Plans include 190-slip marina for boats of up to 80ft

The borough of Carteret, New Jersey, has begun construction on a US$100m waterfront development fully funded by public grants and settlement money from various chemical company clean-up lawsuits.

Currently underway is construction of a US$32m, 190-slip public marina, which will be the cornerstone for the project that will eventually see a two-mile river walk along Staten Island Sound, the refurbishing of one, and addition of a second public fishing pier, a three-story event centre, 10 acres of parking and public beach and, eventually, ferry service to New York city.

Carteret Mayor Daniel Reiman told mycentraljersey.com that the marina will have a 17ft draft at low tide, allowing berthing of boats from 20ft-80ft in length. The mayor anticipates construction of the river walk to begin by year-end and the event centre when construction of the marina is completed.

The river walk will feature an observation station that will eventually serve as a terminal for ferry service between the borough and New York.