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Decorative scrims covering the cement and rebar skeleton of the Esperanza building have been installed by waterfront redeveloper Asbury Partners.

The scrims are part of the Summer Experience initiative initiated by waterfront redeveloper iStar Financial, which is the majority shareholder in Asbury Partners. IStar recently placed hammocks, lockers and bath houses on the waterfront for members of its Summer Experience packages.

The Esperanza was planned as a luxury condominium complex but construction stopped because of economic conditions near the end of 2007. The original developer then defaulted on its loan, and lost the property. Asbury Partners will eventually develop that lot, according to Brian Cheripka, vice president of land for iStar Financial.

Cheripka initially proposed the scrims at a May 15 council meeting.

“The concept is to dress up the Esperanza a little bit while we work on existing plans,” he said at the meeting.

The southwest, northwest and southeast corners of the structure now display beach-themed images and artistic designs on orange, blue and white colored mesh material.

One scrim advertises the Asbury Park Waterfront with the phrase, “It’s happening” [pictured at top].

 

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