Politics & Government
Oceanport Negotiating Fort Monmouth Marina Operations With Bidders
The bids the borough has received did not meet requirements.
By Christopher Sheldon
The Oceanport Council will now begin negotiating with bidders to operate the Fort Monmouth marina it is leasing from the Fort Monmouth Economic Revitalization Authority (FMERA).
The borough began leasing the property from FMERA last month and is now looking to hire a company to maintain and run it this summer.
Oceanport Mayor Michael Mahon said the borough has gone out to bid twice to find someone who will act as a concessionaire for the property, but that the bids did not meet the borough's requirements.
"It did not attract the attention we thought it woud," Mahon said.
Mahon said that it is now able to negotiate with bidders for the property, because it has already been put out to bid twice.
Mahon said the marina property has tremendous value for the borough.
"It has value because of its location opposite Old Wharf Park, it has value to the community and it also has value as a business," Mahon said. "The ability to have a restaurant on the premises with a liquor license should be a primary interest to many (bidders)."
The marina is a 3.9-acre parcel located at Oceanport and Riverside Avenues in Oceanport. The property consists of a 71-slip marina and boat launch ramp on Oceanport Creek, a 2,600-square-foot boat house, two administrative buildings and off-street parking.
The reuse plan for the site states that it must maintain its use as a marina but can also have a restaurant.
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He said the value of the property will diminish the longer it stays inactive and that he hopes a bidder will be selected soon.
"We want to make sure it doesn't lose value," he said. "Eventually it will become a taxpayer to the borough."
The company selected to run the marina, will be responsible to repair its floating docks and boathouse, which were damaged by Hurricane Sandy last October.
Oceanport's sublease with FMERA for the marina is good for one year, but there is also a 6-month option to extend the lease.
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