Residents urge condemnation, offer donor funding and organize to save Asbury Park's boardwalk buildings

Hundreds of Asbury Park residents packed a special waterfront meeting to press the mayor and council to force repairs or reclaim ownership of the city's landmark boardwalk structures, and several speakers publicly offered money and organizing plans to support condemnation or other legal actions.

"An anonymous donor has contacted me and pledged to fund $100,000 to the city," said Charles Lada, treasurer of a newly formed nonprofit Save Asbury Park History, announcing the pledge and a potential match if the community can raise additional funds. "If we can vote to move this process forward to save these buildings and if it's decided it's for condemnation, it will go to the lawyer fees for condemnation," Lada said, drawing applause.

Residents representing preservation groups, event organizers and longtime community members urged the council to pursue immediate, decisive steps. A self-identified long-time developer who spoke as "Senator Carol" urged the removal of Madison Marquette, saying earlier agreements were changed to the city's long-term disadvantage. Multiple speakers with experience in eminent-domain or redevelopment work described condemnation as an available but costly tool and urged the council to build public consensus and evidence before acting.

Advocacy and volunteer offers: Local organizers announced Save Our Structures (SOSAP) and offered pro-bono support including grant-writing and public outreach. Several residents, including professional grant writers and preservationists, volunteered to help secure state support if the council backs EDA tax-credit applications and other funding routes.

Concerns from events and businesses: Organizers of the April half-marathon asked whether the boardwalk would be open and were told staff is preparing alternate routes if repairs are not complete. Workers and business operators also raised workplace and building-condition concerns, urging code and health inspections where warranted.

What residents requested and what council said: Speakers called for a clear timetable, more aggressive use of legal leverage and a transparent plan to ensure repairs. The mayor and counsel said the city would seek specific project documents from Madison Asbury Retail, pursue independent legal review of disputed contract interpretations, and press for accountability if grant-funded repairs are not produced.

The meeting ended with the council voting unanimously to support M's state tax-credit applications and adopt a second resolution requiring M to submit repair schedules and engineering reports for the arcade, carousel building and the power plant (see council action article for the vote record). Residents left the meeting organized and with new groups ready to volunteer, fundraise and lobby state officials to speed restoration.