Bader Field Redevelopment Remains on Track, but State Delays Frustrate McCullough as New Investors Join Project

Former Egg Harbor Township Mayor Sonny McCullough says changes have been made to the development team behind Atlantic City's proposed multibillion-dollar Bader Field project, but the ambitious redevelopment continues to face obstacles at the state level.

ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. — The proposed multibillion-dollar redevelopment of Bader Field remains alive, but former Egg Harbor Township Mayor Sonny McCullough says state-level delays continue to frustrate efforts to move the ambitious Atlantic City project forward.

McCullough, a former state senator, discussed the project during a Tuesday, Sept. 22, appearance on The AC Mike Lopez Show on News Talk 1400 and 92.3 WOND, revealing that some members of the original development team are no longer involved and that new participants have joined the effort.

He also identified financier Tom Carr as one of the people bringing new ideas and connections to Atlantic City.

The former mayor said he remains optimistic about the project's future but believes stronger support from state officials is needed to advance the redevelopment of the former municipal airport.

"The only big game changer, if it comes to be, and I still feel positive about it, would be the Bader Field project," McCullough said.

State Agencies Remain a Major Obstacle

During the interview, a caller asked McCullough whether the Bader Field redevelopment was finally moving forward.

McCullough clarified that the project remains active but said he is disappointed with the pace of progress.

"I'm kind of disappointed that the state hasn't stepped up and really supported the project, and that's been the drag," he said.

McCullough called on Atlantic County's state legislators to become more involved in helping resolve the outstanding issues.

"I wish our state legislators that represent Atlantic County would get behind it a little stronger, try to move it out of the governor's office, out of the DEP," he said.

The former mayor pointed to the numerous state agencies involved in overseeing development in Atlantic City, arguing that the additional layers of government create challenges not faced by many other New Jersey municipalities.

"That's one of the problems with the city of Atlantic City. You've got so many different agencies in here telling you what to do, whether it's the DEP, CAFRA, the Casino Control Commission, the CRDA, the state," McCullough said.

He contrasted those requirements with his experience serving as mayor of Egg Harbor Township.

"My God, you know, I was mayor of a town that was a lot bigger geographically and population-wise than Atlantic City, but Atlantic City's dealing with a whole different kind of problems," he said.

Despite those frustrations, McCullough emphasized that the redevelopment proposal has not been abandoned.

"But the Bader Field project is still a go. We would all like to see it move a little faster," he said.

Changes to Development Team Bring New Participants

McCullough also revealed that changes have been made to the group working to advance the Bader Field project.

He said some Los Angeles-based participants are no longer involved with DEEM Enterprises, the developer behind the proposed redevelopment, and that new people have joined the effort.

"We've got some new people involved with DEEM Enterprises," McCullough said. "We had some people that were Los Angeles-based. They're not involved any longer."

He said the new participants bring financial expertise and additional development ideas.

"We've got some new people in here that have finance and great, great ideas," he said.

McCullough specifically mentioned Tom Carr, a financier from northern New Jersey who has also been involved in recent discussions about bringing new transportation services to Atlantic City.

"One of the fellows, his name is Tom Carr, who's a finance businessman out of the northern part of the state who brings a lot of good ideas," McCullough said. "And he brings a lot of contacts that maybe we didn't have here before."

McCullough did not identify the Los Angeles-based participants who have left the development team or explain whether their departures have affected the project's ownership, financing or proposed construction schedule.

He also did not disclose the specific financial role Carr may have in the Bader Field redevelopment.

A Multibillion-Dollar Vision for the Former Airport

The proposed Renaissance at Bader Field development would transform the approximately 143-acre former municipal airport into a mixed-use residential and entertainment destination.

The ambitious proposal by DEEM Enterprises has been described as a $3.4 billion redevelopment featuring luxury residences, a private motorsports course, retail, entertainment and other amenities.

The project is intended to attract new residents and visitors while creating an additional source of economic activity for Atlantic City.

Bader Field closed as an airport in 2006 and has remained largely undeveloped despite numerous proposals over the past two decades.

The current redevelopment effort advanced in 2025 when the Casino Reinvestment Development Authority determined that the proposal was consistent with the Atlantic City Tourism District Master Plan.

Atlantic City Council also approved a redevelopment plan for the property.

However, those municipal approvals did not resolve all the state-level requirements needed for the project to proceed.

As South Jersey NewsBeat previously reported, portions of Bader Field are subject to New Jersey Green Acres restrictions that must be addressed before the property can be redeveloped as envisioned.

The restrictions have complicated efforts to advance the proposed development and remain an important part of the discussions involving Atlantic City and the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection.

McCullough's latest comments indicate that he believes state involvement is essential to resolving the remaining obstacles.

He did not announce that the Green Acres issues have been resolved or that final state authorization has been granted.

New Transportation Proposals Could Complement Redevelopment

McCullough also discussed Monday's meeting involving casino executives, developers and representatives of companies proposing new passenger ferry and aviation services for Atlantic City.

The meeting included discussions about a possible high-speed ferry connecting Manhattan and Atlantic City, along with potential new air service at Atlantic City International Airport.

McCullough said Carr played an important role in bringing the participants together.

He described the meeting as an encouraging example of outside investors taking an interest in Atlantic City's future.

"There were a lot of new players at that meeting, and I was very impressed with the people," McCullough said.

He noted that representatives of the casino industry and developers interested in investing in Atlantic City attended.

"There's a lot of outsiders that are looking at Atlantic City and have money to invest," he said.

McCullough cautioned that the proposed transportation services should not be viewed as developments that would transform the resort on their own.

Rather, he sees them as additional amenities that could complement the city's existing attractions and future redevelopment projects.

"Neither one of them is a game changer, but it's another amenity and another thing that will help develop and redevelop Atlantic City," he said.

He reserved that description for Bader Field, which he believes could have a much larger impact if the redevelopment is completed.

The proposed ferry and aviation services remain separate initiatives, and McCullough did not announce any formal agreement connecting them to the Bader Field project.

McCullough Encouraged by Cooperation in Atlantic City

Although McCullough expressed frustration with state-level delays, he praised the cooperation he sees among Atlantic City's local elected officials.

He said he believes the mayor, City Council and administration are working together to encourage development.

"One of the things I'm very pleased to see is the Atlantic City Council and mayor, the administration, are all working in the right direction," McCullough said.

"There's not this, don't seem to have this infighting and backstabbing and name-calling. It seems like everybody's working together."

He also credited Mayor Marty Small with maintaining an open-door approach toward people interested in investing in the city.

McCullough said he believes the combination of local cooperation and new private investment could help Atlantic City continue its redevelopment efforts.

However, the former mayor made clear that the Bader Field project remains dependent on resolving outstanding issues involving the state.

What Happens Next for Bader Field?

Despite the changes to the development team and McCullough's continued optimism, several important questions remain unanswered.

The project still faces state-level requirements, including the Green Acres issues affecting the property.

The developers have not announced a new construction start date, and McCullough did not provide a timetable for when the remaining obstacles might be resolved.

His comments also leave open questions about the current development team's membership, financing arrangements and whether the departures of the Los Angeles-based participants have resulted in any changes to the original proposal.

For now, McCullough maintains that the project remains active and that the new participants could help move it forward.

But he believes the pace of progress needs to improve.

"I'm kind of disappointed that the state hasn't stepped up and really supported the project," he said.

"But the Bader Field project is still a go. We would all like to see it move a little faster."

Former Egg Harbor Township Mayor and state Sen. Sonny McCullough discussed the Bader Field redevelopment during an appearance on The AC Mike Lopez Show on News Talk 1400 and 92.3 WOND. The program airs Monday through Friday from noon to 1 p.m.