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One of the city’s foremost architectural landmarks is undergoing a $2-million façade renovation that’s been in the works for three years.

For the past two years, the Santander has undergone deconstructive testing to determine the best way to rectify the structural damage caused by years of water infiltration, according to Jay Bernstein, president of the Santander condominium association.

A façade placed on the building in the 1980s is being removed, Bernstein said, and will be replaced by a five-layer system to prevent water damage. Weather permitting, the work is expected to be complete by the summer, he said.

“It’s all being done in a historic style,” Bernstein said. “It will actually look better when it’s done.”

The 400 Deal Lake Drive building was altered in the 1980s when it was converted from apartments to condominiums. Many of those changes will now be reversed and historic decorative elements that were removed for the construction will be reinstalled or recast, depending on their condition, Bernstein said.

The 85-unit Santander condominium building was constructed in 1928, and was originally a residence with hotel-like amenities such as meals served in a large dining room and maid service, according to Bernstein. He said Hollywood actress Myrna Loy was a resident, and the building housed servicemen during World War II.

The nine-story Santander is an example of a Spanish-style Moorish architecture from the 1920s, similar to the design of the legendary Mayfair Theater on Wesley Lake which was torn down in the 1970s.

Red Bank-based American Retail Corp. [ARC] is the general contractor, and the company has made it a point to use local subcontractors and workmen, Bernstein said. ARC’s owner is an Asbury resident, he added.

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