HUDSON COUNTY AND BEYOND – During a gathering of union members in Perth Amboy on Wednesday, Gov. Chris Christie spoke out against the owners of the New York Giants and Jets for standing in the way of the American Dream project, formerly known as Xanadu.
“I will not put up with billionaire team owners for the Jets and Giants standing in the way of building the American Dream and stopping you guys from working,” said Christie to Ironworkers Local #373 in a town hall style meeting, according to NJ.com. “Until I get a deal – here is the worst part of it – I can not rip off that ugly exterior off the thing until I get you guys out there to do it for me.”
The $3.7 billion American Dream project, off of Route 3 by the MetLife Stadium, includes a mega mall, entertainment center, and indoor ski park.
The professional sports teams sought an injunction in June to prevent the developer Triple Five from reviving the project, which has been stalled since 2009 due to financial woes. The lawsuit filed in a state court in Bergen County alleged that Triple Five did not receive their consent to expand the project and also cited traffic impacts.
A Superior Court Judge in August dismissed the lawsuit, stating it was premature but that the teams can go back to court once the The developers anticipate 55 million visitors a year and that the complex may be partly open by 2014.