Developers propose redesign to Memorial Drive complex
Retail shops, restaurant and bank with drive through accessibility planned
An old shopping center that fronts Memorial Drive between Fifth and Sunset Avenues is expected to get a major facelift.
Representatives of property owners Ron-Vin LLC. made a presentation to the Asbury Park Planning Board Monday that outlined their intention to redesign the structure. A new complex would house nine businesses, including two anchor businesses on each corner — a restaurant on the corner of Fifth Avenue and Memorial Drive and a bank at the opposite corner on Sunset Avenue and Memorial Drive with a drive through — along with the possibility of seven retail locations situated in between the restaurant and bank.
Plans for the redesign include the addition of a driveway and parking spaces in the rear of the building, and a proposed “cut through” to give patrons ease of access from the rear parking lot to the store fronts. The footprint of the building would largely stay the same, minus the breezeway. All of the parking in the front of the building on Memorial Drive would also remain in tact.
Current tenants include Klitzman and Gallagher Law Offices, a window treatment business, Negrille’s restaurant, a convenience store, Cuisine Creole Restaurant, American Liberty Bail Bonds and a barber shop. It is unknown at this time whether the businesses will have to permanently relocate, according to Asbury Park developer Vince Gifford, one of the property owners.
Renderings of the architectural design include with large glass windows fronting each business and a covered walkway overhead held up by columns [shown at right].
The owners “seek to restore it to be a resource to the community,” said project attorney E. Carlton Kromer, Asbury Park, who presented the application.
Due to the exacting standards of the planning board in terms of specific signage, lighting, and several questions from the city engineer in regard to proposed curb cuts, turning radiuses for garbage trucks in the rear of the building, drainage information and the use of a specific type of exterior insulation, the applicants elected to carry the matter to the next meeting to be held on Dec. 9, at which time they will address those matters in further detail.
Some members of the planning board exchanged glances that expressed discontent with the proposed redesign of the frontage.
Planning board member Seresa Grillo suggested incorporating other design elements into the design of the building’s frontage, perhaps alternating brick and stucco on the front exterior to break up the businesses, instead of the proposed rendering that looked similar to “a strip mall that looks like 1982,” she said.
Several property owners are listed as being a part of Ron-Vin, including Sigman Real Estate Partners, LLC., along with Gifford.
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