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Hundreds of postcards, some with personal messages, were posted at noon Saturday on the doors leading into iStar’s local office on Ocean Avenue.

The message – Save Asbury Park’s north end beach from development.

iStar, as the city’s waterfront redeveloper, owns the development rights for much of the waterfront redevelopment area and has proposed constructing a 15-unit townhouse development on what is now the Ocean Avenue right-of-way from the sewerage treatment plant north toward the Loch Arbor border. 

Close to 225 people gathered at the site to rally for an oceanfront park in its stead. Among those in attendance were members of the Asbury Park City Council; Democratic Freeholder Candidate Margie Donlon; Democratic Senate Candidate Vin Gopal; American Littoral Society Executive Director Tim Dillingham; and Clean Ocean Action Executive Director Cindy Zipf.

They marched, some with signs and/or kids in hand, some on bikes or others with their dogs. As they marched, they often chanted, “Save Our Beach.” They marched from the proposed site, along the north end boardwalk south, before veering onto Ocean Avenue up to the New York-based company’s local office.

iStar’s Senior Vice President of Development Brian Cheripka has said he is open to negotiating a deal, as long as it its based on fair market value.

The rally was organized by Oceanfront Preservation Coalition, led for the past decade by former City Councilman Joe Woerner and local activist Joyce Grant, who are joined by Surfrider Foundation Jersey Shore Chapter Co Chairs Andrew Chambarry and Bill Williams.

“What really grinds my gears is beach access,” Chambarry, a Deal Lake Drive resident, said. “We’ve been fighting with towns like Deal for over two years. But Asbury Park is not Deal, Asbury Park is not Long Branch, Asbury Park is not Mantoloking, and Asbury Park is not Seaside. Asbury Park is cool, Asbury Park is tolerant, and Asbury Park wants to keep this area undeveloped. The reason we are all here today is so that iStar will hear all of our voices.”

In thanking the City Council for their support, Woerner said, “Really they are the ones who are making it possible to have a negotiation with iStar. They have been absolutely supportive.”

Deputy Mayor Amy Quinn said the Bradley Cove development has repeatedly been a priority for the governing body.

“We have five members on the City Council who absolutely want to see this as a park,” Quinn said. “The one problem with that is iStar. We really want iStar to see that this is what the community wants. These demonstrations, Joe sending out emails on what to do, this is imperative to having this remain a park. Let’s keep this on the forefront.”

For more information about the rally to save the beachfront land from development, visit saveasburypark.surfrider.org. To contact Oceanfront Preservation Coalition directly, email saveasburyparksnorthendbeach@gmail.com.

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