Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Redevelopment topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Asbury Park hires retired justice for independent review as Paramount work races against December grant deadline
Summary
Council and redevelopment counsel said a phase-one $1.3 million investigation is part of a $30 million grant tied to a December completion date; an independent review by retired NJ Supreme Court Justice Lee Solomon was hired and is expected to report in three to four weeks.
Asbury Park officials said Tuesday they are pushing to finalize redevelopment agreements and meet a grant-driven December deadline for work on the Paramount Theater, and have hired independent counsel and a retired justice to evaluate potential remedies if the private developer defaults.
Redevelopment attorney Joe Marzilli told the council the paperwork for the Paramount and related waterfront projects includes several separate agreements: a city-MLR agreement, a contract between MLR and its contractor (March Construction) and a services agreement with WAVE Architecture. "The first step was phase one to spend $1.3 million on the phase out of $30 million grant," Marzilli said, describing the phase-one investigative work that remains under the city's control.
Why it matters: the $30 million grant carries a December completion milestone that city officials said is the only firm timeline currently holding work to that deadline. "The only timeline that they're working with is the one in December for the grant," Marzilli said, adding that outside of those grant terms MLR is not being held to other separate deadlines by the city.
Public concern over redevelopment and the casino's stabilization work prompted the council to approve a contract with Archer & Greiner PC for independent special counsel to interpret redevelopment agreements. City Attorney Kevin said Archer & Greiner has engaged retired New Jersey Supreme Court Justice Lee Solomon to provide an independent evaluation of the 2002 and 2010 redevelopment agreements and the contentions raised by a third party, and to advise on the city's remedies if Madison (the developer) defaults. "His name is Justice Lee Solomon. He's going to provide an independent evaluation," Kevin said, and the city expects an opinion in "three to four weeks." Kevin said Solomon will meet with both sides as part of the review.
Council members and public speakers pressed for clearer public communications about ongoing work. Residents asked whether the recent green stabilization permit at the casino—which staff said is intended to shore up and reopen a thoroughfare—was properly publicized and what the duration of work would be. Officials said the subcode official will inspect the site, and that permit documents can be obtained via an OPRA request on the city clerk's website; staff estimated timelines as weather-dependent, ranging from weeks to months.
Missing documents delayed a planned vote on the Paramount. Officials said attendees had expected filings from the developer (MAR) that did not arrive by the council's deadline, so no vote was held on related agreements that night.
Next steps: the city has hired Archer & Greiner and engaged Justice Solomon for an independent review expected in about three to four weeks; council actions on redevelopment items will await receipt and review of outstanding documents, and the subcode official will inspect stabilization work and communicate inspection results publicly once available.
