By Joshua Burd
The state is seeking a buyer for nearly 300 acres at Fort Monmouth, the site of what it hopes will be a large-scale project to join other redevelopment efforts at the former U.S. Army base.
Located in Eatontown and Oceanport, the so-called Mega Parcel is currently home to a mix of residential, administrative, research and development and other types of buildings, according to a news release. The Fort Monmouth Economic Revitalization Authority on Tuesday said it had issued a request for offers to purchase the roughly 289-acre tract, touting its location along Route 35 and easy access to other parts of the region.
Responses are due Jan. 12. The authority, also known FMERA, is only accepting offers from parties interested in buying the entire property.
In its solicitation, the state said it would entertain proposals focused on high-wage, high-growth areas such as life sciences, information and high tech, clean energy, food and beverage and film and digital media, reflecting a key piece of Gov. Phil Murphy’s economic agenda. FMERA also cited potential uses such as a regional cultural and entertainment center that can include performance centers, theaters, film and television production facilities and museums.
Any redevelopment will be subject to the Fort Monmouth Reuse and Redevelopment Plan and FMERA’s land use regulations and design and development guidelines, the agency said. The plan has guided the state’s efforts at the 1,126-acre property for much of the last decade, which has included taking over the site from the Army after the site was decommissioned.
As of earlier this year, FMERA had sold, placed under contract or entered negotiations for some 80 percent of the Fort’s total acreage. The property in recent years has attracted a host of high-profile developers and operators in the residential, office, education and health care sectors, among others.