Editor, Asbury Sun,
On behalf of Save Asbury’s Waterfront [SAW], I wish to respond to three statements made in the Asbury Park Sun’s Dec 5th article regarding iStar’s beach club plans.
1) “During the design process, iStar met with members of the local community to discuss the project…”
The last public-wide meeting where information about the beach/pool club was presented was in 2016. iStar’s Brian Cheripka did meet with North Beach condo board members twice in 2018. In an August email to Mr. Cheripka, the condo board stated building residents had additional concerns and requested another meeting. The request went unanswered.
I’m unaware of any other meetings where iStar met with local members of the community. I’m contacted daily regarding waterfront development by concerned citizens, students, seniors, environmental groups, social justice groups, historians and cultural organizations. I meet with as many as possible and I ask all of them if they’ve been able to share their questions and concerns with the developer. I’ve yet to have anyone answer yes.
SAW opened a survey on Nov 29 to obtain community feedback. Survey takers were asked their thoughts about development of a beach/pool club [per the description of the beach club on iStar’s website]. While the survey remains open through Dec 14, responses so far overwhelmingly indicate the community’s disapproval of any new development east of Ocean Avenue.
[Survey Link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/saveasburyswaterfront]
2) “Despite comments that the beach club would be a private amenity, Cheripka said memberships will be available for sale to the general public.”
A July release on iStar’s website states, ‘By 2020, residents will get to enjoy a private members-only beach club featuring a pool, cabanas, bar and grill, restrooms and changing facilities.’ SAW remains unaware of any beachfront parcels zoned for a private, members-only beach club.
3) “The new one-story amenity building speaks to the nearby area’s history as a beach and bathing club during the mid-1900’s.”
One point of contention regarding a membership-based beach club is the history of beach/swimming clubs, which were racially segregated in Asbury Park and the nation. Even after Jim Crow laws were abolished, segregated swimming facilities remained in New Jersey until the 1970s. In a city whose population is predominantly Black/African American, a membership-based beach club is viewed as callous, especially when undercurrents of socioeconomic segregation remain in the city today.
On this note, I appeal to iStar’s creative leaders, Ms. Anda Andrei and Handel Architects, to spend a day meeting with Asbury residents, historians and social justice advocates. This city’s history, while not always pretty or well documented, is worth knowing and honoring as you lead the design for Asbury’s future. The uncommon insights of these stewards of Asbury Park will inform your vision to create original solutions that remain congruent with iStar’s pursuit of strong risk-adjusted returns.
Please let the community of Asbury Park support iStar’s mission ‘to deliver not just a thoughtful solution, but also an experience clients and partners trust and want to replicate, time and time again.’
Kathleen Mumma
Ocean Avenue
[This letter represents the opinion of its writer and is not representative of any opinion of the Asbury Park Sun staff. All readers are welcome to submit Letters to the Editor to news@asburyparksun.com for our consideration. For guidelines on letter-writing and submission, click here.]
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