6B — January 2026 — New Jersey — M id A tlantic Real Estate Journal
www.marej.com
N ew J ersey
EWARK, NJ— Glob- al content leader Lionsgate along N Developers dedicate funds, education, and green programs to benefit residents New Jersey’s first purpose-built film/TV production studio, opening in 2027
with Great Point Studios, the New Jersey Perform- ing Arts Center (NJPAC), and the Newark Housing Authority (NHA) , announced the official start of construc- tion on Lionsgate Newark film studio, a major new film & television production facil- ity set to revitalize the city’s South Ward neighborhood and create lasting job opportuni- ties for Newark residents. A community groundbreak- ing celebration for the new fa- cility was held at the Temple of Hip Hop – an arts and commu- nity center located a few blocks from the studio construction site – and was attended by special guests, including Gov- ernor Phil Murphy , com- munity representatives, and studio development partners. The facility will be the first purpose-built, full-service film and television produc- tion complex in New Jersey. Owned and operated by Great Point Studios, the facility’s long-term anchor tenant, Li- onsgate, will receive naming rights to the studio. Spanning 12 acres on the site of the former Seth Boyden Housing complex, Lionsgate Newark will feature multiple soundstages, production offic- es, set-building facilities, and full on-site production services including grip/electric, equip- ment storage, catering, props, parking, security, and more. “This initiative is more than just a film studio; it is a pro- found commitment to the future of Newark and to the future of the film industry in New Jersey,” said Governor Phil Murphy. “I am proud of the work that our administra- tion has done to attract lead- ing entertainment companies, such as Lionsgate, to our state. This growing sector will drive economic growth by creating thousands of new jobs, sup- porting local businesses, and bringing meaningful invest- ments to the community” “Lionsgate Newark is set to be a major driver of opportu- nity and artistic innovation for our city,” said Newark Mayor Ras J. Baraka . “From the opportunities presented by the construction phase to the long-term careers the studio will sustain in rapidly growing industries, this project repre- sents a genuine collaboration
Shown from left: Newark Council Member Louise Scott-Rountree; Senator M. Teresa Ruiz; Newark Board of Education Superintendent Roger León; Assemblywoman Eliana Pintor Marin; Chairman, Great Point Studios Fehmi Zeko; Governor Phil Murphy; First Lady Tammy Murphy; NJPAC President and CEO John Schreiber; Director, New- ark Office of Film and TV Desiree Hadley; Newark Council Member Partick Council; Newark Council Member C. Lawrence Crump; and Newark Council Member Dupre L. Kelly.
Lionsgate Newark film studio rendering
the developers have made a commitment to offer 25% of to- tal construction contracting to Minority Business Enterprises (MBEs) and 7% to Women’s Business Enterprises (WBEs). Once operational, 70% of the studio’s full-time employ- ment opportunities—spanning maintenance, engineering, janitorial, administrative, landscaping, security, and other departments—will be reserved for Newark residents, who will also receive priority consideration when applying for all studio jobs. The studio will maintain an ongoing local- vendor preference policy dur- ing operations to support the city’s small businesses. Additionally, the studio project partners intend to partner with the Newark Board of Education to develop film, television, broadcast, and related industry curricula for the city’s students, as well as training and apprenticeship programs for the city’s young people, providing them with a pathway into the growing entertainment industry. Great Point Studios and NJPAC will help develop these educational programs. The Arts Center has also com- mitted to producing and pre- senting at least 15 arts and community in the South Ward annually, providing arts edu- cation and cultural program- ming for young people in the neighborhood’s parks, schools and community centers. “Creating new jobs for New-
with the people of Newark.” The event included the sign- ing of a Community Benefits Agreement, which outlined the studio developers’ commitment to ensuring that the studio will benefit both the city and South Ward residents through job creation, new educational programs and other initiatives. “New Jersey has become one of the most exciting places for film and television production, and this project builds on that momentum,” said Great Point Studios founder and CEO Rob- ert Halmi . “The state’s strong support and smart incentives have created the ideal environ- ment for a world-class facility like this. Lionsgate Newark will strengthen the state’s growing production industry and create meaningful oppor- tunities for Newark residents.” “This new studio will become a hub of content creation for Lionsgate’s projects, and we’re excited about the opportu- nity to partner with the South Ward community to make this neighborhood a new focal point for the entertainment indus- try,” said Joel Meyer , Lions- gate’s executive vice president & Head of TV Production. The studio is expected to cre- ate more than 600 long-term production jobs in the city, and to generate an anticipated an- nual economic impact exceed- ing $800 million. During the construction of the studio, 40% of total worker hours will be dedicated to Newark residents. In addition,
arkers and providing career training opportunities for young people in the TV and film industry are two unique and transformative deliver- ables that Lionsgate Newark will make possible for our community. The unprecedent- ed investment that Lionsgate and Great Point Studios are making in our city will provide life-enhancing pathways to success to our residents,” said NJPAC president and CEO John Schreiber . The studio developers will also make substantial financial investments in the quality of life in the South Ward neighbor- hood, providing $300,000 in ded- icated community funding. At the project’s completion, Great Point will contribute grants to ten local community organiza- tions, totaling $200,000. An additional $100,000 will be contributed to the South Ward Environmental Alliance for en- vironmental improvements and green-jobs programs. “Not only will the studio bring jobs to the South Ward, but the organizations behind this project are showing them- selves to be good neighbors already by offering this level of support to our community groups and our schools. Li- onsgate Newark will serve as an economic engine that will drive so many positive changes for our community and for Newark as a whole,” said Pat- rick O. Council, the Newark City Council member who
represents the South Ward. “This studio is the center- piece of energizing this neigh- borhood. We look forward to working with the City of New- ark and the State of New Jersey to reimagine and revitalize this neighborhood into a thriving mixed-use community with housing for everyone on the income ladder,” said Leonard Spicer , Executive Director of the Newark Housing Authority. The South Ward will also see quality-of-life benefits through studio-sponsored ini- tiatives like a $50,000 beauti- fication grant from the New- ark Department of Economic and Housing Development (matched by Newark Hous- ing Authority) for improve- ments to the neighborhood’s sidewalks, façades, green space, and streetscapes. The studio’s strong environmental commitments, including dust control, noise management, environmental reporting, and the installation of solar panels, will also benefit the city. The 12-acre, $125 million- plus facility will be owned and managed by Great Point Studios. Matrix Develop- ment will serve as the project developer and Gensler , a global architecture, design and planning firm with deep exper- tise in studio and soundstage design and development with more than 3,500 active clients, has signed on to lead the way with architecture and master planning. MAREJ
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