Madison Marquette to give Stone Pony Summer Stage fencing a facelift
New exterior wall would include decorative scrim
Officials from Madison Marquette and the city are currently negotiating a new look for the outside wall of the Stone Pony’s Summer Stage.
The council voted at its May 15 meeting to approve the plan, provided that it will meet the goals and conceptions of the redevelopment plan. Next, Madison Marquette will present to the planning board, who will have the ultimate say as to whether it will be put in place.
Anselm Fusco, Madison Marquette’s senior vice president, presented the plans to the council at the May 15 meeting.
“What we’re talking about here is the replacement of the entire perimeter of the Stone Pony,” he said.
The planning board already approved the replacement, he said, but plans for the western and southern portions of the exterior wall surrounding the Summer Stage still need to be approved. The Summer Stage area will expand 20 feet west toward Kingsley Avenue, he said.
Madison Marquette hopes to erect a brick wall on the western and southern borders, ensuring that the wall is high enough to prevent people from climbing over, and not made of a material that people can remove. The wall also must be high enough to prevent people on the boardwalk from seeing the stage, Fusco said.
The wall will consist of seven feet of masonry block, with four feet of fencing on top, Fusco said. They will also try to place a wind-permeable scrim consisting of vinyl, perforated canvas along the perimeter, possibly adorned with the Stone Pony’s logo.
Madison Marquette still has some questions of the scrim’s durability and effectiveness in preventing people from watching through the fence, but “we’re going to give it a try,” Fusco said.
Pedestrian entrances will be located on Ocean and First avenues for ticket-holders, Fusco said. Vehicular entrances will be consolidated into two sliding gates.
Madison Marquette will add another 20-foot curb backing so that loading can happen on the western perimeter, Fusco said.
“I like that the [masonry] wall is seven feet as opposed to 10,” City Manager Terence Reidy said. “The concern I have is that whatever we have up here will be here 10 months out of the year.”
Reidy asked if it would be possible for the top fence portion of the wall to be removable.
“If there’s a way to get a cleaner look for the off-season, that will achieve our goal,” Reidy said.
Fusco said the group has not talked about incorporating a removable top panel.
Madison Marquette will present to the planning board at its next meeting, which is set for June 17 at 7 p.m. in council chambers.
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