First it was Convention Hall, Then it was the Paramount: the next iconic building to be shut down in Asbury Park because of neglect is The Casino, which today was fenced up and sealed to pedestrian traffic as the redeveloper says it is closed temporarily after an inspection determined the steel trusses were no longer stable due to the corrosive effects of salt air.
Madison Marquette and its local arm Madison Asbury Retail have been silent for years as to what they intend to do to save the iconic boardwalk structures. In fact, the redeveloper’s silence has led to outstanding default notices.
Recently, the redeveloper has approached Asbury Park officials about a proposal to bring a 3,500-seat amphitheater to the boardwalk and city officials have spoken with one mind: until some attention is paid toward rectifying the conditions of Convention Hall and the Paramount Theatre, we will not sign off on an amphitheater, officials said.
That was just a few weeks ago.
“It is what it is,” said Mayor John B. Moor who has been vocal in his concern and frustration about the fate of these buildings.
He also notes that he has been telling the redeveloper for years that “the open-air environment”- which is the phrase used by the redeveloper’s engineers Colliers of Holmdel – is the same issue that is destroying Convention Hall.
Although Moor is not a structural engineer, he has suggested that where the salt air and sat water is intruding into Convention Hall – mostly where copper panels were taken off – could be sealed with plywood.
“I’ve been harping about the open-air environment in Convention Hall for years,” Moor said. “Maybe this will open their eyes and they will make repairs (as well) in Convention Hall. Their own engineer put it in his report.
City officials learned of the inspection Friday and the redeveloper was going to fence off the Casino breeze-way that links the city with Ocean Grove over the weekend but were unable to get a contractor on site until today. The inspection was done in early May, which is another source of frustration for the mayor who agrees that Madison Marquette is doing the right thing by closing off the Casino in view of the potential for “life-threatening injuries.”
“Why do they wait until two weeks before the season to do these things,” Moor said. “If the company had done its inspections earlier in the Spring, repairs could have been undertaken by now.”
After a scheduled inspection, we have made the difficult decision to close that pass through temporarily, Madison Marquette said in a statement. “At the moment, access between Asbury Park and Ocean Grove will be along the Wesley Lake promenade and the Wesley Lake bridge. We sincerely apologize for the inconvenience to the community and our visitors, and will be providing additional information shortly. “
A telephone message left at the number attached to the release was not returned.
But Moor said the company is telling the city it intends to make repairs at The Casino.
