The former military base located in Monmouth County will soon be reborn as a landmark for film production on the East Coast. On Dec. 19, the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA) Board approved plans for a $903 million Netflix production campus on a 289-acre site in Oceanport.
Dubbed Netflix Studios Fort Monmouth, the development will serve as Netflix’s flagship East Coast production hub. Located about 30 miles south of Newark Liberty International Airport, the project, which includes 12 state-of-the-art soundstages, backlot areas, and office facilities, offers easy access for executives and production teams traveling from Los Angeles.
Governor Phil Murphy said, “With Netflix leading the charge, the creation of new, state-of-the-art studios has cemented New Jersey as a national leader in the production of film and television. This project will bring thousands of good-paying jobs, support small businesses, and boost the regional economy.”
Preserving History While Building the Future
The renderings show that the campus will have modern architecture integrated with preserved historic elements of the former military base, such as its iconic brick archways. The remnants of Fort Monmouth’s storied past will now welcome filmmakers and creatives, symbolizing the evolution of the site from a military stronghold to a cultural and economic hub.
From Military Base to Economic Driver
Fort Monmouth, originally opened in 1928, played a pivotal role during World War II and was closed in 2011, in need of revitalization. The project has been guided through the planning stages since 2022 by the Fort Monmouth Economic Revitalization Authority in cooperation with NJEDA and Netflix after Netflix won the bidding war for the site.
The development will create 1,500 permanent jobs and 3,500 construction jobs, pumping new life into Monmouth County’s economy, which for decades relied heavily on the base.
Positioning New Jersey as a Filmmaking Powerhouse: The Netflix investment is a strong indication that New Jersey is taking up the mantle in the film and television industry. It joins a wave of East Coast studio developments, including Robert De Niro’s Wildflower Studios in Queens, that position the region as a viable alternative to Hollywood.
State Senator Vin Gopal said the local impacts would be very beneficial: “This project will have a ripple effect on our local economy by helping to create jobs, support small businesses, and revitalize communities.”
A Legacy of Innovation and Growth
Though a sequence of military successes and then Cold War controversy, including its links to Soviet espionage, Fort Monmouth’s past can be characterized by its promising next chapter—one of imagination and economic revival.
The Netflix Studios Fort Monmouth campus is a big win for the Garden State real estate and economic sectors, but it’s also a symbol of how historical properties can be repurposed for modern uses. To the New Jersey real estate professional, this project stands as a beacon of what could be a transformative redevelopment in the state.
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