L.B. resort plan trumps Hook development The announcement that a 1.5-million-square-foot convention center is planned for Long Branch sounds the financial death knell for a suspect lease awarded for the redevelopment of historic buildings at Fort Hancock. The lease awarded in July 2004 by the National Park Service gave Sandy Hook Partners the right to rehabilitate and reuse 36 Fort Hancock buildings for conferences, seminars, meeting and workshops at Sandy Hook. The proposed Long Branch resort project, announced at a July Council meeting, comes with amenities including the onsite Ocean Place Resort and Spa, which will be expanded and refurbished, a recreational oceanfront pier, planned ferry service, 250,000 square feet of retail space, plus parking, and restaurants, beaches and an arts and entertainment district within walking distance. This huge ocean front convention center and hotel campus with its many amenities, according to the city, will be the largest such complex to be located between New York and Philadelphia and will be located just a few miles south of Sandy Hook. Any hope of Fort Hancock becoming a popular conferencing center must be considered DOA - dead on arrival. This new complex is to be located on private, (not national park) land, with ready access to the ocean and beaches. It will be easily accessible by many modes of transportation. It is in an area that has a history of welcoming visitors, including several past presidents of our country. Long Branch is preparing for, and desirous of the influx of many visitors. Additionally, this private project will not hinder the public's ability to enjoy our national park at Sandy Hook for recreational use, nor will it harm endangered species, as the NPS' plans would. The prospect of the Ocean Place hotel campus coming online in five years should be the final factor in convincing the NPS and any potential financial backers (if they exist) that the NPS proposal for Fort Hancock is not viable, cannot succeed financially, and that an alternate, noncommercial plan must be formulated to replace the current horrific proposal. Peter P. O'Such Jr. Fair Haven