The future site of a proposed sports dome in Brick Township, April 2024. (Photo: Shorebeat)
Having overcome issues with financing, state permitting and a sudden change in the structure of the building, the indoor sports complex once notionally referred to as the “Brick Superdome” is on track for construction this year, Brick Township’s mayor said.
The indoor sports complex will be constructed in the rear of the property long-known as the “Foodtown” parcel after its one-time occupant along Route 70. Though Foodtown (and its lesser-known neighbor Bradlee’s) both moved out about 25 years ago, the township’s ownership of the property has been plagued with stop-and-start projects, ideas such as a full-service hotel that fell out of favor due to market conditions, a rejected proposal to build apartments and condominiums, and bouts of litigation sprinkled in along the way.
While an Aldi supermarket opened in the front-facing commercial portion of the site, the domed sports complex that was decided-upon as the major anchor of the property had to be redesigned after fire officials cited then-unforseen safety issues with its original iteration. The developer, Peter Tasca, also found himself requiring a new round of financing in the post-pandemic era, but ultimately a fresh group of investors were found and the building’s design was converted from a soft-covered dome to a traditional structure.
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In addition to the sports complex, developer Jack Morris – who owns the front portion of the property – has promised additional stores and a restaurant. While work has slowly progressed after the Aldi was completed and opened to the public, many residents have taken notice of the long wait. It appears the wait may come to an end in the coming months, however.
“We did meet with the developers a couple weeks ago, and at this point they have the fittings poured,” for the sports complex, said Mayor Lisa Crate. “They are ready to build.”
A rendering of the updated appearance of the sports complex proposed for the former Foodtown parcel, Brick, N.J., Aug. 2023. (Credit: Planning Document)
Crate said there were no updates as to what stores or restaurants will be added near the Aldi portion of the lot, but Tasca’s team is moving ahead with the sports complex.
“They are looking to do an official groundbreaking in the early spring, and the build should go pretty quickly after that,” she said. “We’re hoping that we have something official open before the end of the year.”
The sports complex will include a basketball center, a daycare center, indoor athletic fields and wellness facilities, among a slew of other amenities.
“It’s been a long time coming, but it’s coming,” said Crate.
