A developer said he has a plan to transform the heating plant on the Asbury Park boardwalk into a mixed hospitality center.
During a routine transfer of a liquor license in Asbury Park at a City Council meeting Aug. 24 officials heard about a plan to transform the long abandoned heating plant at the southern end of the boardwalk into a 60,000-square-foot mixed hospitality center.
“The entire council, the attorney, our city manager…we were all floored,” Mayor John Moor said when asked about the plan following the meeting. “During the many talks with Madison Marquette (building owner) we were never told about this. But, then again, we have asked for meetings and made suggestions and we get no reply.”
Moor said city officials have no information about the proposed plan.
“We are supposed to be partners (Madison Marquette), and working together but it takes two to tango,” Moor said. “We are partners with no information.”
A liquor license has already been purchased for the project. The license was transferred from the former Elks club on Asbury Avenue. A lawyer representing Asbury Landmark Liquor said his client was anxious to start work on center, which is being proposed by Frank Cretella whose properties include Liberty House, Hudson House, Stone House and the Ryland Inn both in New Jersey and Pennsylvania.
