224 Units Still Set For High-Rise
By JOANNE L. PAPAIANNI
Metro Homes, developers of the now defunct Esperanza on the Asbury Park beachfront, hopes to unveil the project’s redesign soon.
According to Dean Geibel, a managing partner of Metro Homes, his company and city officials are in discussions about what the new project will look like.
Geibel did say, however, it will remain a condominium complex with the same number of units, 224.
A banner located at the site has a phone number where those interested can call for information.
Callers’ names, phones numbers and emails will be collected for a call back when the project is finally underway.
Geibel said former Esperanza customers will have first preference on the new condominiums.
“We are working on a redesign right now, and will be bringing it to the city fairly shortly,” he said. “When we do start to sell again, original buyers will get first call, the first shot at buying.”
Geibel said until he gets city approvals he would not reveal specifics about the new design, but said it will have more ocean views.
“We made some pretty important changes,” he said. “We made the building substantially nicer.”
Geibel said he met with city representatives as recently as last week. He also said the original architect, Dean Marchetto, is involved.
“There is a very fluid transfer of information and ideas,” he said. “We need everybody to be on board – it’s going to take a little bit of time to sort it out.”
Speaking of the current turmoil in the financial world, Geibel, who previously worked on Wall Street for 17 years, said, “It’s tougher in this environment.”
Councilman John Loffredo, chair of the Technical Review Committee, said, “I’m looking forward to seeing the new plans.”
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