iStar removes surfboard at Bradley Cove site
Redeveloper said board was repeatedly vandalized
Waterfront redeveloper iStar Residential has removed the surfboard it placed on the North End beach.
The surfboards were placed at the beginning of July on sites throughout the waterfront to represent future projects the redeveloper will bring to the city.
“Every surfboard represents a future project that we are working on, or will be working on, across the Asbury Park [w]aterfront,” Brian Cheripka, iStar’s vice president of land, previously told the Sun. “We care about this city, and we truly hope that the community recognizes our long term commitment and understands that no individual project is planned without being thought of in context of other future development.”
On Thursday, city residents woke to find some of the surfboards had been vandalized with large stickers that read, “CULTURE THIEVES,” “iStar don’t surf,” and the letters “F U” with symbols of an eye and a star underneath.
Roger Ardan, a spokesman for iStar, said the placement of the surfboards has been taken “out of context,” and was meant to be a positive way to underscore the redeveloper’s commitment to the city.
“They are meant to show good things are happening in Asbury Park,” he said.
Late Thursday night the developer decided to remove the surfboard that was placed at the proposed sight of a 15-unit townhome development on the waterfront. The North Beach site has come to be referred to as Bradley Cove, the name chosen for the development which is slated to be built on .6 acres of the city’s northern beach front, from the sewerage treatment plant north to the Loch Arbour border.
“We do not wish these small acts of vandalism to take away from the progress being made, or the discussions taking place concerning the future of this site. As a result, we have decided to remove the Bradley Cove surfboard at this time,” according to a statement issued by iStar.
Environmentalists have protested the site’s development and members of the city council are in the process of applying for Green Acres funds to purchase the development rights back from iStar to preserve the land.
Below is the full text of the iStar statement:
Statement regarding Surfboard removal at Bradley Cove
Over the past few years, iStar Residential has undertaken a series of steps to improve the experience enjoyed by residents of, and visitors to, the Asbury Park Waterfront. Surfboards were recently placed at iStar properties across the Asbury Park waterfront as a fun, positive statement about the future. The goal is to demonstrate that each individual property must be thought of as part of a collective whole, developed over time in discussion with the community. iStar recognizes the importance of the Bradley Cove site to some members of the community. A surfboard was placed at Bradley Cove, consistent with a larger effort to demonstrate the collective positive momentum being built across the entire Waterfront.
Unfortunately, a few members of the community have taken it upon themselves to attribute a negative message to the surfboards and have repeatedly vandalized the one placed at Bradley Cove. This behavior is obviously disappointing. We do not wish these small acts of vandalism to take away from the progress being made, or the discussions taking place concerning the future of this site. As a result, we have decided to remove the Bradley Cove surfboard at this time.
The preservation of Bradley Cove needs to be part of a larger conversation, which includes other issues that are important to the successful long term redevelopment of the waterfront. iStar Residential has all along stated its continued willingness to consider the preservation of Bradley Cove, a conversation that must start with receiving fair treatment and just compensation – the same as iStar Residential is required to provide to other property owners when it acquires property in the waterfront redevelopment area.
Consistent with our willingness to consider the preservation option, iStar Residential gave permission to Monmouth County last fall to inspect and appraise the property. An appraisal of the property is a necessary first step for any meaningful discussion regarding the preservation purchase. To date, iStar Residential has not received any notice that the appraisal of the property has been completed. If completed, the appraisal has never been given to iStar.
iStar Residential remains committed to working collegially and constructively with the City of Asbury Park, Monmouth County, the State of New Jersey and all other stakeholders to enhance the City’s present and future prospects through redevelopment of the waterfront area.
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