Jones Lang LaSalle
Developer hopes site is Jets' pick for facility
Florham Park parcel is a good fit, he says
Wednesday, January 18, 2006
BY LISA VERNON-SPARKSStar-Ledger Staff
In its quest for a new headquarters and training facility, the New York Jets have eyed a 20-acre parcel at the former Exxon facility site in Florham Park.
The land -- part of a rolling 485-acre swath near Route 24 and Park Avenue -- is a stone's throw from Morristown Airport, Morristown Memorial, hotels and housing.
The Jets have sought accommodations closer to the Meadowlands, where the team has played its home games for years. Practices are now held in Hempstead, N.Y.
Developer Mark Yeager of Gale Co. in Florham Park, who plans to build an office complex and hotel on the old Exxon site, is clearly pleased at the prospect of having New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority purchase 20 acres of the property for Gang Green.
"The site meets their criteria. They wanted it available in and around, transportation, hospital facilities, housing and hotels and things that they found to be amenities, that would achieve their goals," Yeager said. "It works well. It's complementary use for us. It could fit well in the total context of our plan."
Jets officials didn't return calls for comment yesterday.
Borough Administrator John Massarano said Jets officials met with Yeager and borough officials last month to propose constructing a 120,000- to 150,000-square-foot building at the site.
It would be located on the property's 268-acre southern quadrant, near the Madison border, and would house offices, locker rooms and a training facility. There would be an indoor practice field and three outdoor practice fields.
Gale Co., which partners with the Rockefeller Development Group Corp., had planned to build 1.6 million square foot of office space, a hotel and day care on the site.
Two years ago, nearby municipalities -- Madison and the Chathams -- sued Florham Park over the redevelopment plan, saying it would generate too much traffic and possibly threaten a local aquifer used by the three communities.
The borough won the suit in 2004, but since then progress has been slow, possibly due to a sluggish market for office space, said Florham Park Mayor Frank Tinari.
"Nothing has even happened with the space, so I guess that's why they are considering alternatives," Tinari said.
"The headquarters and training facilities here sounds like a very exciting possibility. It will, first, get the Exxon property developed. Second, it would have very little traffic impact on ourselves and the neighboring communities," the mayor said.
The Jets are looking at a permanent move to the Garden State and The Meadowlands, joining the Giants, under a deal to build a new $1 billion joint stadium, which would be ready for the 2010 season.
Last week, legislators passed a bill that would expand the powers of the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority, the state agency that operates the Meadowlands Sports Complex. The measure allows the agency to purchase property outside the Meadowlands for a Jets' training complex.
Jets officials have considered about 20 sites around the state, including parcels in Short Hills, Jersey City and an ex-swim club in Pequannock.
Lisa Vernon-Sparks covers Flor ham Park. She may be reached at lsparks@starledger.com or (973) 539-7910.
© 2006 The Star Ledger
© 2006 NJ.com All Rights Reserved.
Developer hopes site is Jets' pick for facility
Florham Park parcel is a good fit, he says
Wednesday, January 18, 2006
BY LISA VERNON-SPARKSStar-Ledger Staff
In its quest for a new headquarters and training facility, the New York Jets have eyed a 20-acre parcel at the former Exxon facility site in Florham Park.
The land -- part of a rolling 485-acre swath near Route 24 and Park Avenue -- is a stone's throw from Morristown Airport, Morristown Memorial, hotels and housing.
The Jets have sought accommodations closer to the Meadowlands, where the team has played its home games for years. Practices are now held in Hempstead, N.Y.
Developer Mark Yeager of Gale Co. in Florham Park, who plans to build an office complex and hotel on the old Exxon site, is clearly pleased at the prospect of having New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority purchase 20 acres of the property for Gang Green.
"The site meets their criteria. They wanted it available in and around, transportation, hospital facilities, housing and hotels and things that they found to be amenities, that would achieve their goals," Yeager said. "It works well. It's complementary use for us. It could fit well in the total context of our plan."
Jets officials didn't return calls for comment yesterday.
Borough Administrator John Massarano said Jets officials met with Yeager and borough officials last month to propose constructing a 120,000- to 150,000-square-foot building at the site.
It would be located on the property's 268-acre southern quadrant, near the Madison border, and would house offices, locker rooms and a training facility. There would be an indoor practice field and three outdoor practice fields.
Gale Co., which partners with the Rockefeller Development Group Corp., had planned to build 1.6 million square foot of office space, a hotel and day care on the site.
Two years ago, nearby municipalities -- Madison and the Chathams -- sued Florham Park over the redevelopment plan, saying it would generate too much traffic and possibly threaten a local aquifer used by the three communities.
The borough won the suit in 2004, but since then progress has been slow, possibly due to a sluggish market for office space, said Florham Park Mayor Frank Tinari.
"Nothing has even happened with the space, so I guess that's why they are considering alternatives," Tinari said.
"The headquarters and training facilities here sounds like a very exciting possibility. It will, first, get the Exxon property developed. Second, it would have very little traffic impact on ourselves and the neighboring communities," the mayor said.
The Jets are looking at a permanent move to the Garden State and The Meadowlands, joining the Giants, under a deal to build a new $1 billion joint stadium, which would be ready for the 2010 season.
Last week, legislators passed a bill that would expand the powers of the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority, the state agency that operates the Meadowlands Sports Complex. The measure allows the agency to purchase property outside the Meadowlands for a Jets' training complex.
Jets officials have considered about 20 sites around the state, including parcels in Short Hills, Jersey City and an ex-swim club in Pequannock.
Lisa Vernon-Sparks covers Flor ham Park. She may be reached at lsparks@starledger.com or (973) 539-7910.
© 2006 The Star Ledger
© 2006 NJ.com All Rights Reserved.
posted by Jones Lang LaSalle NJ News Blog at 10:34 AM
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