Politics & Government

Transforming Fort Hancock on Sandy Hook: What Would You Suggest?

If you were asked to brainstorm ideas to bring new life to the Fort Hancock Historic District on Sandy Hook, while preserving the park's peace, serenity and wildlife, what would you suggest? 

The National Park Service, working with the Fort Hancock 21st Century Advisory Committee, actually wants to hear your proposal. The advisory group is comprised of stakeholders in various capacities in the area, such as mayors. Rumson Mayor John Ekdahl and Middletown Committeeman Tony Fiore were among those chosen to serve on the committee.

The new plan will not mimic the failed, contentious James Wassel plan that was hatched more than a decade ago, park officials have said. Read more by clicking here.

"Adaptive reuse of historic buildings is the first big step in saving Fort Hancock's historic landscape," the NPS said in a statement. 

There are 35 buildings at the tip of Sandy Hook. Proposals to transform one or all of them may be submitted by individuals, educational institutions, government and quasi-government agencies, as well as non-profit and for-profits. 

"The main post area of Fort Hancock could be redeveloped as a campus environment, similar to California's Cavallo Point (formerly Fort Baker) in the Golden Gate National Recreation Area," the NPS writes in its brochure. "Alternatively, it could take on new life with facilities redeveloped as individual residences. Mixed use concepts of many other types could be considered, limited only by the creativity and imagination of the offeror."
 
Interested?  Download the NPS's Expression of Interest (RFEI) documents at www.forthancock21stcentury.org. The brochure and tear sheet are also attached to this article. 

Site visits for interested parties will be held at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 6 and Thursday, November 14. 

Direct questions to forthancock21stcentury@yahoo.com. Final submissions are due on Monday, December 16.


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