Agreement between American Dream developers and North Jersey labor unions announced
APRIL 28, 2014, 8:10 AM LAST UPDATED: MONDAY, APRIL 28, 2014, 10:55 PM
BY JOHN BRENNAN
STAFF WRITER
THE RECORD
More than three years after Governor Christie came to the Meadowlands Sports Complex to trumpet a new vision for the stalled McGreevey Xanadu shopping and entertainment project, he returned on Monday to unveil revised plans with officials from Triple Five, the new developer of the revamped project now dubbed American Dream Meadowlands.
The latest announcement came with plenty of new details, including a revised opening date target of fall 2016; the unveiling of a planned 20-story “drop ride” billed as the world’s tallest; and renderings of the proposed 639,000-square-foot indoor amusement park and water park that will feature 80-foot-high glass walls that allow drivers on nearby highways to see in — and park revelers to see out.
Joining Christie were countless construction workers, including more than 100 who stood behind the governor as he promised to make sure that Triple Five will prioritize “getting that ugly outside [color scheme] the hell off the building.”
The features
Key components of American Dream Meadowlands, according to the project developer’s website and previous announcements this year:
More than 400 retailers, restaurants, and services, including “global retail |influenced by high streets from Bond Street to La Rambla to Soho”
639,000-square-foot indoor amusement park and water park complex
Indoor ski and snowboard park |12 stories high and 800 feet long
Observation wheel similar to the |London Eye
200-foot “drop ride” similar to |bungee jumping
Performing arts center that seats 2,400 to 3,000
National Hockey League-sized |ice rink
180,000-square-foot movie complex with more than 5,000 seats |(700 of them VIP)
Aquarium featuring more than 10,000 “sea creatures”
18-hole miniature golf course
The event provided Christie with an opportunity to come through on a pledge he made to construction workers when they endorsed his reelection last year: to put them back on the job. The Republican governor secured the support of many unions, including Laborers International Union of North America, which had backed Democratic Gov. Jon Corzine four years earlier. The unions cited Christie’s vocal support of American Dream and other developments as well as his signing of the New Jersey Economic Opportunity Act, which offers corporate tax breaks to companies that create and retain jobs in the state. Many Laborers’ Union workers were noticeable in the audience, clad in orange T-shirts.
– See more at: https://www.northjersey.com/news/agreement-between-american-dream-developers-and-north-jersey-labor-unions-announced-1.1004344#sthash.NBJJ48lc.dpuf
