Commercial and Residential Construction Begin

            Mayor Jimmy Davis announced that City officials joined developers and others for two ground-breaking ceremonies at the former Military Ocean Terminal (MOT) on April 11.

            Across from the new fire station on Chosin Few Way, City Council President Sharon Ashe-Nadrowski began the Costco ground-breaking ceremony by saying, “Today is a great day for Bayonne.”  She reminded the audience that major construction was beginning at the former MOT “after eighteen years of false starts.”  Costco has a chain of warehouse department stores that offer consumer goods and multi-pump gas stations to the buying public. Council President Ashe-Nadrowski said that the new development would mean jobs for Bayonne residents and the arrival of ferry service.  “More and more good things are happening for Bayonne,” she said. 

Council President Ashe-Nadrowski pointed out that BCB Community Bank, a Bayonne-based financial business, is providing the financing for the Costco construction.  BCB President Thomas Coughlin exclaimed, “What an exciting time for Bayonne!”  He thanked the BCB loan team for working on the financial package for the storeâ€s construction.  Mr. Coughlin also thanked Mayor Davis for bringing Costco to Bayonne.

Joseph Forgione, President and CEO of JMF Properties, the developer, said that he first met with Mayor Davis two years ago.  At that time, Forgione said, Mayor Davis asked him to bring a Costco store to Bayonne.  Now that construction is starting, Mr. Forgione said, “Itâ€s exciting for Bayonne.” 

Mayor Davis thanked Council President Ashe-Nadrowski and the rest of the City Council Members for supporting economic development in Bayonne.  Mayor Davis noted that various people had made “many promises over the last eighteen years” concerning the former Military Ocean Terminal.  Mayor Davis said, “We are finally delivering on those promises.”  He pointed out that during the period of Bayonneâ€s ownership of the former military base, Bayonne has received little money from that property.  Mayor Davis said that now the land would be providing jobs and helping the finances of the City.  He referred to Costco as “one of the top employers,” and said that today was “a big day” and “a great day.”  Mayor Davis thanked BCB Community Bank for working with the City of Bayonne on the Costco development.

Following the spoken remarks, City officials, the developer, and BCB representatives posed with a construction worker and a piece of heavy equipment that broke ground for Costco.

After the ceremony at the Costco site, City officials moved to Atlantic Realtyâ€s property in the Bayonne Bay area for a second ground-breaking ceremony.  Atlantic Realty will be constructing a 525-unit luxury townhouse development that will include a clubhouse.  Jack Halpern, Chairman of Halpern Enterprises and former President of Atlantic Realty, thanked Mayor Davis “for his leadership.”   Mayor Davis said that the Atlantic Realty development would create “a new revenue stream for Bayonne,” and would also attract new residents to the community.  He thanked the City Council, Land Use Administrator Lillian Glazewski, and engineering consultant Andy Reichle for their work on the project.  City officials joined the management of Atlantic Realty for a ground-breaking with ceremonial shovels.

The Atlantic Realty development will include townhouse buildings designed by Berkowsky and Associates of Cranbury, New Jersey, and a clubhouse designed by the Appel Design Group of Livingston, New Jersey.

The post Ground-Breaking Ceremonies Held for Costco and Atlantic Realty at Former MOT first appeared on River View Observer.

(Bayonne, NJ) – Bayonne Mayor Jimmy Davis today announced the sale of approximately 30 acres of the former Military Ocean Terminal (“MOTBY”) to Atlantic Realty of Woodbridge. Atlantic Realty was designated the developer in 2006 under Mayor Doria. The plan calls for construction of 525 residential units, park space, new roads and addition to the Hudson River Walkway. The Project has long been delayed by lawsuits that were finally settled in the spring of 2015 under Mayor Davis. According to the Developer, Jack Halpern, they hope to be under construction by the fall or early spring of 2018 at the latest.

Mayor Davis stated, “This is a long awaited event in the development of MOTBY and for the future direction of Bayonne. The actual transfer of land to a developer is the result of many hours spent by my administration in removing the obstacles to development that have long prevented Bayonne from realizing the potential of this land.” Council President Sharon Ashe Nadrowski indicated, “After sixteen years itâ€s time to deliver on the promises that were made long ago and begin building for our future. I am just happy that I could be a part of making this a reality and look forward to the other developments that are also scheduled to take place on MOTBY and throughout town.”

Bayonne Bay West is a small part of the overall plan for development at MOTBY. In addition to this development, the City expects Fidelco to begin construction shortly on 200 residential units at Harbor Station South and for JMF Development to initiate construction of substantial retail space at Harbor Station North. 

Mayor Davis noted, “Although this is a major development, it is part of an overall plan to redevelop the city. Bayonne is beginning to see the early signs of growth, with projects under way near the 22^nd street light rail station and on Broadway. Saint Barnabas is scheduled to be completed by July of 2017 and other developments are being planned for long abandoned empty lots and the expansion of South Cove Commons is on the horizon.

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The post Bayonne Mayor Jimmy Davis Announces Sale of Bayonne Bay West first appeared on River View Observer.