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Tommy -
Either you or the Asbury Park Press is wrong about the outcome of a declaration of default. If it's the Press, you must respond to this editorial.
Maureen
Coming up short on "vision thing"
Posted by the Asbury Park Press on 02/5/06The Asbury Park City Council is holding the feet of beachfront redeveloper Asbury Partners to the fire. For the sake of the city, and for its own sake, Asbury Partners can't let its toes get any closer to the flames.The city, discouraged by the lack of progress on the rehabilitation of Convention Hall, the Casino and the reconstruction of the five boardwalk pavilions, has wisely insisted on negotiating a detailed time frame for the start and completion of work on the boardwalk buildings, along with penalties for failure to meet deadlines. On Wednesday, Asbury Partners was given two weeks to draft an agreement acceptable to the city. Without such an agreement, Asbury Partners faces a default on the renovation portion of the plan. Should that happen, it would further retard the sale of the condominiums at the three major projects, which have already been slowed by the uncertainty surrounding the reconstruction of the boardwalk buildings. In a worst-case scenario, it could turn back the clock several years on the beachfront redevelopment. It's disturbing that it has come to this. Not only has there been no progress on the two anchors of the boardwalk — Convention Hall and the Casino — but there has been no evidence of a coherent business plan or marketing strategy for the retail-entertainment portion of the redevelopment zone. Without a strong commercial component, the success of the residential component is in jeopardy. One can't succeed without the other. Asbury Partners' "SoHo meets South Beach" concept has visceral appeal. But that model seems destined to fail if Asbury Partners is intent on turning the boardwalk area into a year-round destination. South Beach has beach weather 12 months a year; Asbury Park is lucky if it gets 12 decent weeks. SoHo and South Beach both have tens of thousands of potential patrons, people living within walking or subway distance of its shops, restaurants and nightclubs. Asbury Park has fewer than 17,000 residents, is relatively inaccessible and is largely devoid of pass-through traffic. For the Asbury Park entertainment-retail component of the beachfront to succeed as a year-round venue, it will require a different formula — one based on unique attractions that will draw from well beyond the city and county's borders. The formula must be rooted in music, food and entertainment attractions that can't be found anywhere else nearby. It requires a vision that Asbury Partners has yet to demonstrate it possesses. Getting Asbury Partners to commit to a time frame for the rehabilitation of boardwalk buildings is essential. But it isn't enough. The city must insist that Asbury Partners develop a credible business and marketing model. Speak up - It's America!!
Maureen Nevin Asbury Radio -"The Radio Voice of Asbury Park" 88.1FM - "5" Years on the Air!! Asbury's Own Live Talk Show 601 Bangs Avenue Listen 8 - 10 PM Thursdays on 88.1FM or Listen Live or Later on the Web http://www.restoreradio.com/ Call the show 732-775-0821 Call me 732-774-0779 fax 502-0463
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