OCEANPORT ? A building under construction that is the site of a future restaurant at Riverwalk Center on Parker's Creek caught fire Monday afternoon but was quickly put out after a rapid response from area fire departments.
RiverWalk Center is a new $25 million development on the former lands of the U.S. Army base at Fort Monmouth. The development borders the creek and Oceanport Avenue.
Mayor Tom Tvrdik said the first call for the fire went out around 3:15 p.m. and he said it was under control an hour later.
Fire departments from Oceanport, Eatontown, Wanamassa section of Ocean Township, Little Silver, Monmouth Beach, Long Branch, Sea Bright and West Long Branch sent fire trucks to help put the fire out. Tvrdik said no injuries occurred to construction workers or the volunteers fighting the blaze.
Look at what's being built at RiverWalk Center, a $25M development at Fort MonmouthStream your favorite shows, the biggest blockbusters and more.
Tvrdik said the fire may have started on the roof where workers were installing insulation. He said the building was a shell of steel frame and a roof. He said the cause of the fire is under investigation by the Monmouth County Fire Marshal.
The building that caught fire is the future site of a 25,000-square foot restaurant on the waterfront.
Four other standalone buildings which will include business lofts and retail spaces will fill out the center. At least one of the businesses coming to RiverWalk Center is Nicol Squash, which also has a location in mid-town Manhattan.
The centerpiece of the RiverWalk Center is the historic Allison Hall, which was built in 1928 and is on the National Register of Historic Places. The Hall, which was not damaged in the fire, once housed the Army's administration offices. The building has to be preserved and the plan is to turn it into a three-story boutique hotel.
One of the principal owners of RiverWalk Center is Michael Abboud, who also owns the fort's former headquarters Russel Hall, where he houses his cloud-based technology company TetherView.
"RiverWalk Center experienced a small fire on the roof of one of our buildings," Abboud said. "The incident was quickly contained, and we are relieved to report that no injuries occurred.
"We are deeply grateful to the first responders whose swift actions ensured the safety of our property and community," he said. "Our appreciation extends to the fire departments from Oceanport, Little Silver, Eatontown, West Long Branch and Sea Bright, whose professionalism and dedication were evident throughout the response."
Abboud said the Oceanport First Aid Squad also responded to the scene.
"RiverWalk Center remains fully operational, and we are thankful for the rapid and coordinated efforts that brought this matter to a safe resolution," he said.
The RiverWalk Center is a short walk to the Mega Parcel, where Netflix is currently building its East Coast film and television studio production hub. Netflix is planning 12 sound stages along with many ancillary buildings, an investment of nearly $1 billion.
When Jersey Shore native Dan Radel is not reporting the news, you can find him in a college classroom where he is a history professor. Reach him at [email protected].