replace contamination with recreation
Firm seeks to
replace contamination with recreation
By tara Petersen
Staff Writer
A combination stadium and arena could one day make Sayreville a major destination for sports fans.
A waterfront sports complex, complete with a hotel and convention center, upscale retail stores, and a marina with ferry service to New York, is part of an estimated $250 million plan by Global Redevelopment Corp. (GRC) of Newark to redevelop the National Lead (NL) Industries site, according to Peter English, the company’s vice president.
GRC presented the concept to the Sayreville Economic Redevelopment Agency (SERA) at its June 26 meeting.
Mayor Kennedy O’Brien, a SERA commissioner, said after the presentation that the agency "would like to move forward with more serious discussions" on that proposal.
GRC’s trademark "Arenum" — part 8,500-seat indoor arena, part 5,500-seat stadium — would become a venue for concerts, indoor football, basketball, ice hockey and minor league baseball, according to English.
"A project of this magnitude will put Sayreville on the map as a destination," English said.
SERA, an independent, self-financed agency created by the borough in 1998, has attempted to gain control of the approximately 400 acres owned by NL Industries along the Raritan Bay waterfront for several years.
SERA hopes to clean up and redevelop the site that NL used for paint pigment production until the corporation shut down its manufacturing plant in 1982.
"We have the right to condemn the land, but we are in negotiations (on the price)," O’Brien said.
While SERA appraisers have said the NL Industries land is worth $32 million, the agency has previously offered to buy the property for $4 million, saying that it will cost $28 million to clean up the property. NL Industries representatives meanwhile contend the property is worth at least $100 million.
If a 110-acre section of the property is acquired and redeveloped with the multi-use complex now being proposed, Sayreville "will get some substantial (tax) ratables," according to GRC President and Chief Executive Officer John Meo. However, he said there are still too many variables to attach a dollar figure at this time.
O’Brien has previously said he believes the entire 400-plus acre National Lead property could yield $20 million in annual property taxes, once cleaned up and given a new, productive use.
SERA members asked about a similar plan proposed by GRC to Perth Amboy. English said GRC did make that proposal, but the 50 acres of land that was available there was too small for the plans to work.
English said the plan was "not made around Sayreville’s goals, but meets and, in some cases, exceeds their goals."
SERA’s stated goals include an increase in the property tax base of the borough, waterfront public access, the creation of job opportunities for area residents, and the avoidance of "exceeding the capacity of local roads in or beyond the redevelopment area."
According to English, there will be "no additional traffic problem," because of the complex’s proximity to Route 35 and the Garden State Parkway. More than half the waterfront land in question is located between Route 35 and the Garden State Parkway, while another tract is east of both highways.
The state Department of Transportation already has plans to modify the two major highways to accommodate an on/off-ramp nearby. Also, a full north/south interchange is being planned for Garden State Parkway Exit 125 at Chevalier Avenue. A new interchange, Exit 124, may also be added at the former site of a Conrail line near Kennedy Drive.
Concerning the creation of jobs, Meo said "some studies have shown that approximately 5,000 part-time, full-time and construction jobs" can be created with a project of this nature.
When prompted by O’Brien, English said it would be no problem to include a "hire Sayreville (residents) first" policy.
O’Brien also asked about the allowances that will be made for the borough’s use. English said he might be able to work out an agreement where the borough can use facilities, such as the hockey rink, for free.
According to English, there will be two secondary ice rinks that will be "permanently public." English also said the waterways would have public access.
The proposal even suggested a "fire and ice" theme, and a baseball team name: the Sayreville Sea Dragons. According to English, the stadium scoreboard would include a dragon that would breathe fire after a home run with the press of a button.
Meo said there are a number of baseball leagues interested in playing at the stadium, one of which may have an affiliation with a major league team.
Meo estimates that, in contrast with the amount of money typically spent by a family attending a major league baseball game, this venue will cost around "$40 to $60 for a family of four," including tickets and concessions.
Meo also said the project includes an "experiential learning center," to teach hotel, retail, marina and sports management.
GRC plans to incorporate environmentally friendly energy sources such as solar energy for heating water, and geothermal heating and air conditioning, according to Meo.
English said the project would take two years to complete once the ground is broken. He also said construction would take place simultaneously throughout the property, rather than in phases.
Randy Corman, SERA’s executive director, said he has received a lot of positive feedback from Sayreville residents about the concept. However, he said he remains cautiously optimistic because "the real difficult part of redevelopment is to take a dream and make it a reality."
"Before the concept plan becomes bricks and mortar, it needs to be carefully scrutinized," Corman added.
Corman said Tuesday that he was in the process of setting up meetings between GRC and SERA members that could take place within the next few weeks.