Politics & Government

Agreement Reached on Redevelopment Area 5

The 16-acre site—divided into east and west parcels—will be redeveloped by two different entities under an agreement forged with the borough and five resolutions passed at the Fort Lee Mayor and Council meeting Thursday

The Fort Lee Mayor and Council passed five resolutions at their regular meeting Thursday, the cumulative effect of which clears the way for the two parcels of land, commonly known as Redevelopment Area 5, to become what officials hope will be a bustling retail and residential center near the George Washington Bridge.

The agreement among the Borough of Fort Lee, Tucker Development Corporation and Fort Lee Redevelopment Associates puts an end to years of arduous negotiations and ongoing litigation, paves the way for retail, residential, hotel and office space to be built on the 16-acre site adjacent to the bridge and include restaurants, a large public park and a movie theater, among other amenities.

“I do believe this evening is an historic, historic [one] for the Borough of Fort Lee as we anticipate resolving globally Redevelopment 5,” Sokolich said at the outset of the meeting. “It was a long and arduous task.”

Find out what's happening in Fort Leewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Councilman Harvey Sohmer gave much of the credit for the successful outcome to the mayor and said council president Armand Pohan “was right there behind him.”

Sokolich threw the praise right back to each of the council members present, and some who weren't. Councilman Joseph Cervieri recused himself from the meeting, as he has done consistently in the past in matters involving the property. Also not present were  councilman Michael Sargenti and councilman Jan Goldberg.

Find out what's happening in Fort Leewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Goldberg, who was on vacation, nonetheless had something to say.

“It’s been over 45 years that this eyesore has been the first or last spectacle that visitors entering or leaving Fort Lee remember about our borough,” Sokolich read from a statement of support from Goldberg.

Under the complex agreement, Fort Lee Redevelopment Associates (FLRA) becomes the "conditional redeveloper" of the block of land known as the east parcel, and Tucker Development is designated as the conditional redeveloper of the west parcel.

Tucker envisions "a minimum" of 165,000 square feet of ground-level retail space, up to 475 residences on the west parcel and may include hotel and office buildings, according to the company.

FLRA's east parcel will be highlighted by two residential towers of 450 residences each, a 1.75 acre public park, a 7,000 square foot restaurants, a coffee house opening onto the park and a three-screen movie theater.

Neither developer will receive municipal subsides or any other form of financial support from the borough, and the agreement also brings to an end all pending legal disputes.

Sokolich said the project will have "as great an impact on the Borough of Fort Lee as any project since the construction and opening of the George Washington Bridge."


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here