Asbury Ocean Club Hotel On Track For Summer 2019 Opening
iStar Luxury Boutique Hotel Offers Effortless Beach Hideaway In The Sky
Asbury Ocean Club hotel, currently underway by waterfront redeveloper iStar, is on track to open this summer, project officials announced Wednesday in a written news statement.
The 54-room luxury beach hideaway in the sky, complete with locally-inspired designs and views of water or dunes from its terrace, is located along Ocean Avenue between Third and Fourth avenues, across from the increasing popular Asbury Park Boardwalk.
“Asbury Ocean Club is not just a building; it’s the resurrection of Asbury Park,” iStar CEO Sugarman said. “It is a symbol of the return of this town to its rightful glory and an opportunity for us to create the ultimate beach lifestyle for those who want the very best.”
A part of the 17-story high rise currently in its final development stages, the boutique hotel will be located on the fourth floor, resting in the midst of ground floor commercial ventures and parking garage, and the upper-level high-end luxury homes.
It is the latest in a 10-year, multi-billion-dollar redevelopment plan iStar set forth for a 1.25-mile long, three-block stretch along Asbury Park’s waterfront. The publically traded company has spent more than $300 million thus far on its efforts to develop the 35-acre tract.
To date, completed projects include The Asbury, a boutique hotel and entertainment venue that transformed the long-stagnant Salvation Army building on Fifth Avenue, the Monroe condominiums, and the most recent rehab and relaunch of Asbury Lanes, the legendary bowling alley-turned music venue, christened last summer by Bruce Springsteen.
The building is designed by award-winning global architect Gary Handel [known for Dream Downtown Hotel in Manhattan and Rosewood Hotel in Abu Dhabi]. It will serve as a landmark venture; bringing Sugarman’s dream of providing an effortless, retreat style luxury living space to the Jersey Shore.
Behind the scenes, many of the creatives behind The Asbury, including Handel, had a part in the boutique hotel and luxury home design. Its long vertical plane rises from the ocean and sweeps towards the west, and its glass and natural materials infuse the experience with light and openness, Handel has said.
The lobby overlooks a pool deck, which serves as an extension of the property with deep sofas, sunken beds, and floor pillows, project officials said. Surrounded by trees and greens acting as space barriers, the outside becomes an oasis, featuring a 65 x 30-foot pool overlooking the ocean and outfitted with a full-service bar and grill. And, one can expect roaming granita carts, serving everything from fresh juices and smoothies to tiki cocktails.
“When you arrive, you’ll have a moment of relief, of escape from the noise,” hotelier David Bowd of Salt Hotels said. One can say, “I’m here, I’ve arrived, and everything from that moment on will be taken care of; check-in will not feel like a transaction, but a welcome. This is truly a luxury, five-star experience in a modern way. Service is attentive but a little less formal. And, it’s more suited to the personality of Asbury Park.”
At the core is the Drawing Room — an awe-inspiring ‘glass house,’ seemingly floating against the glistening reflection pool. Designed to feel like a home rather than a hotel, the space functions as a living room, open kitchen, bar, music room, and all-day retreat. There’s an oversized fireplace, oak communal tables, and objet d’art sourced from across the world.
“There’s a kind of magic to being at the beach, in any season or weather, and that’s what’s captured in every detail of the Asbury Ocean Club Hotel,” said lead designer Anda Andrei, who is known for her work at 11 Howard and the Gramercy Park Hotel + Residences. “The hotel conveys a feeling you usually have to travel very far to experience – the peace and relaxation of a one-of-a-kind oasis. With that in mind, our design is focused on connecting every guest with gentle dunes and tranquil reflecting pools.”
The hotel suites are being designed as a private beach loft, with 11-foot wood high wood
The hotel will also bring the beach bellperson experience to the Jersey Shore, a pairing that offers everything from setting up guests towels, chairs, and umbrellas on the beach, serving lunch and delivering cold bottles of water, thereby enabling guests to fully enjoy an effortless day on the beach.
The hotel fare will be a Mediterranean-inspired menu served throughout the day in the Drawing Room, at poolside, 24-hour room service, and in The Gallery – a casual indoor dining space whose centerpiece boasts an oversized Italian table carved from a single piece of wood
Through local partnerships, Asbury Park Distilling Co handcrafted gin, a Maiden Coffee signature coffee blend and a summer shandy from Asbury Park Brewery will be on the menu.
Moving onto to wellness, everything from aromatherapy, tai chi, yoga, and meditations classes to Peloton cycles, Pilates, and guided shoreline runs are on that menu.
And while a ground floor fine-dining restaurant isn’t set to open until 2020, officials say it will be helmed by a high-profile chef. It will debut along with a mix of local and national brands inside the 22,000 square foot space.
Asbury Ocean Club Hotel is located at 1101 Ocean Ave. Reservations launch on May, with special introductory rates starting at $295. For more information, call 732-705-1100 or visit asburyoceanclub.com.
————————————————————————————
Follow the Asbury Park Sun on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
The Asbury Park Sun is affiliated with the triCityNews newspaper.
