2 to 8 Story Buildings Planned At City Triangle Downtown
By GARRETT STASSE
Asbury Parks downtown would go urban in a big way if the City Council adopts a proposal now before the Planning Board.
The board is recommending the council amend its redevelopment ordinance to allow some 725,000 square feet of residential space be built on a triangle bordered by Cookman, Asbury and Heck Avenues in buildings between two and eight stories tall. Should the concept come to pass, people heading to town from the beach would be greeted by what board members called a Flatiron-type building that would tower over its surroundings.
Westminster Properties appeared before the board on Monday to ask it to recommend some layout changes that would reduce the number of units from 334 to 300.
The new concept would be called Wesley Grove Phase II.
The revisions, presented by architects Theodore Liebman and Alan Melting are meant to replace an earlier concept that would have essentially walled in the property on all three sides. The new concept calls for open space, a road cutting between the main section and the eastern tip, and open space at Cookman and Heck, with a set back health club and indoor pool facing a park-like setting.
Most of the buildings would be three-story townhouses. Two eight-story buildings would connect to them, but be set back 10 feet so as not to overpower the streets. All parking would be off street.
Liebman said a tiny, tiny building would anchor the eastern end to create a transition from the beach to the business district, a gateway leading into Cookman. The building would be eight stories with balconies offering wide views.
It would be two blocks from Cookman and a block and a half from the beach, he said. We tried to design a landmark building that would be a gateway to both streets, Cookman and Asbury.
It would also be a more complex and expensive venture, he said.
Board members Matthew Berman and Sara Ann Towery agreed, up to a point. They wanted, and eventually got, the board to vote to move the eastern building either to the tip of the triangle or close to it to create some drama in front and more open space between it and the street that would cut through.
That building should be spectacular, Berman said.
The board debated whether to allow a ninth floor, but in the end agreed to adhere to the redevelopment plan and stay with eight.
This is a very significant triangle, and I think we ought to go for it, Towery said.
Board member Steve Troy said the concept was in keeping with what city planners sought when devising redevelopment zones.
The city determined we want an urban environment, not suburban. I think this is consistent with that, he said.
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