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Madison Marquette just wrapped up their eighth summer season as Asbury Park Boardwalk redeveloper.

And while most of us are concentrating on fall and winter, Madison is focused on what’s next for its properties along the waterfront.

“Our focus is on new models of retail and entertainment,” General Manager Carrie Turner said.

Madison has fully redeveloped about 70,000 square foot of its allowable 300,000 square feet of space along the boardwalk, Turner said at a recent Asbury Park Homeowner’s Association meeting.

From building to building, starting at the south end Plant [shown at right] to the dormant Sunset Pavilion, Turner gave a brief overview of what the community can expect moving forward.

The remediated plant will have a retail and dining experience that capitalizes on Lake and Boardwalk views, she said.

The Casino building [shown above], currently undergoing structural engineer review, could come on line by 2017, Turner said. The hope is to fill the space with a cooperative group of vendors, similar to this summer’s popular Market at Fifth Avenue space in the Fifth Avenue Pavilion.

The First Avenue Pavilion that houses Stella Marina, Watermark, Just Another Day’s Ice Cream shop, and Cubacan Restaurant nears completion as the Ocean Avenue facing art wall project kicks off.

The Second Avenue greenspace is an area Madison has the right to construct on but there are no immediate plans for such a move, Turner said.

The Third Avenue Pavilion, with its newly finished Ocean Avenue facing pinball artwork, is now complete.

But, there is more of a struggle to improve the Fourth Avenue building, Turner said.

“Most likely we will just reskin it for the short term,” she said “Ultimately we would like to turn our offices there into retail space. And, if we do tear it down and rebuild, you better believe it will have a second floor.”

One of the more controversial building redevelopments has been the Fifth Avenue Pavilion [at right] that houses Tim McLoone’s Supper Club and the historic Arthur Pryor Band Shell. Currently before the city’s Technical Review Committee, the project’s professionals are vetting how best to incorporate a stage, seating, dance, and catering events space on the outdoor rooftop. If all approvals and permits are met, construction could begin as soon as next year.

While many in the community want to see the band shell refurbished as a public space, the space is part of a building owned by Madison Marquette.

“It is not a public space,” Turner said. “I’m sorry if that’s painful to hear but it’s not like a greenspace. Either a tenant or we will have control of it.”

The case of the missing copper panels at Convention Hall is now being worked out between the insurance company and the police department, Turner said.

“The state has closed the case [into the theft of the panels],” Turner said. “We’ll have to recreate the panel because the building will not be complete without them.”

Also moving forward is work to add new lighting, structural engineering work and sprinkler installation, now more than halfway complete.

As for the long awaited refurbishment of the Sunset Pavilion [at right], work begins with addressing its lack of basic infrastructure, Turner said.

“There is no power, water, or sewer,” Turner said. “There are no sprinklers and the roof is not in great shape.”

Turner said the current thinking for the pavilion is that is best suited for lifestyle fitness services, i.e. a gym, beach club, and/or spa. While an eatery at that location is not out of the question, it would most likely offer healthier fare, she said.

But in the short term, plans are likely to reskin the facility.

As for the controversial Food Truck Court that sat along the north beach greenspace closest to  Seventh Avenue, the launch was successful but with room for improvement, Turner said.

“Perhaps we may have 12 vendors that will rotate as opposed to the six set vendors we featured this summer,” Turner said. This would allow for a variety in the foods offered throughout the season, she said.

Other planned improvements include looking at extending the season and offering improved restroom facilities.

For more information, visit Madison Marquette’s website.

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