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I was once down there to see if there was any way to launch a kayak at the location (there isn't), and a couple of women asked me to take their photo in front of it. You never know.

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You mean the enormous vagina? It might be more popular if they publicized it that way...

Wait, you mean the monument "To the Struggle Against World Terrorism" isn't a big tourist draw already?!?

Good news for us who live uptown, ferry service is always a plus.

Felix Alarcon/The Jersey Journal

Six developers are in the running to develop a 57-acre site at the old military base in Bayonne with housing, retail, and tourist-related amenities such as a luxury hotel and ferry service across New York Bay, city officials announced Friday.

?The development groups submitted an impressive array of proposals for the future of this prime waterfront area,? said Bayonne Mayor Mark Smith. ?We are very optimistic about the responses that we have received.?

Even though the city sold 130 acres at the old military base that juts into New York Bay to the Port Authority in 2010 for $235 million, there are still dozens of sites the city intends to develop on the property. The 57-acre tract known as the Harbor Station South, is one of them, city officials said.

According to the 21-page request-for-proposal the city issued in December, the city ?envisions the 57-acre site as a transit-oriented mixed-use development with a preference for retail and commercial development that includes amenities that complement the adjacent Royal Caribbean cruiseport operations such as a luxury hotel and supporting retail services.?

The RFP encouraged respondents ?to propose mid-rise residential, commercial office space, neighborhood and destination retail, and hospitality services for the site.

The Bayonne Peninsula Ventures Group, a partnership between Bergstol Enterprises and the Cameron Group, submitted a proposal that calls for 547,474 square feet of retail businesses, two hotels, residential development, and potential ferry service.

The Waitex Group ? whose principals include Waitex, Gaw Capital, the Nan Fung Group, and the Shui On Group ? has submitted plans to develop 440,337 square feet of retail space, a 900-room luxury hotel, a 112,000 square foot convention center, a 150-room Extended Stay Hotel, a museum and a media center/lecture hall.

DeBartolo Development and Advance Realty submitted a proposal for 440,000 sqare feet of retail, 900 residential units and 100 townhomes, a hotel with 350-plus rooms, and an 80,000 square foot conference center.

JMF Properties and K. Hovnanian Homes have proposed building 213,300 square feet of retail, a hotel with 100-120 rooms, and residential areas featuring 210 rentals, 136 townhomes, and 60 condominiums, a healthcare/assisted living facility, and public spaces.

Somerset Development has proposed 131,500 square feet of retail/office development, 566 luxury rentals, and 241 townhomes.

The Richmond Company plans include 370,000 square feet of retail businesses, a hotel with 150-200 rooms, 400-500 residential rental units and public spaces.




Three of the developers ? DeBartolo/Advance, Waitex, and Bayonne Peninsula ? have so far been asked to prepare video presentations of their proposals that will be continuously shown on BAY-TV, the city?s cable station, city officials said.

The goal of the development city officials said is to create a ?destination? location for residents, visitors, and tourists in the region.