Sometimes it can look a little spooky. Photos by Paul Goldfinger. Left click on images to see them larger; then back arrow
By Charles Layton
Just because the Casino is in disrepair doesn’t mean it’s not cool. The Parthenon is in disrepair, too, but it’s cool. Likewise the Coliseum in Rome. Likewise the Great Sphinx of Giza — it’s kind of run-down, but still…
Many Ocean Grovers amble through the Casino on a regular basis, either on daily walks or morning bike rides or en route to a boardwalk restaurant or other Asbury attraction. It’s as familiar to us as the Great Auditorium.
But don’t you sometimes wonder whether the Casino will remain as it is — a graffiti museum — in perpetuity? Does Asbury have plans for it? And if so, what are they?
Reporter Don Stine answers those questions in this week’s Coaster, and the answers are: No, there are no specific plans. However, yes, the city’s beachfront developer, Madison Marquette Investments, does intend to rehab the building. But not now. And apparently not soon.
And as for what it will one day become, that seems an open question.
Stine quotes Donald Sammet, Asbury’s director of redevelopment and planning, as saying that the beachfront developer is required, at some point, to turn the building into something. But not on any set schedule.
The president of Madison Marquette Investments, Gary Mottola, is quoted as saying his company “will develop the Casino at some point.”
Some of us aren’t getting any younger, Gary, and we’d really like to see the thing rehabbed before we shuffle off this mortal coil.
Stine writes that it was built “circa 1929″ and that the eastern portion – the part over the beach, which was razed in 2006 – was once an ice skating rink. What remains now is the old amusement area and carousel building on the western end.
Mottola said the building is structurally safe and that some of the architectural elements have been moved into storage.
Good thing it’s safe, because although it isn’t officially in use, people do in fact use it for many things. Street musicians set up in there from time to time. And as the photos below remind us, it can also serve as a sports palace, or even for a wedding celebration.
Even in its decrepitude, people really like it.
It’s a great place to take wedding photos.
… or for a father-son hockey game…
SOUNDTRACK: Stuart Hamblin
Shame on Madison Marquette! First there was the removal of the horses that were atop the casino (both sides – north & south. Then demolishing/removing the roller skating portion. Then removing the windows & doors. It just keeps getting worse & worse. They can at least sheetrock the ugly eyesore eastern side interior and commission a mural to liven it up.
Further proof of their poor performance when it comes to preserving and respecting Asbury Park history is that they are doing nothing with the Tillie face which was removed from the Palace Amusements building in 2004. For over 8 years now the Tillie face and also the 2 bumper car murals have been in storage. Tillie is an Asbury Park/Jersey Shore icon and should be respected by putting it on public display.
Yesterday there was a cello player in there with a bucket for tips, he was pretty good! The acoustics lent an ‘ethereal’ quality to his classical repertory. There was also a ballerina showing off some nice moves. It sort of reminded me of the licensed performers in NYC subway stations. Perhaps it could be something of a regular performance space.
I have lived in OG for a little over 3 years and have not seen any development activity whatsoever on the AP shore front. What kind of shore front developer is this company? They don’t seem to do anything year after year. They have no timing and no plan, apparently. Perhaps Asbury Park needs to hire a more credible company that has the access to capital and vision to get things done — which is certainly not Madison Marquette.
I think it is wonderful that musicians play & dancers perform in Casino & on boardwalk. I think if they have out a tip jar that we should tip them. However, I think it really stinks that Asbury Park charges these people a licensing fee. I think it is about $50 or so. Asbury instead of charging them should actually be paying them as they are an attraction and add to the character of the Asbury Casino & the boardwalk. If there has to be a city fee Madison Marquette should step up and pay it on behalf of the performers. I always hate to see artists getting ripped off.
I like the open, spacious feel of the building and surrounding open spaces. It distinguishes the space from every other New Jersey shore community that stuffs buildings, shops, arcades smack up to the shore. Before its depression, Asbury Park did that too. Stuff, cram, jam. No open space. This biggest mistake for Madison is too much development near the water. They need properties that attract people, and open vistas, views, breezes, breathing; this attracts because it is different from jammed crammed Point Unpleasant. If they get snookered into turning Asbury into Seaside Heights, they are really foolish. It has to be better to get the gold.
How about a poll on this open space inviting suggestions for innovative ways to use this space.
Per Ken: Art Shows, Improv Groups, Music, More Music, Dance (most of the floor is in decent shape), ‘Street Performers,’ Multi Media, endless possibilities!
How about Madison just paint the exterior with beachy colors. That would be a good start.