This is a rendering of the proposed residential building on Kingsley Street in Asbury Park.
By MICHELLE GLADDEN
Project updates for an eight-story residential building on the former Oceanic Motel site at the corner of Kingsley Street and Sixth Avenue in Asbury Park continue to raise quality of life issues for neighboring residents.
Although the Waterfront Redevelopment Plan was adopted in the early 2000s, the proposed project is not in line with the original Bradley Plan, where avenues were designed in such a way to maximize airflow and minimize the obstruction of ocean views,” Sixth Avenue resident Gloria Perretti said
She was among those who lined up in response to Asbury Luxury Apartments and Resort’s 114-foot project presentation during the City Council’s Feb 12 workshop.
“We have been, respectfully, on a bit of a merry-go-round here and are looking to get back on track,” Project Attorney Kevin Kennedy said. “My client is committed to the city of Asbury Park, is committed to developing in accordance with the Waterfront Redevelopment Plan, and is anxious to hopefully become an appointed subsequent redeveloper. We are excited to build and develop and operate this facility.”
This is the developer’s second turn at a subsequent redeveloper’s agreement, a contractual obligation needed for construction within a redevelopment zone.
Architect Dan Zaneto of Mode outlined the project and its iterations during the past two years by saying the project, located just north of Convention Hall, now features 94 homes ~ two one-bedroom, 49 two-bedroom and 43 three-bedroom units – a four-unit reduction.
There are four more parking spaces, which brings the total to 152, with automated stacked parking and 64 bike storage stalls in the underground garage. The first floor has 62 more parking spaces, a lobby, fitness center, community room, and a few apartments. The second floor now features two to three-bedroom units and the reduced pool deck and green roof courtyard, which had been a two-story indoor feature in the original design.
“We are meeting all the requirements of the Waterfront Redevelopment Plan without taking any deductions for EV [earned value],” Zaneto said.
Zaneto outlined how the structural changes now align with the neighboring North Beach condos and other properties, its ‘generous’ distance from the building to the curb, and how the building’s mass steps down from eight to four stories. Other changes include decreasing the lot coverage from 90 percent to 86 percent, a five foot side yard set back along Webb Street and Seventh Avenue, a six foot’ setback along Sixth Avenue, reduced garage entry to preserve neighbors’ sight lines, removed rear balconies along Kingsley, and a revised facade and material design.
And while the bulk of the changes are based on prior feedback from the community and municipal officials, it didn’t seem to be enough to quell concerns.
“The proposed structure will destroy the airflow and sight lines for the homes to the west,” Sixth Avenue neighbor Gabriella Cuchinotta said. “It will aggravate the flooding that is already a problem in this area [and] it will add more concrete and fewer space for trees to thrive and add another heat island area to the city maps.”
Roger Mumford, who recently completed the Rhythm, questioned the four-story building, saying it was 10 feet too high, thereby blocking sight lines.
“I will get my stuff together. I’m going to come with a real presentation, and I will be here at every meeting to make sure this never gets built,” he said to resounding applause.
Asbury Park Director of Development Michele Alonso explained the next steps, recommending that before an official hearing and vote on the subsequent redeveloper’s agreement, the City Council should immediately make their request for a shadow study, a technical analysis of just how the project’s scale will affect environmental concerns such as access to sunlight.
“The next part is ironing out details in the SDA about this project,” Alonso said. “That is the next step.”
