Netflix will soon break ground on a sprawling film and television studio at Fort Monmouth, a former Army base spanning 289 acres in Monmouth County.
A private groundbreaking ceremony is planned for Tuesday. New Jersey state officials and Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos are expected to officially kick off the first phase of construction.
The studio is expected to include 12 soundstages totaling nearly 500,000 square feet on the former military property near Route 35 in Eatontown and Oceanport.
Gov. Phil Murphy’s administration has expressed strong support for the project, saying it could help turn New Jersey — the birthplace of film — into the “Hollywood of the East.”
Since announcing its plans in December 2022, the media and entertainment giant has gone through a lengthy approval process to begin developing its $903 million film and television production complex.
Eatontown and Oceanport gave Netflix the green light late last year to proceed with gathering state permits and begin the first part of construction.
The studio plans include production and office buildings, a cafeteria, retail shops, studio trailer parks, a helipad, a theater, a hotel, visitor attractions and water tanks for film production.
Construction will be divided into two phases, with the majority of it beginning in Oceanport.
During phase one, a campus for actors and production crews will be built along with four soundstages on the site’s 29-acre McAfee Zone.
An artistic rendering of the proposed Netflix production facility at Fort Monmouth.Courtesy of Netflix
In August, Eatontown’s planning board is expected to review Netflix’s proposal for phase two, which would include the remaining eight soundstages, according to borough officials.
Netflix has been securing the necessary approvals to begin construction since early last year, starting with approval from the Fort Monmouth Economic Revitalization Authority. The authority, which oversees the old military base, amended zoning regulations at the site to allow the project.
The new zoning permits the property to be reused for a production complex. Fort Monmouth, a former Army base known for the development of FM radio, has been vacant for over a decade. Any development must preserve its historic parade grounds, according to the authority.
Before the authority unanimously approved the reuse plan, dozens of public comments from residents and local officials raised concerns about traffic, noise, building height, environmental impacts and other issues. Many of the concerns are expected to be addressed by local municipal boards as the project progresses.
A timeline for when the studio will open has not been announced by Netflix officials. According to planning documents, both phases must be completed within eight years of the Fort Monmouth Economic Revitalization Authority board’s deal closure.
According to Netflix, the production studio is projected to create up to 3,500 jobs during construction and employ about 1,400 people once the studio is fully operational.
Over a 20-year-period, the estimated value to the New Jersey economy would range between $3.8 billion and $4.6 billion, a spokesperson for the company previously said.
Netflix will have access to a $150 million pool of tax incentives and a potential 40% tax credit in exchange for operating a massive film studio in New Jersey for at least 10 years, according to the New Jersey Economic Development Authority.
Stories by Nyah Marshall
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