FMERA news: Dance Hall gets new owner

By Coleen Burnett

A Fort Monmouth property that will soon be getting a makeover, and a pending agreement with the Board of Chosen Freeholders were the two highlights of the August meeting of the Fort Monmouth Economic Revitalization Authority (FMERA).

The group voted unanimously to approve the RFOTP (Request For Offer To Purchase) between the Board and AP Development Partners, LLC for the Dance Hall in Oceanport. The 16,420 square-foot structure, located across the street from FMERA headquarters on Brewer Avenue and also known as Building 552, includes the Van Kirk Park Memorial in an approximately two-acre park to the south of the building.

The area is part of the Fort’s Green Tech Campus development district.

Originally built in 1941, the structure was planned to be torn down and simply be used as open space. However, the FMERA board later determined that the property had potential to be saved and reused again much like its original use — as a community space, or serving as a small entertainment and recreation area.

“AP Development plans to use the property for commercial and retail uses including entertainment and restaurant purposes,” according to the FMERA package announcing the agreement.

“Potential users of the facility include a restaurant/cafe, microbrewery and coffee roaster,” the agreement further states.

The total cost of the purchase is $120,000, but AP Development’s planned upgrades to the interior of the building and refurbishing its exterior could push up their initial investment to nearly $1.4 million.

The developer is obligated to create 48 full-time, permanent jobs with 18 months of occupying the property, or pay a penalty of up to $36,000.

It’s expected Van Kirk Park will be retained as open space and will host entertainment events throughout the year. Outdoor dining will be allowed in the adjacent lot, as well as a shared parking scenario in the parking lot across the street.

In another development, The Monmouth County Board of Chosen Freeholders is expected to advance a plan that guarantee up to $35 million in notes and bonds through the Monmouth County Improvement Authority (MCIA) to aid with the revitalization of Fort property. Final approval of the bond plan was expected at the Freeholder’s meeting August 24 in Ocean Township.

The move by the County means FMERA will acquire 560 acres from the United States Army as part of the Phase II redevelopment efforts at the Fort. The large parcel encompasses land within the boroughs of Eatontown and Oceanport, and is expected to deliver a much-needed economic boost to the region.
In a prepared statement released prior to the FMERA session, Freehold Director Thomas A. Arnone said he was pleased. “The best option for county taxpayers is for the County to assume the leadership role in regard to the Fort Monmouth Reuse Plan. We have a responsibility to ensure the property is returned to its once vital place in the economy of our county, and by guaranteeing the sale of these bonds we take an active role in the future successes for the site,” he said.

Eatontown Mayor Dennis Connelly praised Freeholder Lillian Burry, who sits on the FMERA board and was instrumental in getting the project finished.

“Eatontown has not seen anything {yet} with {the development of} Fort Monmouth, but we know good times are coming,” he said. “We’ve been waiting patiently, but we know good things will happen.”

Burry said there were a few misconceptions about the Freeholder Board’s guaranteeing the bonds that she wanted to set straight.

“The major one was that the state was stepping out and the Board of Freeholders was stepping in,” she said. “That was erroneous. I’m delighted to play a small role in this,” she added.