Answers to Madison Marquette questions, Part 2
The Asbury Park Press editorial board had a two-hour meeting Monday with the redevelopment partners of the Asbury Park oceanfront - Gary Mottola of Madison Marquette, Hugh Lamle of M.D. Sass and Larry Fishman of Asbury Partners. The news story about the meeting, written by staff writer Nancy Shields, appeared in Tuesday's paper. The editorial board's overall impression of their future plans will appear in a forthcoming editorial.
I tried to get answers to as many of the reader-submitted questions as possible. I answered several of them in yesterday's blog. Here are the rest of them:
What is the nature of the relationship between Madison Marquette and Asbury Partners? Lamle emphasized that under the terms of an agreement reached Monday, Asbury Partners and Madison Marquette are full partners in the entire redevelopment effort- residential and retail/entertainment. Mottola is the managing partner but Asbury Partners has approval power over plans and budgets. He gave no indication that the arrangement was anything but long term.
At a recent Chamber of Commerce meeting where Mottola spoke, he indicated that the green spaces along the boardwalk needed to be "activated." In the past these spaces were either mini-golf or rides. What does MM envision. Mottola said that in lieu of a specific amusement zone, the rides will be interspersed in the green spaces. He said they were considering a "signature" observation tower with a water slide. A Ferris wheel and carousel also were possibilities. Renowned New York architect David Rockwell, best known for his restaurant and theatre set designs - he also designed the Nokia Theater in Manhattan - has begun working on detailed renderings for the boardwalk and its six pavilions.
At the same Chamber meeting, Mottola seemed frustrated about the current school situation and the fact Asbury Park is an Abbott district. "Then you stopped, other than to say it has to be fixed. Care to comment further?" Mottola said he wasn't familiar enough with the school system to offer any suggestions. But he noted that a town in which MM has been active - Emoryville, Calif., near San Francisco - that faced similar problems in the schools turned things around, thanks in large measure to a dynamic school superintendent and an engaged community.
Also, at the Chamber meeting, Mottola indicated the original plan for the Wesley Grove entertainment district wasn't that good. "Do you envision a bigger entertainment district, with the Casino, Wesley Lake and the land north? Do you have a hotel ready to go in?" This is one area where significant changes will be sought to the master plan. The most significant will be plans for a 20-plus story hotel/condo complex. No separate entertainment/amusement area is planned for west and north of the Casino.
How about reopening the public bath/locker rooms at Fourth Avenue and the tunnel to the beach? Mottola said there will be public beaches but he didn't commit to the locations or to a tunnel.
Is 2010 a real target date for the Casino? Yes, according to Mottola.
What is MM's time frame for developing 50 percent, 75 and 100 percent of the plan.
No one wanted to be pinned down specifically on the time frames, other than the 2010 date for the Casino, the June 28 opening of the Paramount and completion of the second floor of the Fifth Avenue pavilion by September. He said the Tiki Bar at the Convention Hall also might reopen later this summer.
How much is MM putting in of MM's money, and how much has MM secured from third parties. What type of return is MM anticipating. Mottola and Lamle would not answer.
Has there been any further discussion about the possibility of making access to the beach free? Mottola said that was a decision that would be made by the city after analyzing whether the lost beach tag revenue would be more than offset by any increased economic activity attributable to a larger number of patrons.
Can individuals invest in the redevelopment. Is it a REIT? No and no.
The parking meters have been removed from Ocean Avenue. Will new meters be installed? Will there be meters on the streets perpendicular to Ocean Avenue? Mottola said it's understanding new "European-style" meters will be installed on Ocean Avenue and on nearby streets.
Does Madison Marquette (perhaps working with the UEZ) have any plans for an "inviting" makeover of the west-to-east traffic corridors that lead to the public beachfront, particularly Asbury Avenue. While Mottola said it would be nice to do so, it wasn't within his purview.
Given Asbury Park's long musical history, would you consider having the New Jersey Music Hall of Fame play a role in your redevelopment? Fishman and Mottola said serious thought was being given to the idea, and that a music museum of some type was being incorporated into their planning.
"Will Madison Marquette limit its activities to the oceanfront? I'm thinking specifically of Springwood Avenue. See the Madonna Carter Jackson book, 'West Side Story.' That street was just as happening as Ocean Avenue back in the day, and a group like MM could maybe help bring that back." Mottola noted that the partners only had control over the redevelopment area.
What was the thinking behind the traffic striping on the repaved Ocean Avenue? (Two solid stripes create three lanes, one of which - the one closest to the angle parking on the east side - is narrower than the other two.) Mottola said he didn't like the current striping, and would like to see Ocean Avenue set up the same way as most towns south of Asbury: two lanes, one in each direction, with angle parking on both sides of the street.
Are there any plans for a pier at any point along the beachfront? Mottola said he thought it would be possible to get approval for one, but it ranks low on his priority list.
Asbury Park (and the shore in general) has long been home to a glut of rock music clubs fighting for the same audience. Will Madison Marquette diversify the market by opening clubs that cater to different genres (R&B, house, reggae, jazz, etc.) Mottola: "We hope so." But he said it will be driven largely by demand.
What are the specific plans for the pavilion north of Convention Hall? Possibly a beach club with spa services.
I tried to get answers to as many of the reader-submitted questions as possible. I answered several of them in yesterday's blog. Here are the rest of them:
What is the nature of the relationship between Madison Marquette and Asbury Partners? Lamle emphasized that under the terms of an agreement reached Monday, Asbury Partners and Madison Marquette are full partners in the entire redevelopment effort- residential and retail/entertainment. Mottola is the managing partner but Asbury Partners has approval power over plans and budgets. He gave no indication that the arrangement was anything but long term.
At a recent Chamber of Commerce meeting where Mottola spoke, he indicated that the green spaces along the boardwalk needed to be "activated." In the past these spaces were either mini-golf or rides. What does MM envision. Mottola said that in lieu of a specific amusement zone, the rides will be interspersed in the green spaces. He said they were considering a "signature" observation tower with a water slide. A Ferris wheel and carousel also were possibilities. Renowned New York architect David Rockwell, best known for his restaurant and theatre set designs - he also designed the Nokia Theater in Manhattan - has begun working on detailed renderings for the boardwalk and its six pavilions.
At the same Chamber meeting, Mottola seemed frustrated about the current school situation and the fact Asbury Park is an Abbott district. "Then you stopped, other than to say it has to be fixed. Care to comment further?" Mottola said he wasn't familiar enough with the school system to offer any suggestions. But he noted that a town in which MM has been active - Emoryville, Calif., near San Francisco - that faced similar problems in the schools turned things around, thanks in large measure to a dynamic school superintendent and an engaged community.
Also, at the Chamber meeting, Mottola indicated the original plan for the Wesley Grove entertainment district wasn't that good. "Do you envision a bigger entertainment district, with the Casino, Wesley Lake and the land north? Do you have a hotel ready to go in?" This is one area where significant changes will be sought to the master plan. The most significant will be plans for a 20-plus story hotel/condo complex. No separate entertainment/amusement area is planned for west and north of the Casino.
How about reopening the public bath/locker rooms at Fourth Avenue and the tunnel to the beach? Mottola said there will be public beaches but he didn't commit to the locations or to a tunnel.
Is 2010 a real target date for the Casino? Yes, according to Mottola.
What is MM's time frame for developing 50 percent, 75 and 100 percent of the plan.
No one wanted to be pinned down specifically on the time frames, other than the 2010 date for the Casino, the June 28 opening of the Paramount and completion of the second floor of the Fifth Avenue pavilion by September. He said the Tiki Bar at the Convention Hall also might reopen later this summer.
How much is MM putting in of MM's money, and how much has MM secured from third parties. What type of return is MM anticipating. Mottola and Lamle would not answer.
Has there been any further discussion about the possibility of making access to the beach free? Mottola said that was a decision that would be made by the city after analyzing whether the lost beach tag revenue would be more than offset by any increased economic activity attributable to a larger number of patrons.
Can individuals invest in the redevelopment. Is it a REIT? No and no.
The parking meters have been removed from Ocean Avenue. Will new meters be installed? Will there be meters on the streets perpendicular to Ocean Avenue? Mottola said it's understanding new "European-style" meters will be installed on Ocean Avenue and on nearby streets.
Does Madison Marquette (perhaps working with the UEZ) have any plans for an "inviting" makeover of the west-to-east traffic corridors that lead to the public beachfront, particularly Asbury Avenue. While Mottola said it would be nice to do so, it wasn't within his purview.
Given Asbury Park's long musical history, would you consider having the New Jersey Music Hall of Fame play a role in your redevelopment? Fishman and Mottola said serious thought was being given to the idea, and that a music museum of some type was being incorporated into their planning.
"Will Madison Marquette limit its activities to the oceanfront? I'm thinking specifically of Springwood Avenue. See the Madonna Carter Jackson book, 'West Side Story.' That street was just as happening as Ocean Avenue back in the day, and a group like MM could maybe help bring that back." Mottola noted that the partners only had control over the redevelopment area.
What was the thinking behind the traffic striping on the repaved Ocean Avenue? (Two solid stripes create three lanes, one of which - the one closest to the angle parking on the east side - is narrower than the other two.) Mottola said he didn't like the current striping, and would like to see Ocean Avenue set up the same way as most towns south of Asbury: two lanes, one in each direction, with angle parking on both sides of the street.
Are there any plans for a pier at any point along the beachfront? Mottola said he thought it would be possible to get approval for one, but it ranks low on his priority list.
Asbury Park (and the shore in general) has long been home to a glut of rock music clubs fighting for the same audience. Will Madison Marquette diversify the market by opening clubs that cater to different genres (R&B, house, reggae, jazz, etc.) Mottola: "We hope so." But he said it will be driven largely by demand.
What are the specific plans for the pavilion north of Convention Hall? Possibly a beach club with spa services.
posted by Randy Bergmann at 11:31 AM
1 Comments:
Is all that was stated here still in the works as of 2-14-2009? I rode through Asbury Park last week and other than work on the Asbury Towers, which is not part of Asbury Partners, some work on convention Hall and finishing touches on some type of water park on the boardwalk. All signs of life were gone. The construction sites empty even of construction equipment, never a good sign. I hope the people of Asbury have had a say in what has been proposed for you, for after all it will be you that ultimately lives with these decisions. It is also hoped that the new development has taken Asbury’s History and incorporated that into you new design. I say these things because I am an architect and one that is leery of major redevelopment that transform an area from one thing to something else, it is much better to have slow growth that is sensible & sensitive to the environment and community and ultimately the residents. I have no biases in writing this I am not involved in any aspect of what is happening. I am a fan of Asbury Park's history and the structures that stood before the decline. It truly was magical and it is not too late to reclaim what was here because thankfully, the buildings have been demolished but that can be fixed. I grew up in Avalon NJ during the summers and my family has been going there for over 100 years. But the development that has taken place the last 8 years has been devastating. It is true that you can design and build beautiful new buildings but by taking the old away you slowly chip at the character of the community that can not be replaced.
Anyone interested in responding to this please feel free to email me at: avalon9399@yahoo.com
Hopping all residents of Asbury Park a great rebirth of you community but if at all possible get involved and don’t settle for anything less.
Best wishes to Asbury Park
David A. Cummings
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