Mile-long Public Greenway Will Offer Stunning Views of the
Verrazano Bridge; New York Harbor

BAYONNE, NJ September 15, 2006 – For the first time in a generation, the public will have regular access to a portion of The Peninsula at Bayonne Harbor (formerly the Military Ocean Terminal). On Saturday, September 23rd officials will open the first mile of The Peninsula’s waterfront greenway with a celebration featuring the mayor, BLRA commissioners and local author Patricia Hilliard.

The event is scheduled to begin at 1:00 pm with a ribbon cutting at the main entrance to The Peninsula at Port Terminal Boulevard by 34th street and Route 440. Participants will walk to the end of the greenway where they can enjoy refreshments and a talk about the wild birds of Hudson County by author Patricia Hilliard. After the talk, bus tours of The Peninsula will be available for those interested.

“We are very pleased to be able to open this part of The Peninsula to the public,” said BLRA Chairman Howard Fitch. “For years residents have been reading about the work being done here and now they will be free to come to The Peninsula at any time to see the progress being made or just to enjoy the wonderful views,” Chairman Fitch added.

“This event is a major step toward realizing the goal of reconnecting Bayonne to its New York Bay waterfront,” said Bayonne Mayor Joseph V. Doria, Jr. “And I want to thank Chairman Fitch, the BLRA commissioners and executive director Nancy Kist and her staff for all their hard work to make this first mile of greenway available to the public.”

The greenway will be open daily from dawn until dusk.

About The Peninsula at Bayonne Harbor

Since the U.S. Army transferred complete ownership of the former military base in 2002, the BLRA has raised more than $50 million in government grants and interim lease payments to make infrastructure improvements needed to attract development. These improvements include new bulkheads along the base’s south side and environmental remediation that was completed last year, ahead of schedule. Other projects include the installation of a new sewer system and planning for a new electrical grid and new roads.

Redevelopment of The Peninsula is organized around the creation of six different, yet integrated districts.

In 2004, Cape Liberty Cruise Port opened, marking the first tangible step in the transformation of the 430-acre site. It resulted in 51 cruise ship calls in its first season and created 300 jobs. Since then, the Cruise Port has grown to become the third-ranking passenger port on the East Coast (after New York and Miami).

Early this year, the BLRA approved plans for development of another district, Harbor Station North, which will consist of mid-rise housing, service retail space, and park space adjacent to the 45th Street light rail station.

The recent approval of a redevelopment agreement with Trammell Crow Residential for a portion of Bayonne Bay will begin the transformation of the third district.

Other districts to be developed include The Landing, which will have a water transit docking facility surrounded by a commercial and entertainment area with shops, stores, a hotel and restaurants as well as a residential section with mid-rise housing; The Loft District, which will be converted to hip loft-style housing units adjacent to the ferry landing with views of lower New York Harbor, the Verrazano Bridge and golf course, and The Maritime Industrial District.

For more information about The Bayonne Local Redevelopment Authority, visit www.bayonnenj.org/blra.


 

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