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“Reiterating Answers” To Questions About Sandy Hook Development 10-01-2004 This past weekend, Congressman Frank Pallone conducted a public hearing to discuss the public-private partnership between Sandy Hook Partners and the National Park Service for the rehabilitation of 36 National Historic Landmark buildings at Fort Hancock. We wanted to take this opportunity to thank the Congressman, elected officials, business and community leaders for their interest in and passion for Fort Hancock and Sandy Hook Gateway Recreational Area. We share your passion and your commitment. Sandy Hook is indeed a very special place. It is a place of natural wonder, ecological importance, a long proud history of service to our community and our nation, personal memories, and of prestigious organizations such as the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration, the U.S. Coast Guard, the Littoral and Audubon Societies, Clean Ocean Action and many others. David Hollenberg, Bob McIntosh and Richard Wells all attended the forum on behalf of the National Park Service. I want to commend these public servants on their dedication to the preservation of history and to our country’s park system. We would like to take this opportunity to reiterate the answers to the questions that were posed prior to the meeting and during the forum. It has been asked what Sandy Hook Partners and the National Park Service are doing to prevent further deterioration to these historic buildings including the 1878 Officers Club. The answer simply is that is the purpose of our public-private partnership-to prevent further deterioration of these beautiful buildings and to preserve our nation’s history. Our 60 year lease requires that we rehabilitate these buildings within the guidelines of the National Park Service’s requirements for historic structures and under the oversight of the State Historic Preservation Office. It is important to understand that historic buildings only continue to be preserved after rehabilitation through continued use. In addition, given the nature of storms that have tested the east coast in the past few months, we have worked out a winterization plan for the buildings to immediately protect them from the ‘further ravages’ of mother nature. Public Accessibility has been another reoccurring issue. Since Fort Hancock was decommissioned in 1972, there has been limited accessibility to the historic buildings for safety reasons, as well as, the vacancy of the structures. Current park partners that conduct business year round at Fort Hancock do from time to time have meetings and/or special events that the public is invited to participate in. One example is Fort Hancock Day, when the National Park Service conducts historic tours of the batteries. As we rehabilitate these buildings and implement our programs, approximately half of the buildings will be accessible to the general public. The balance will be used by tenants such as Rutgers University, Brookdale Community College and the Hyperbaric Research Center. A non-profit organization has been established to create a Military Club and Museum in the Officers Club for public use, to celebrate the military and maritime history of Fort Hancock and our armed services. This organization includes veterans, defense contractors and community leaders, who will help raise monies through grants, sponsorships, individual contributions as we rehabilitate this wonderful structure. And many of the buildings will be available to the public and community organizations for special events, educational programs and meetings. In addition, many of the Officers Row homes will be available to the public for overnight accommodations and meetings. The tenant for the hospitality program is a partnership between a New Jersey investor/developer with vast experience in residential and historic properties and an operating partner. The affordability of these facilities is being determined by a nationally recognized hospitality consultant who is researching fair market value within industry accepted practices and our marketplace. These buildings will accommodate visiting researchers and professors, graduate students, corporate and community meeting attendees among other hospitality participants. We are excited that also included in Phase I of the project is Building 23, a Barracks Building that will be used as an education center. Tenants include Rutgers University’s Institute of Marine and Coastal Sciences and Brookdale Community College. Both of these institutions are expanding on their already successful marine/environmental research and education programs, and have received a Jacques Cousteau grant for this expansion. We are also speaking with other educational entities that would provide specialized satellite programs to the children of the local communities. Building 26, the Mule Barn will be leased by two metropolitan restauranteurs who together have expertise and involvement in restauranst and catering facilities with experience in waterfront facilities. This building served as the noncommissioned officers club when Fort Hancock was on active duty for the U.S. Army. The Chapel will begin the Arts program and provide a venue for arts classes, educational programs and meetings. It will be leased by the Fort Foundation for Arts and Education and will be financed by a local philanthropist and investor. Many of my neighbors have asked about the current park partners. These organizations will remain the tenants of the National Park Service and will be unaffected by the 36 buildings that we are rehabilitating. However we will be working with them to deliver the upgraded infrastructure and services that we are bringing to Fort Hancock. It is important to note that the National Park Service has used public private partnerships as a resource for almost 100 years. Examples of these partnerships include the Lodge at Yellowstone National Park, and the Seagull’s Nest at Sandy Hook. The NPS mission includes the preservation of historic properties. And since Fort Hancock has received the highest designation of our national, that of a National Historic Landmark district, the Park Service cannot allow these treasures to fall down. The uses that we have proposed for the buildings are close to the past historic uses and are addressing the need of our community and our region. We do not affect any open land nor are we adding any new construction. We look forward to a successful partnership with the National Park Service and to putting these National Historic Landmark buildings back on active duty. Sandy Hook Partners will continue to update the community on our progress, our tenants and our financing during our rehabilitation process. And we look forward to complementing and continuing to enjoy the many park activities that will remain in place. |
