The planned 1888 Studios in Bayonne took a major step forward Wednesday when the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA) board approved $400 million in tax credits under the Aspire Program.
The 1.5 million-square-foot facility was designed by leading architecture firm Gensler to evoke the imagery of Golden Age Hollywood. Togus Urban Renewal is the developer. The project will be the largest and first campus-style film and television studio facility in the Northeast. Construction expects to wrap up in 2026.
1888 Studios | Key features
• Occupies 58 acres of land and 20 acres in the Newark Bay.
• Will contain 17 buildings with end-to-end film production services, including 23 mega-powered smart sound stages ranging from 18,000 square feet to 60,000 square feet with 40-fott to 50-foot-high ceilings.
• Offers more than 350,000 square feet of production support space, outdoor backlot space, amenities, office spaces, mills, lighting and grip facilities, a parking garage and storage; and
Set to include more than 5 acres of public space with a waterfront walkway adjacent to the Newark Bay and a public park.
Under the Aspire Program, 1888 Studios is a “transformative project.” The work will received an award of up to 50% of the total project cost, not to exceed $400 million.
The approval follows last month’s designation by the NJEDA of 1888 Studios as a Film-Lease Partner Facility. That commits the developer to occupying the facility for at least five years. Additionally, it makes future tenants eligible for increased tax credits for projects filmed at the facility.
“The development of 1888 Studios in Bayonne furthers my administration’s goal of establishing the state as a leader in movie and television production, helping small businesses and municipalities reap the benefits of local production,” said Gov. Phil Murphy.
“1888 Studios exemplifies the type of projects that are being attracted to New Jersey by Gov. Murphy’s support for film and digital media production,” said NJEDA Chief Executive Officer Tim Sullivan. “Today’s approval under the Aspire Program ensures the continued development of this transformative project, which will provide countless opportunities for the city of Bayonne and further New Jersey’s standing as a national leader in film production.”
Creating community
“We are grateful that the culmination of the agency’s extensive analysis of the 1888 Studios project is approval to earn Aspire credits over time as we build with New Jersey’s excellent construction crews and suppliers a facility that will serve as a powerful force of attraction for the film industry’s direct investment, technological innovation, and job creation for thousands of New Jerseyans,” said Arpad “Arki” Busson, chairman, Togus Urban Renewal. “New Jersey’s film industry growth strategy, centered on competitive film, television, and digital media tax credits and the development of production facility infrastructure, continues to deliver enviable results in a challenging, competitive environment.”
“This is a celebratory milestone for 1888 Studios, which will be a key pillar of New Jersey’s thriving film and studio ecosystem when complete,” said Reid Brockmeier, co-managing director, Gensler. “The Aspire award enables this visionary partner to restore a critical piece of the community that sat vacant for decades – while providing thousands of jobs and contributing to its economic vitality.”
Bayonne Mayor Jimmy Davis said that the NJEDA’s belief in the project and the city is a testament to Bayonne’s growing prominence as a hub for innovation, creativity and skilled labor.
“The Aspire Program’s support for 1888 Studios not only underscores the transformative potential film will bring to Bayonne, but also what Bayonne will bring to the studio and film industry,” said Davis.
“With support from the NJEDA’s Aspire Program, the development of transformative projects across the Garden State is revitalizing communities and creating thousands of good-paying jobs,” said Murphy.
