In July 1998, the Bayonne Local Redevelopment Authority (BLRA) was created by the City Council of the City of Bayonne to oversee the acquisition and redevelopment of the Military Ocean Terminal (MOTBY).

On September 23, 1999, the United States Army lowered the Flag at MOTBY for the final time at a closing ceremony held at the facility.  All civilian jobs were eliminated by September 30, 1999.

On October 13, 1999, the BLRA executed a Master Lease Agreement with the United States Army that permitted the BLRA to sublease portions of MOTBY to interim tenants.  These lease revenues have allowed the BLRA to pay for the maintenance and upkeep of the facility, capital projects, and planning for future redevelopment at MOTBY.

In the 1^st Quarter of 2000, the BLRA entered into interim lease agreements with NJ Transit (for Hudson Bergen Light Rail Park and Ride Lots), Central Jersey Marine (for dry dock operations), and North East Auto Marine Terminal (for outdoor storage).   Other leases soon followed.

2001

In July 2001 the BLRA entered into a Memorandum of Agreement with the U.S. Army setting forth the terms and conditions under which MOTBY would be transferred to the BLRA.

In August 2001 the BLRA’s proposed Redevelopment Plan for MOTBY was approved by the Bayonne City Council.

On September 7, 2001, the BLRA executed an Environmental Services Cooperative Agreement with the U.S. Army (a first for the Army).  This Agreement obligates the BLRA to conduct the Army’s clean-up program, with Army and NJDEP oversight using federal money.  This agreement has benefited the BLRA by allowing it to control the timing of cleanup to lessen the impact to its existing tenants and long-term redevelopment plans.

On September 28, 2001, ownership of 70% of MOTBY was transferred to the Bayonne Local Redevelopment Authority.

2002

On March 7, 2002, the BLRA awarded a contract to conduct groundwater monitoring at MOTBY, signifying the first step in undertaking environmental remediation at the facility.

Later in the Spring of 2002, the BLRA officially renamed MOTBY “The Peninsula at Bayonne Harbor.”

On December 8, 2002, over 400 guests, including local, county, state and federal officials, attended the Base Transfer Ceremony to celebrate the transfer of the remaining 30% of the property of The Peninsula at Bayonne Harbor officially under the jurisdiction and ownership of the BLRA for the City of Bayonne.

2003

In January 2003 the BLRA awarded a contract for soil/sediment excavation and disposal to remediate scattered sites at the Peninsula to Clean Earth Services. This first phase was completed on time and under budget by the BLRA.

In March 2003, the federally funded Transportation and Land Use Study commenced to further advance the redevelopment plan. Task 1, the Local Roadway Connector Study, was completed in June and three traffic plan alternatives were presented to the BLRA commissioners and the public. This study is available for downloading on the BLRA’s homepage.

Also, during the Spring of 2003, the Bayonne MUA began the sewer integration project to link the Peninsula’s sewer mains with those in the rest of the City of Bayonne. This project was funded through grants received from the US Department of Commerce Economic Development Administration of the State of NJ DEP Environmental Infrastructure Trust. This project will allow future development to be served by modern, reliable sewer infrastructure.

In December 2003, the BLRA entered into an agreement with Royal Caribbean Cruise  Ltd. to operate a cruise port at the Peninsula beginning in May 2004. The agreement signifies the first tangible step in transforming the Peninsula from a military/ industrial complex to a modern commercial port. Planning immediately commenced with Royal Caribbean and their team of contractors for renovating Building 14, a 120,000 square-foot former Army warehouse, into a cruise terminal facility as well as berth repair and various roadway improvements. The rehabilitation of the terminal was completed within four months in order to accommodate the first scheduled sailing.

2004

On May 14, 2004, opening ceremonies were held for “Cape Liberty Cruise Port” and included dignitaries, such as the Royal Caribbean Chairman Richard Fain, Governor James E. McGreevey, and Congressman Robert Menendez. This marked the first time in 40 years that a cruise line operated out of New Jersey. More than 250,000 passengers passed through Cape Liberty Cruise Port during its inaugural season. The cruise operation has created 100’s of jobs and generated millions in revenue.

During 2004, the BLRA also began its first Shoreline Stabilization project using redevelopment authority funds and grants administered by the US Department of Commerce Economic Development Administration.  Phase I, a $2.5 million project, stabilized 1,500 feet of shoreline on the south side of the property.  Later that year, the BLRA secured additional funds from the US EDA for future shoreline stabilization including $4.2 million for the rehabilitation of Berth S-1 and $5 million for the north side of the Peninsula at Berth N-1.

2004 also saw substantial work to remediate contaminated areas at the former MOTBY with cleanup efforts undertaken at the drydock, parking areas used by Royal Caribbean, the Rail Classification Yard, and former landfill.

On August 12, 2004, another sign of progress occurred with the demolition of the 160-foot water tower located near the former sewage treatment plant.

On December 15, 2004, the BLRA’s amended Redevelopment Plan for The Peninsula at Bayonne Harbor, a product of the federally-funded Transportation and Land Use Study, was approved by the Bayonne City Council. This Plan is available for download on the BLRA homepage.

2005

On March 24, 2005, the BLRA entered into a Redevelopment Agreement with Fidelco Bayonne Realty LLC to develop the “Harbor Station” district, a 102-acre area on the west side of the Peninsula.  

In the spring of 2005, Mayor Joseph V. Doria and the September 11 Bayonne Remembers Committee announced the acceptance of the 100-foot monument “To the Struggle Against World Terrorism” donated by artist Zurab Tsereteli, President Vladimir Putin, and the people of Russia as a September 11 memorial and the plans to place it in the park planned for the northeast corner of the Peninsula. 

During the summer of 2005, substantial site work was underway with the delivery of thousands of cubic yards of clean fill material to cap the landfill and railyard, clean up of contaminated soil at the main electrical substation and former gas station as well as building demolition to make way for future redevelopment.

Remembering victims of September 11th and the solidarity in the fight against world terrorism were two topics on Russian President Vladimir Putin’s mind at the September 2005 dedication ceremony for the September 11th memorial on the Bayonne Waterfront. Designed by noted Russian artist Zurab Tsereteli, the 106-foot bronze and steel sculpture titled, “To the Struggle Against World Terrorism,” is a gift from Tsereteli, President Putin and the Russian people and the planned centerpiece of a two-acre park that will face the site of the World Trade Center. At the dedication, a temporary monument of the memorial was unveiled. Weighing 170 tons, the permanent structure is currently being assembled. The September 11 Bayonne Remembers Committee hopes to unveil the permanent memorial by Sept. 11, 2006, the five-year anniversary of the terrorist attacks.

In the fall, the Bayonne Local Redevelopment Authority (BLRA) announced that environmental remediation at the former Military Ocean Terminal is complete and the next phase of redevelopment — building the infrastructure for the first of six districts at The Peninsula at Bayonne Harbor — is expected to begin in early 2006. Cleanup of The Peninsula took 2 1/2 years, several years less than the Army Corps of Engineers originally predicted, and under the direction of the BLRA, was completed on budget and ahead of schedule. When Bayonne took possession of the former U.S. Army base in 2001 and 2002, roughly one third — 130 acres, or an area larger than Hudson County Park — required environmental remediation that included placing soil and asphalt caps over contaminated areas, excavating and removing tons of contaminated soil and replacing it with clean soil, and closing and capping a 28-acre landfill.

On December 15, 2005, the Bayonne Local Redevelopment Authority (BLRA) reached a major milestone that cleared the path towards long-term development of the Peninsula at Bayonne Harbor when it received its Waterfront Development Permit and Water Quality Certificate from the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection.

The permit is required by the state for any development within 500 feet of the waterfront.

Specifically, the BLRA may now begin constructing, without additional authorization or review by NJDEP the following items of infrastructure:

1. Potable Water Distribution System

2. Sanitary Sewer Collection

3. Electrical Power Distribution

4. Natural Gas Distribution

5. Data/Voice/Cable Distribution

6. Storm Water Collection and Treatment

7. General Right of Way Improvements (cartway, curbs, sidewalks, planters, landscaping, street lighting, etc., exclusive of the Hudson River Waterfront Walkway)

8. Street Car System

9. Retaining Walls

10. Upland Bridges

11. Bulkheads

12. Bulk Fill and Grading

All other development proposed on the Peninsula exclusive of the items noted above will require that the BLRA submit final design plans and a statement of permit consistency to the NJDEP for review and final approval by NJDEP.

2007

May marks the arrival the new Liberty of the Seas ship for Royal Caribbean International. The ship arrived at Cape Liberty in Bayonne on May 3 and set off for a two-day tour the following evening. Liberty of the Seas is the second ship in Royal Caribbean’s Freedom Family, which encompasses the company’s largest cruise ships.

In May 2007, the BLRA receives a Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA) Covenant from the United States Army, clearing the way for development to move forward on The Peninsula at Bayonne Harbor.

In September, the BLRA receives a Highway Access Permit from the New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) allowing the initial phases of residential development at the Peninsula. The Permit is for the construction of a new intersection from Route 440 on to the Peninsula to serve as an entranceway to the site and the reconfiguration of the existing intersections. Future phases of development will require additional on-site and off-site transportation improvements which will be the subject of additional permit applications to NJDOT.

In November the BLRA receives two long-sought Deeds of Release from the U.S. Army clearing the way for construction to begin at The Peninsula at Bayonne Harbor. The first Deed of Release lifts a residential use restriction that had been placed in 2002 on portions of the former Military Ocean Terminal. The 2nd Deed of Release partially releases a restriction placed in the 2002 deed by the Army prohibiting the excavation or disturbance of soil in certain areas of the former Military Ocean Terminal.

At a special meeting on November 26, the BLRA votes unanimously to sell to Ports America for $90 million a portion of the Maritime District on The Peninsula at Bayonne Harbor.  Ports America will build a roll-on roll-off marine terminal operation that will complement the visionary redevelopment plan adopted by the City Council. The vote came after presentations by two of the three developers — Ports America and the World Wide Group — referred to the BLRA by the City Council. The third proposal from Fortis Property Group was withdrawn. Ports America, Inc. is the leading independent stevedore on the U.S. East and Gulf Coasts, with operations in 24 ports and terminals from Maine to Texas. Under terms of the deal Ports America will pay approximately $1.8 million in annual taxes. The property will continue in perpetuity to be taxed at the same rate as other properties in Bayonne. The deal also calls for Ports America to invest make $15.2 million in capital improvements to the site.

On November 29, the first real estate transfer ever at The Peninsula at Bayonne Harbor occurs when the BLRA transfers deed for 7.42 acres to Trammell Crow. The recent removal of deed restrictions by the US Army cleared the way for the closing. Trammell Crow Residential will build approximately 540 rental units on blocks B-3 and B-9 within the Bayonne Bay Redevelopment District. The B-3 and B-9 Blocks are the westernmost blocks in Bayonne Bay and sit adjacent to Harbor Station South. A deposit of $11.3 million was paid upon signing the redeveloper agreement in June 2006. The balance of $7,185,982 is paid at the closing. 

In late 2007, the BLRA enters into a Redeveloper Agreement/ Contract for Sale with Dynamic Delivery Corporation to purchase a portion of 150 Pulaski Street from Dynamic (approximately 0.90 acres) and sell a portion of the Maritime District to Dynamic (approximately 9.6 acres) to enable the construction of an access road from the Maritime District to Pulaski Street.  The new road for truck traffic represents a major infrastructure improvement for the Peninsula at Bayonne Harbor.

2008

On May 13, 2008, Trammell Crow Residential holds a groundbreaking ceremony for the start of construction of the Alexan at Bayonne Bay, the first residential construction at the Peninsula. The project is to build 544 rental units and a resident clubhouse and the first apartments are expected to be available for occupancy in summer 2009. 

The BLRA undertakes a $50 million infrastructure construction project to serve the first phases of residential development at the Peninsula. The infrastructure includes construction of roads, utilities, parks, and the first segment of the Hudson River Waterfront Walkway. In addition, the BMUA undertakes a $2.3 million water extension project to construct the water main to serve the Peninsula redevelopment. The BLRA receives and stockpiles 350,000 cubic yards of sand for use as site fill to raise grades above the flood elevation. 

The BLRA begins construction of the Maritime Access Road on the north side of the Peninsula to provide to keep future truck traffic separate from the mixed-use development.  

Shoreline stabilization continues with a $2.2 million bulkhead replacement on the south side, funded by NJDEP and $1.2 million bulkhead replacement along the eastern side of Harbor View Park allowing the park to be extended to the water’s edge, funded by Green Acres and the Hudson County Open Space Trust Fund. 

During summer of 2008, Berth N-1 extension and bulkhead is completed as well as dredging, bollards, lighting, and security to enable Berth N-1 to be utilized by Royal Caribbean for the docking of their cruise ships.