Construction recently broke ground on Lionsgate Newark and 1888 Studios, two separate television and film production complexes in Newark and Bayonne, New Jersey. The ground-up facilities will join the growing crop of production studios opening across the tri-state area.
Lionsgate Newark is set to rise at 801 Frelinghuysen Avenue in Newark’s South Ward on a 12-acre plot bounded by Frelinghuysen Avenue to the east and Dayton Street to the west. Designed by Gensler and developed by Matrix Development in partnership with Lionsgate, Great Point Studios, the New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC), and the Newark Housing Authority (NHA), the structure will yield 270,000 square feet. The $125 million facility will include six sound stages measuring between 10,000 and 30,000 square feet with broadcasting capabilities, as well as 52,000 square feet of office and support space and an expansive mill shop and equipment stage, among other features.
The property is alternately addressed as 164 Dayton Street and was formerly occupied by the abandoned Seth Boyden housing complex, which was demolished in 2022.
Lionsgate Newark. Image courtesy of Lionsgate.
Lionsgate Newark. Image courtesy of Lionsgate.
Lionsgate Newark. Image courtesy of Lionsgate.
Lionsgate Newark. Image courtesy of Lionsgate.
Lionsgate Newark is projected to create more than 600 long-term production jobs for the city of Newark along with an anticipated annual economic impact of more than $800 million. Seventy percent of full-time employment opportunities are planned to be reserved for Newark residents, who will also receive priority consideration when applying. Other local benefits include $300,000 in dedicated community funding, contributing grants to ten other local organizations totaling $200,000, and an additional $100,000 in contributions to the South Ward Environmental Alliance for environmental improvements and green-jobs programs. Lionsgate will also partner with the Newark Board of Education to develop film, television, broadcast, and related industry curricula for the city’s schools.
Construction on Lionsgate Newark commenced on December 11 and is targeting a 2027 completion. Great Point Studio will serve as the main operator.
Meanwhile, 1888 Studios will take shape on a 58-acre plot at the southern tip of the Bayonne peninsula adjacent to the Bayonne Bridge. Also designed by Gensler, and developed by Togus Urban Renewal, the complex will span over 1 million square feet, making it the largest production facility in the Northeast. The project will feature 23 sound stages with adjoining offices, more than 350,000 square feet of production support space, and several mill and storage buildings. The development will include a new waterfront park and promenade, surface-level parking, and four below-grade parking structures with a capacity of 2,127 vehicles. The property is located at the end of Avenue A, directly north of Staten Island’s Kill Van Kull, and was formerly occupied by a Texaco refinery that was decommissioned in the 1980s.
Paramount Skydance signed a ten-year lease agreement in October to serve as the facility’s anchor tenant.
1888 Studios. Designed by Gensler.
Image courtesy of Choose New Jersey.
1888 Studios. Designed by Gensler.
1888 Studios. Designed by Gensler.
1888 Studios. Designed by Gensler.
The development of 1888 Studios was made possible by a rezoning plan passed by the City of Bayonne in 2020. The project is projected to generate 2,300 union construction jobs and 2,000 union film production jobs upon completion in the fourth quarter of 2028.
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There are so many movie and TV studios under construction in NJ.
It’s kind of amazing how film and television is leaving LA and coming back to the NY area. I guess they don’t anticipate AI replacing actors and sets just yet.
Good point about “coming back”. People forget the film / tv industry started in NY/NJ before going to Hollywood. Over the past 20+ years talent that used to have to move west could now stay home. In the 80’s it was basically The Cosby Show. In the 90’s a few more. By 2000 it became prevalent. Now if you have a NY themed show – you can shoot in NY. Movies are a little different though. Street shooting days though NYC had long been top dog – even if studio stuff was done elsewhere.
1888 on the old Texaco brownfield.
Love to see these developments for New Jersey!