.app.com). In my opinion, this planned use for this particular parcel is a very sensible proposal because it would bring much needed residential units to the area, provide retail services and jobs as well as deliver a centralized “town square” type of area for Tinton Falls. The township of Tinton Falls currently lacks a focal area such as the one being proposed on this land.

A similar plan is being discussed for the land between Oceanport Creek and Oceanport Avenue, if the right developer is interested. The Borough of Oceanport is proposing a “Main Street” type of mixed-use development on that portion of the site. I think this is also a very prudent use for that portion of the land because Oceanport currently lacks a central area to their town, which this plan would adequately address.

The Myers building, which I can remember seeing from the road as a child in the back of my mother’s car, is a gigantic structure on a plot which totals 74 acres that FMERA is seeking to redevelop. The objective for this piece of land is the construction of a high-tech commercial park there according to The Asbury Park Press.

Political Impact

In my research and preparation of this article series, I have learned a great deal about the political impact of FMERA and the ramifications of the decisions regarding the plan to redevelop this important site.

I have been particularly struck by the differences in how each individual town involved has handled this project. The three mayors from the respective boroughs of Oceanport, Eatontown, and Tinton Falls have positions on the FMERA board. Each mayor has handled that role differently in relation to their constituents.

 In some cases the information from the FMERA meetings is discussed at the local council meetings, and at other points it is discussed in a closed session. One mayor made local news here by being very open with the information discussed by FMERA, while another made headlines because he did not discuss the FMERA plans with anyone.

So the redevelopment of the old fort site is a political “hot potato” on the local level. It stands to reason that scrutiny will only intensify as the decisions surrounding the fort revitalization reach a more formative stage.

The political stakes are high with regard to this project, the decisions made relative to the rebuilding by the local officials can deliver huge potential tax revenue dollars. However, the wrong decision on a developer or a business tenant which does not work out could threaten to derail the entire process, years of work would go down the drain.

This article series will conclude with Part 4, which will cover the unique opportunity that the redevelopment of Fort Monmouth can provide to Monmouth County and New Jersey. It will provide insight into the sacrifices made by military service members in the days when the base was operational. It will also provide a look ahead into the future of what a new Fort Monmouth could mean for the next generation of residents here, and will include my perspective on these proposed changes.