Holmdel, Developer Agreement Will Preserve Crawford Hill Site

HOLMDEL, NJ — In unexpected but happily received action, the Holmdel Township Committee last night announced it has successfully negotiated the preservation of Crawford Hill and the Horn Antenna with the property's owner.

Through a memorandum of understanding with Crawford Hill Holding LLC, the public can now can look forward to access to the highest point in Monmouth County - and to keeping the historic Horn Antenna in its original environment - all in what will become a 35-acre park.

It was on this elevation of Crawford Hill, using this antenna, that two Nobel Prize-winning scientists confirmed the Big Bang theory of the creation of the universe. They were honored for their work in 1978.

"This breakthrough will allow future generations to observe the Horn Antenna, a National Historic Landmark located within Holmdel, as well as the impressive views that can be observed from the highest point in Monmouth County, all as part of a sprawling 35-acre public park,” said Mayor D.J. Luccarelli.

“I also want to extend my appreciation to Rakesh Antala and the members of Crawford Hill Holding LLC for negotiating in good faith and reaching this agreement,” he added.

Under the terms of the agreement, the township will acquire the Crawford Hill property, including the Horn Antenna, for a net sale price of $4.75 million. The transaction will involve a purchase price of $5.5 million, with CHH donating $750,000 back to the township for improvements to Crawford Hill, according to the township.

These monies are expected to be used to preserve the Horn Antenna, repave access roads, and complete potential improvements such as a visitor center, the township said last night.

The acquisition will be funded through the Township’s Open Space Trust Fund without any adverse impact to taxpayers, the township said in a statement Thursday night.

The negotiated settlement will allow the township to obtain title to Crawford Hill quickly, while preventing against any litigation exposure to the Township over the value of the property, the township said.

“This settlement brings a successful end to our year-long effort to preserve Crawford Hill and the Horn Antenna upon terms that are responsible and will not impact Holmdel taxpayers,” said Deputy Mayor Rocco Impreveduto.

The agreement does not include Lot 7, the eight-acre site of the former Nokia building also owned by Antala. Antala purchased the full 43-acre site in December 2020 for $3.7 million, according to township records.

But the township will also partner with Crawford Hill Holdings for the adaptive re-use of the building. The township agreed last night to adopt a redevelopment plan that allows for specific uses to ensure that site's future use is "generally consistent with those when the building was occupied," the township said.

These uses include office, medical, health, research lab, and educational facilities.

Most important for supporters of open space, the plan will prohibit and prevent any residential development upon Lot 7, including but not limited to single family development, multi-family development, townhouse development, assisted living development, or continuing care facilities.

The cause to preserve The Horn Antenna became a rallying point for the township, the scientific community and a coalition of environmental groups that spearheaded a global petition with thousands of signatures to prevent the residential development of the site.

Citizens for Informed Land Use (CILU), Friends of Holmdel Open Space (FOHOS) and Preserve Holmdel all worked to develop public interest in preserving the spot.

And one environmental advocate, Kin Gee, had praise for the agreement and preservation of the Horn Antenna site:

"In addition to preserving 35 acres of open space, this will be a great destination site that will benefit current and future generations of students to learn about cosmology and our universe right here in Holmdel," he said last night.

The issue took on a life of its own: scientists addressed the Township Committee at many meetings; residents spoke of its meaning in Holmdel and even school students wrote essays and appeared before the governing body.

“I am grateful to the Township Committee, the Township’s staff and professionals, and the members of the public that have supported our effort to preserve the Horn Antenna and prevent against impacts such as high-density housing,” said Luccarelli last night.