Pool, Restaurants and Bars Planned for Boardwalk
 This is a rendering of what the pool at a new beach club will look like at Second Avenue on the boardwalk in Asbury Park. |
By JOANNE L. PAPAIANNI
Madison Marquette, Asbury Park beachfront developers, presented a detailed plan to the citys Technical Review Committee on the boardwalk renovations which include makeovers of the pavilions, a pool and beachclub with cabanas and showers and several new restaurants and bars.
John Lanham, representing the redeveloper, was also quick to remind the committee that there are only 115 days before the start of the summer season.
He assured those in attendance, that there are tenants prepared to move into the boardwalk pavilions. Madison Marquette last week announced that the new boardwalk would be ready by June. City officials have pledged to help move the project forward.
We have a really nice list of tenants who want to be involved in Asburys project, Lanham said. And they have the money, so this is great news.
J. Crew was mentioned as one of the retailers who wants to rent space on the boardwalk.
The project was scheduled to be voted on at the City Council meeting Jan. 23.
David Mexico, of the Rockwell Group, displayed detailed sketches of what is being planned beginning with the First Avenue Pavilion.
On the south end an all american diner is planned for the first floor, by the owner of downtowns Taka restaurant.
Russell Lewis of the Baker Boys Bakery in Ocean Grove is planning to establish a high end lounge on the second floor, with couches and a quiet, ambient music environment along with a tapas menu and drinks.
The remainder of the pavilion will be occupied by retail tenants, including a white tablecloth, Italian restaurant by the owners of Sirena in Long Branch at the north end.
There will also be an upper deck on some parts of the pavilion.
The facade of all the pavilions will be stucco with metal accents.
Also planned is a New York style bagel shop.
Mexico said he wanted the First Avenue Pavilion, which is at the beginning of Ocean Avenue coming from the downtown area, to be impressive.
There will be two-sided architecture, he said. It will be a real presence on Ocean Avenue.
Sara Anne Towry, a committee member, said she liked the Ocean Avenue side of the pavilion, better than the boardwalk side, saying she did not like the look of the metal accents and said she thought it needed to be more exciting.
There are too many (curved metal accents) marching down the boardwalk, she said. Its pretty repetitive.
Mexico said there will be glass on both sides of the building but people would not be able to see through to the other side.
Mexico also said he expects the First Avenue Pavilion to be open for extended hours of operation.
Matthew Berman, architect and member of the TRC, said he felt that the building had an odd and compartmentalized look.
Somethings going on with that facade that doesnt feel like the same…...theres more of a balance on Ocean Avenue, he said.
Speaking of the boardwalk side he said, It seems accidental. It doesnt have the same relationship to its neighbors. It repeats itself.
Lanham again reminded the TRC that they only have 115 days.
We dont have the opportunity to redesign it, he said.
But Towry and Berman said they were looking for simple design changes.
Berman said, If you can do it on one side of a rectangular building, you should be able to do it on the other side.
Towry added, I know you are in a hurry, but we want a great building.
Although no state representative from CAFRA (Coastal Area Facilities Review Act) attended the meeting, the TRC was assured by representatives from Madison Marquette and Rockwell Group that any changes being made are within the height of the existing buildings and would not require permits.
A beach club, complete with an 18-inch wading pool as its centerpiece, is planned for the Second Avenue Pavilion.
Also included in the club are cabanas, mens and women’s locker rooms, showers and a bar with a lounge area.
The club will be elevated to allow those on the deck to see over beachgoers heads to the ocean.
Berman objected to the depth of the pool, and asked if it would not be more feasible to have a pool for swimming, or at least a section.
But Michael Walker, Creative Director from Madison Marquette, said the pool is mainly a glamour item.
Its not a practical thing its a glamour thing, he said. Its not a beach club, its a pool club its strictly a glamour thing.
Walker said he has visited beach clubs in other resort areas that have similar pools.
He also said it can be great for night time parties.
Everyone can lay around, he added.
The entire square footage of the beach club is 3,500.
Towry said she would be happier with the pool if fountains were added that errupted intermittently.
Something for the kids, she said.
Lanham said he would look into adding some variety to the pool.
Berman said he would be in favor of adding a fountain.
Something that cascades down, he said.
Committee member John Loffredo said details on how the pool is built is a vendors call.
Also they said a resin and sawdust composite would be used for the decking, while the cabanas would be wood and canvas and the showers will be modular units.
Lanham said the plan is for the club to be started and then eventually turned over to another operator.
Lanham said the renovations at both the First and Second Avenue Pavilions will make the area look like a whole new neighborhood.
Changes to the Third Avenue Pavilion are considered interim changes until the economy takes an upturn and the building can be torn down and rebuilt.
Members of the TRC were assured that the Mayfair concession stand would remain at the site, along with new stores such as J. Crew beach wear, American Apparel and Style Rocket.
Lanham said that they wanted to minimize costs at the Third Avenue Pavilion to allow them to focus on the other pavilions.
Its a hundred times better than whats there, but none of us has a crystal ball, Lanham said.
Berman also said there was a lot of chatter in the community about how long stores on the boardwalk would last.
Lanham said he had five year leases that were ready to be executed.
After being shown plans for the Fifth Avenue Pavilion TRC members said they wanted the two connected buildings, the old Howard Johnson and the attached pavilion to have a more cohesive look.
Towry said she was glad restoration of the band shell is included in the plans.
Plans are also being proposed for 500 parking spaces and three new parking lots near the beach front.
Also a preliminary plan was proposed to change the parallel parking on Ocean Ave. and its side streets to angled parking, increasing the number of spots from 150 to 280.
Open spaces along the beach front streets will also be cleaned up and graded, they said.
Renovations to Bradley Park are also being discussed.
At the end of the meeting Mexico showed TRC members sketches of love shacks, or portable structures that can house anything from a sushi bar to an ice cream/candy stand.
The love shacks, which are pre-fabricated modular units, could be constructed in any green space and could be carted away at the end of the summer season.
They are temporary structures, made in an artful, thoughtful way, representatives said.
The Wonder Bar, located across from the Fifth Avenue Pavilion, will reopen, but with an open air section.
It speaks to a younger market, similar to Bar A (in Belmar), Walker said.
Towry also suggested changing Ocean Avenue back to a one-way street, but Lanham said it would be detrimental to the retail business.
It will kill you from a retail perspective, he said. With retail everything is access and parking you gotta get in and get out.
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