Plan For Private Sandy Hook Apartments Moves Forward

HIGHLANDS, NJ – Private apartment rentals at Sandy Hook are one step closer to becoming reality.

Last Friday April 23, the Fort Hancock 21st Century Advisory Committee released a “general agreement” to begin a pilot program to convert up to two buildings at Officers' Row into private apartment rentals.

Friday's agreement is a compromise between the area's local Congressman Rep. Frank Pallone, the National Park Service and the developer, Stillman Development International.

Last March, the National Park Service revealed it was in talks with Stillman, who wanted to convert all 21 existing buildings at the tip of Sandy Hook into residential apartments, and open a convenience/liquor store, as well.

Congressman Pallone (Democrat-NJ6), who represents this area, was vehemently against the plan and vowed to fight it.

Friday's agreement resulted in Stillman being allowed to move forward under a pilot that would allow one or two of the buildings to be turned into apartment rentals, with the ultimate goal of seeing whether larger development is feasible at the tip of Sandy Hook.

Matt Montekio, Pallone’s district director, said the congressman would agree to that.

“The congressman would prefer if the Park Service started with a pilot program in one or two buildings,” Monteiko told the advisory committee Friday, according to the Asbury Park Press.

The homes are known locally as "Officers' Row," pictured above. They are a collection of World War I and II-era officers' homes when Sandy Hook was Fort Hancock, the U.S. Army base. These are waterfront properties that are just steps away from the beach, bay and biking and walking trails, plus feature stunning views of the sunset over Sandy Hook Bay. There is also direct ferry service to New York City.

Sandy Hook is part of Gateway National Recreation Area and it is owned and maintained by the National Park Service.

The developer's original plan:

In 2020, Manhattan-based Stillman said they wanted to convert 21 historic buildings at Fort Hancock into apartments and a food/liquor store.

It was the National Park Service that announced Stillman's plans, and they backed the idea. In fact, last year the federal government said they were "excited" by Stillman's pitch.

For decades now, the National Park Service has been eager to see the vacant properties developed. Past plans have included attempts to turn the homes into bed & breakfasts, AirB&B-style short-term rentals, private homes and more. But few ideas have ever successfully panned out.

The National Park Service has said for years it does not have the money to do upkeep on the properties, and the buildings are now dilapidated and falling into ruin.

The 21 homes on Officers' Row would be converted into apartments, with three units in each home. The convenience store would also have a liquor license, according to the Two River Times.

Initial plans called for 93 apartments total once complete. The exterior of the historic homes would look the same as it does now, but each home would house three apartments inside.

According to the proposal, 45 apartments, also known as the Lieutenant’s Quarters, would be leased out for $2,100/month and 30 apartments called the Captain’s Quarters would rent for $2,350/month, according to the NJ Sierra Club, which opposes the plan.

Pallone immediately said last year he was against the plan.

"I am adamantly opposed to any development for residential purposes and strongly encourage you to prevent this private development at Sandy Hook," Pallone wrote in this letter to the Superintendent of Gateway National Recreation Area, which you can read here.

After Friday's compromise was announced, the NJ Sierra Club said even allowing such a pilot to move forward is "like the camel putting its nose in the tent. Once they do this, it will lead to an expanded pilot program and then privatization," said Jeff Tittel.

"Instead, we should be coming up with a real plan to fix up the park and maintain public access. These areas can’t become private enclaves. Sandy Hook is going to be getting billions of dollars in federal funding from the Great American Outdoors Act, which can help fix Sandy Hook."

Last year, the U.S. Department of the Interior announced that Sandy Hook and the Delaware Water Gap will receive funding under the Great American Outdoors Act. The funds will go toward fixing the seawalls on Sandy Hook, but Tittel said they should divert some of that to restore Officers' Row.

Monmouth County backs apartment idea

Monmouth County Freeholder Lillian Burry, who serves on the Fort Hancock Advisory Committee, disagreed with Pallone, saying the county backs the apartment plan.

At a time when there is so much economic uncertainty, allowing a developer to restore the Fort Hancock structures would help maintain the property's long history, Burry said at this public hearing on the matter in November.

Burry said Monmouth County wants to put an end to the deterioration that is taking place at many of the buildings, and to restore and revitalize the structures, which — she said — makes Stillman the perfect partner to carry on the project.

"To those that would say, 'do nothing', that 'do nothing' is what has brought us to this point," said Burry, a Republican, in November. "The continuation of passive neglect would be nothing less than dereliction of our duty. If there are better ideas with concrete proposals, they should be brought forward at this time. If there are not, we should move ahead with the understanding that failure to do so will come with consequences that are both adverse and predictable."

Ongoing Patch reporting on private apartments at Sandy Hook: Public Debate Over Private Development Of Sandy Hook Rages On (Nov. 24, 2020)

Developer Wants To Build Sandy Hook Apts.; Congressman Opposed (March 2020)

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