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Breathing new life into the long-vacant Salvation Army building is the next project master redeveloper iStar Residential hopes to undertake along the Asbury Park waterfront.

Through adaptive re-use, iStar intends to revamp the decades-old structure into an 110-room boutique hotel with an outdoor swimming pool, bars and both indoor and outdoor event facilities — which will include use of several rooftop areas to capitalize on views of Sunset Lake, Convention Hall and the ocean, according to plans submitted to the city’s Technical Review Committee [TRC] Wednesday.

Proposed restoration includes full rehabilitation of the existing masonry building, which formerly contained dormitories for the Salvation Army, the plans state. Glass additions are proposed along the north elevation of the structure to lighten the facade and give it a more “contemporary feel,” according to the plans.

The building, located on Fifth Avenue at the corner of  Kingsley Street has eight floors, as well as an extension to the east with four floors. It has been vacant since 2004, Brian Cheripka, iStar’s vice president for land, previously told the Sun.

If successful, it would be the first time since the 1960s a new hotel has been developed in the city, the plans state.

A liquor license will be sought under current law which allows a municipality to issue an alcoholic beverage license to the operator of a hotel that has 100 or more sleeping rooms, according to the plan.

Asbury Lanes is located within the same block, which the developer already owns. The plans indicate the developer intends to “retain and rehabilitate” Asbury Lanes provided an agreement can be reached on the proposed Salvation Army site renovation, and shows a potential breezeway that would connect the rear portions of the two buildings during a subsequent phase of the project not included in the submitted plans.

Developers will seek an exception from the Waterfront Redevelopment Plan to eliminate a public driveway proposed on the block.

“We are excited about our next development project, which will focus on the renovation of the former Salvation Army building on Fifth Avenue,” Cheripka said in an email to the Sun. “We look forward to making our presentation [to the TRC] … at which time, plans for our new hotel will be unveiled.”

The TRC meets Tuesday, July 29 at 6 p.m. in City Council chambers.

The advisory-only committee will assess the project to ensure the plans meet certain specific design standards, make recommendations to the developers and provide comments to other members of the planning board before the project is presented to the full board for review.

The city council must also approve the project plans.

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