The northern entrance to Liberty State Park was just given the green light for a massive overhaul, despite notable political pushback, that will add a new yacht storage facility with various public benefits
During a meeting of the State House Commission earlier this month, a 5-2 vote of approval was granted to extend a lease with Suntex Marina for Investors for land located along the extreme northern end of Liberty State Park. The land is currently occupied by a marina overlooking Downtown Jersey City, but several issues have emerged with maintenance at the property.
Specifically, the bulkhead along the Hudson River Waterfront Walkway along the parcel is in dire condition. The property is also exposed to the elements and littered with storage containers and other infrastructure, which Suntex plans to address with a new indoor storage facility.
The deal approved by the commission will allow the private marina to take almost three acres of Liberty State Park for their facility while requiring them to give back about 10 acres of its 56 acres to the park so the state can build athletic fields, which are called for in the massive Liberty State Park expansion and revitalization plan.
The resolution as adopted by the board raises the annual rent from $300,000/year to a minimum of $800,000, with that minimum annual rent set to increase 10 percent every five years. The new lease is anticipated to generate a minimum of $122 million in rent over the life of the lease, according to the commission.
In terms of what Suntex is bringing to their portion of the property, a 500-boat slip dryrack facility will enclose and consolidate the current outdoor storage and service facilities at the site. The property will also receive updates, including new docks, pump out, electrical service, and a new ferry loading platform & accessibility improvements.
Benefits for those visiting the park who don’t own a boat include a concessions area in the building for the public, upgraded public restrooms, new lighting along promenade and public areas, plus an “artwalk” along the Hudson River Walkway. The work will expand the current pedestrian corridor from near Jersey Avenue from an average of 14 feet wide to an average of 27 feet in width.
As a result of the new deal, Suntex’s lease now will last until the year 2086. The state will also assist in rehabilitating the deteriorating bulkhead under the agreement to the tune of up to $30 million. The vote went through in the final session of the commission before outgoing Governor Phil Murphy left office.
The plan passed over the objections of several groups, including Friends of Liberty State Park. The greenspace, which sits across from Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty, has seen a myriad of development proposals over the years, ranging from a 100,000-seat Formula 1 racing track to a 90-story casino that was once pitched during a 2016 gambling expansion referendum.
