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Carteret’s ambitious, $1 billion waterfront redevelopment took another step forward as two key components recently received grant funding.

The 10-acre project includes a 1.2 million-square-foot movie production studio complex as well as an intermodal ferry terminal.

During its April board meeting, the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA) approved a $4.7 million Film and Digital Media Studio Infrastructure Program grant for Carteret. The award will fund construction allowing for public access to a former brownfield site. It will also fund utility infrastructure for a dozen 20,000-square-foot sound stages, a post-production facility and studio offices being developed by Bezzone Inc. of Morristown.

“The Carteret Stages film studio project will be an absolute gamechanger for Carteret and the redevelopment of the brownfield site,” said Mayor Daniel Reiman.

“The funding announced will allow municipalities to make important infrastructure improvements to support studio construction, furthering New Jersey’s leadership in film and television,” said NJEDA Chief Executive Officer Tim Sullivan when the award was announced.

The work on Waterfront Boulevard and Lighthouse Way will permit through across the site to the parking lot and studio parking structure, as well as the numerous developments planned for the vacant lot where it will be constructed.

A number of future attractions will connect or be proximate to Carteret Stages, such as a hotel, restaurants, retail and the Carteret Intermodal Transportation Building. That structure will house the borough’s forthcoming ferry service. More on that in a moment.

Shovel ready

Project stakeholders expect the Carteret Stages project to create some 500 construction-related jobs and 2,500 permanent film production and studio operations jobs.

“The construction of the infrastructure needed to support the Carteret Studios, as well as the construction of the facility itself, will be a significant undertaking and will create a significant number of union construction-related jobs and permanent positions within the film and television studio,” said Reiman. “These high-paying jobs have the potential to drastically increase the quality of life for residents within Carteret and across Middlesex County.”

“Carteret’s investment in its waterfront under the bold leadership of Mayor Dan Reiman has created an engine of opportunity,” said Joe Bezzone, project developer. “Any productive dialogue between developer and municipality is an attempt to balance the scale of public-private interaction that always benefits the community and its stakeholders.”

Carteret’s investment in its waterfront under the bold leadership of Mayor Dan Reiman has created an engine of opportunity.
– Joe Bezzone, project developer

Reiman says that the project has received site plan approval from the Carteret Planning Board. He added that proposed site plans are shovel ready.

“This and many other approved and envisioned projects will transform the waterfront into a regional destination and will coincide with our forthcoming ferry service,” said Reiman.

On the waterfront

Carteret also received a $5 million grant for the intermodal ferry terminal project from the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs.

The funds will go toward improvements along the waterfront, including the construction of the Carteret Intermodal Transportation Building. The facility will provide access to several forms of alternative transportation, such as ferry service to and from the World Financial Center Pier and the Midtown Terminal as well as a borough jitney service, NJ Transit bus service and bicycling.

“The new ferry terminal not only will facilitate a new affordable public transportation service but will also support the continued post-COVID economic recovery of the Borough of Carteret by spurring economic activity,” said Reiman.

It is all part of a broader vision for waterfront. In addition to the aforementioned details, the area will also include miles of open public access along the Arthur Kill, the construction of two commercial docks, 150,000 square feet of ancillary retail and hotel space, and completed construction of both an adjacent $47 million marina as well as dredging for commercial activities.

“This is truly an exciting time for Carteret,” said Reiman. “We’re very grateful to Gov. Phil Murphy for his help in transforming our waterfront into a future transportation hub and destination.”