---

iStar’s Senior Vice President of Land and Development Brian Cheripka said in a written statement that the company is open to a redesign of the current infrastructure improvement project underway along the north beach area.

Cheripka also stated that the company will seek “a long term solution” concerning the Bradley Cove area, which local environmental activists have campaigned to have preserved.

“We support a planning process that will provide a community-based vision for the redesign of the public improvements at the north end boardwalk area and Fisherman’s parking lot,” Cheripka (right) stated. “This vision is one that can, and should, include a long-term solution for the Bradley Cove development site.”

iStar, the master waterfront redeveloper, received a firestorm of comments during the Nov. 8 City Council meeting from members of Save Asbury’s Waterfront [SAW], a local grassroots group that drew 5,330 supporters on a change.org petition that called for ‘appropriate development along Asbury Park’s Waterfront.’

An estimated 400 people turned out for the council meeting, calling for the master waterfront redeveloper to halt construction of a boardwalk redesign and its planned upgrade of the city-owned Fisherman’s parking lot.

Following a project presentation by iStar representatives and a 2 hour long public comment session during the City Council’s regular meeting, the governing body unanimously passed a resolution telling iStar a cease and desist any further action on the beachfront improvement project. The resolution also asked iStar to renegotiate a new design on the project.

“As Master Developer, iStar has always sought to be a responsible and responsive community partner in the revitalization of the Asbury Park waterfront,” Cheripka said in his statement. “Although several meetings were held with City officials to discuss and revise the plans for the approved public infrastructure improvements now taking place on the north end, we are certainly willing to come back to the table to discuss the project.”

Cheripka’s statement also outlines the creation of a website aimed at not only informing the community but eliciting feedback. 

At Bradley Cove, iStar has the development right to build 15 townhouses along what is now the Ocean Avenue right-of-way from the sewage treatment plant north toward the Loch Arbor border. 

Below is Cheripka’s complete written statement:

“As Master Developer, iStar has always sought to be a responsible and responsive community partner in the revitalization of the Asbury Park waterfront. Although several meetings were held with City officials to discuss and revise the plans for the approved public infrastructure improvements now taking place on the north end, we are certainly willing to come back to the table to discuss the project. To that end, we recently sent correspondence requesting to meet with City officials and begin the redesign process. We agree that community input is an essential part of any public project. Beyond our meeting with the City, and in an effort to promote greater transparency, our local team will launch a website over the coming weeks that will provide the community with information regarding iStar’s development projects in Asbury Park. The website will highlight our development work, as well our partnerships and participation in the community. More importantly, the website will give the public a direct forum to provide feedback about the future of the Asbury Park waterfront. When we meet with the City, we will also explore other opportunities to further encourage community involvement, such as public information sessions. We support a planning process that will provide a community-based vision for the redesign of the public improvements at the north end boardwalk area and Fisherman’s parking lot. This vision is one that can, and should, include a long-term solution for the Bradley Cove development site.”

————————————————————————————————————-

Follow the Asbury Park Sun on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

The Asbury Park Sun is affiliated with the triCityNews newspaper.

---