Here are my thoughts against moving and/or expanding the Stone Pony,
as well as an idea for how the site should be developed (I know it's
a bit long, but I encourage everyone to read and give their feedback):
The Stone Pony is Asbury Park's most famous (remaining) landmark.
Almost everyone can agree that moving it into a different building
will make it a fake Stone Pony.
Compare it to Yankee Stadium. A new Yankee Stadium is being built
across the street from the existing one. It will resemble the
current Yankee Stadium, it will be called by the same name, and the
Yankees will still play there. But it won't be the same Yankee
Stadium where Babe Ruth, Joe DiMaggio, Mickey Mantle, and Yogi Berra
played. It will be a new ballpark, on a new piece of land. The old
walls of the stadium will be torn down, and it will be gone forever.
If the Stone Pony is moved, people won't be going to the same place
that Bruce Springsteen played. They'll be going to a venue that is
just called the Stone Pony. It won't be the actual thing. Why not
rename Convention Hall into Stone Pony Hall? It would be the same
concept. It makes no sense to move it. If it is demolished, that's
it. We don't want a huge waterfront bar with a dance floor that is
called "the Stone Pony," which resembles a Jenkinson's, Headliner, or
Sawmill. The Jersey Shore has enough of these bars.
As for expanding the current Stone Pony on its site, forget about
it. Asbury Partners is NEVER going to surrender a block of
oceanfront real estate. Nor is any developer going to believe they
can sell 150 condos facing an outdoor stage. Let's face it; the
block where the Stone Pony sits is going to have luxury condos built
on it to some extent. Another reason the Stone Pony should not be
expanded is because Convention Hall (a 3600 seat venue) and the
Paramount Theatre (a 1200 seat venue) are big enough to host the
major acts who choose to perform in Asbury Park. There is no need to
create another 2000 seat venue on the boardwalk to compete with these
existing historic concert halls (which are going to have millions of
dollars poured into them to restore them and bring them up to today's
standards). Also, when Bruce Springsteen played at the Stone Pony,
it wasn't a venue like it is now. He played inside, on the stage in
the building. He was a local act, making his way up playing in a
small rock club (which has now become synonymous with American rock
and roll history). The venue should continue to support local
bands, giving them the same chance as Bruce had. That is what you
would call truly preserving the Stone Pony.
As an architecture student, a follower of the Asbury Park
redevelopment, and a supporter of the importance in historic
preservation, this is obviously a very important issue for me. I
came up with a conceptual plan of how the site can be developed to
the likings of the developers and their opponents:
The entire block which the Stone Pony sits will be developed into one
mixed use structure. The Stone Pony building would remain and become
integrated into the new building. Directly to the south of the Stone
Pony will sit the New Jersey Music Hall of Fame. To the west will be
a condominium building, as well as a parking garage for the residents
of those condos.
The New Jersey Music Hall of Fame would be situated in a two story,
50,000 square foot portion of the building. It will house fixed and
rotating exhibits, lecture halls, learning spaces, a restaurant, and
a gift shop.
The gift shop would be accessible directly from Ocean Avenue as well
as the inside of the hall of fame. It would sell CDs and DVDs of New
Jersey artists, souvenirs and gifts relating to New Jersey based
music as well as memorabilia of the Stone Pony and Asbury Park.
The restaurant would be located on the second floor of the Hall of
Fame. The restaurant would open to the current roof of the Stone
Pony, which will be rebuilt as an outdoor dining space. Transparent
glass railings will line the top of the Stone Pony in the outdoor
dining area to minimize their presence and keep the current
appearance of the Stone Pony.
The Stone Pony interior will remain intact and in use as a rock and
roll club. The building will also become the official performance
space of the NJ Music Hall of Fame. When not in use for music (such
as during the day or on off nights), the Stone Pony will act as an
exhibit in the Hall of Fame. Visitors to the Hall of Fame would be
able to walk through the club, entering directly from the first floor
of the Hall of Fame (the entrance would be at the location which is
presently the portal to the outdoor stage area). When events are
taking place at the Stone Pony, the doors to the Hall of Fame would
simply be closed and the Stone Pony will host its show.
The Stone Pony will be unique in that it will once again become an
intimate venue. Well known acts who want big crowds will hold their
performances at Convention Hall or the Paramount Theatre. However,
prestigious bands and artists can still hold intimate performances at
the Stone Pony.
To the west will be plenty of room for condominiums. A condominium
building will be built on top of a two or three story parking garage
available to only residents of the building. Private outdoor space
for the condominiums will be located both on top of the parking
garage and the roof of the new Hall of Fame. This area will include
a pool, gardens, patios, and eating or lounging areas. Also included
around this area would be a health club, spa, private restaurant, and
other private amenities only available to residents of the condos.
The Stone Pony would be saved, a Music Hall of Fame would be created,
and the developers would get plenty of luxury condos. Everybody wins.
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