From Forbes:
NJ redevelopment plan to be shown
Sprawled across 1,100 acres, Fort Monmouth occupies a good chunk of New Jersey, but its high-tech mission constitutes an even larger contribution to the state’s economy.
But with the Army base scheduled to close in 2011, the focus is on civilian redevelopment of the base, which lies along one of the Jersey shore’s commercial corridors and also touches scenic waterways.
The preliminary redevelopment plan will be revealed in Eatontown Tuesday, ahead of a public meeting Wednesday at Monmouth Regional High School in Tinton Falls. The fort is part of those towns and Oceanport.
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‘There is an emphasis on high-technology job retention through utilization of existing buildings that are wired for high-technology, but it will include elements for housing, retail, other commercial elements as well,’ said Jack Donnelly, a policy adviser for Gov. Jon S. Corzine who has been assisting the Fort Monmouth Economic Revitalization Planning Authority.The preliminary plan was developed during dozens of public meetings the authority has held since being formed nearly two years ago.
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The fort is important to the state, as its payroll for about 5,500 workers approaches $500 million and its overall economic impact is estimated at $2.5 billion annually by the state Commerce, Economic Growth & Tourism Commission. That includes money spent locally by workers and support jobs that involve about 22,000 people.Nearly all the workers are civilians, and it is unclear how many will want to relocate to Maryland, where work has started on Fort Monmouth’s future home at the Aberdeen Proving Ground.
From the APP:
Fort could go green
Fort Monmouth’s future will lean heavily on the growing alternative-energy industry, feature community centers in each of its host towns and ample walking trails and green space, according to a draft redevelopment plan being shopped by the fort’s redevelopment authority.
But according to the plan — shown to reporters Tuesday — it could take decades to replace the fort’s more than 5,000 high-tech jobs and regain the billions it currently pumps into the state’s economy.
The concept redevelopment plan, scheduled to be unveiled at a meeting tonight in Tinton Falls, calls for nearly $1 billion in construction and renovation of the fort’s more than 1,100 acres — including office space, residential units, retail and two hotels. The cost does not include the price of the fort’s property, which will be set by the Department of Defense.
The post’s 18-hole golf course would remain, but under private ownership. Much of the fort’s other recreational facilities — such as its bowling alley and marina — would also remain.
The plan seems to have the support of officials from the surrounding municipalities.
“It has all the elements that we have been advocating all along,” said Eatontown Mayor Gerald J. Tarantolo. “I think it’s all starting to fall into place.”
Fort Monmouth — which employs 5,000, supports an additional 22,000 jobs and pumps about $3.2 billion a year into the state’s economy — is slated to close in a little more than three years as a result of a nationwide consolidation of military installations that took place in 2005. Much of its research and development mission is to be transferred to Aberdeen Proving Ground in Maryland.
But officials said it could take up to 20 years to replace the fort’s economic power.
“It has the capability of developing a lot faster than that, but history tells us not to be too optimistic,” said Frank Cosentino, executive director of the Fort Monmouth Economic Revitalization Planning Authority.