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Post by thelastresort on Sept 12, 2006 22:34:37 GMT -5
I tried to set aside my 37 years of visiting WW, and tried to put myself in the shoes of a newcomer who, for example, came to WW for the first time (or let's say, the first time in 25 years) to see a concert or an event at the new convention center.
Gotta be honest here, looking down Ocean Ave from the Convention Center to the Ocean Towers appears shabby and horrible. Except for the new sidewalks and street signs, and the Windward and the Starfire looking really good, and the Lu Fran being so-so, the rest of the blocks look pretty crappy. Again, just one man's opinion, but looking south from the convention center, we have the Oceanic and Days Inn, which are total dives, then the Aquarius, which has a cool sign, and might be clean inside, but the outside looks old and worn out. Then the vacant lot where once stood the Rio, then the Newport which looks like a Roosevelt Island tenement. Then those couple of crap houses next to it. Then the Sea Ray and Rus Mar, which are two more dives, then the Starfire, which is finally nice.
Honestly, the nice new condos a bit further down the road look much better.
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Post by Al Alven on Sept 13, 2006 0:21:15 GMT -5
All the more reason why I believe this area is ripe for the dramatic (and potentially uplifting) change that the proposed highrise hotels would offer.
Now, I realize that this is one area where many on the forum are in disagreement with me. I also, personally, do not share quite the same level of distain for this area that lastresort has, but I completely understand his point.
The new condos down the way on Ocean Ave. are "nice," but they lack any semblance of character. I would hate to see this area do a complete 180 and become another "Vinyl Valley" (TM, Homer, 2005).
With this being the "Convention Center District," this should be a showcase. It should blatantly represent what Wildwood is all about, screaming the point out loud and clear.
The additions of several highrise hotels in this area would be a tremendous, and highly practical, shot in the arm to the entire resort, IMO.
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Post by thelastresort on Sept 13, 2006 5:56:05 GMT -5
I think the thing is, now that they got the convention center, it has become somewhat of a self-fulfilling prophecy, especially with the demise of the Rio, which although old (and I heard the rooms were not all that nice) gave the area some balance. If they left it quaint with the old convention center, it would not stand out so much, but now with the new convention center and efforts being made in that general area, the surrounding area looks terrible by comparison.
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Post by Al Alven on Sept 13, 2006 10:05:27 GMT -5
I certainly agree that the Rio brought a great deal of balance to that area. It was the anchor, right at Rio Grande, which is more or less the center point of the "Convention Center" area perspective from the Boardwalk.
The vacant lot where the Rio once stood has really changed that area dramatically, and leaves it feeling very "empty." It's absence has also, in turn, drawn more attention to many of the structures around it (many of which, as lastresort pointed out, are not all that pleasant to look at).
For sure, whatever winds up replacing the Rio will play a key role in the future of the resort. It's going to have to be both aesthetically pleasing and practical, something that will function as a solid compliment to the Convention Center and the surrounding area.
Also, don't forget that the new Rio Grande terminus and Boardwalk entrance is set to be constructed at some point in the near future. This will likely add to the appeal of the area in a colorful and positive way, and should be another step forward in the "transformation" of "Convention Center" district as a whole.
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Post by thelastresort on Sept 13, 2006 10:34:11 GMT -5
Agreed, great efforts are being made, but they also need to clean up those couple of blocks. Honestly, I don't care too much if they do it doo wop or not, just as long as it's polished. right now it looks awful by comparison. I can handle it, because I've been going there for years and look beyond it, and my fondness for WW goes beyond the buildings, etc. But to a newcomer, it looks like this grand Convention Center plopped down in the middle of nowhere, in my opinion.
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Post by Doowopper on Sept 13, 2006 16:13:24 GMT -5
High-Rises or not, a good entrepreneur that could buy out the Rus-Mar, and whatever motel is behind it could build a great place like the Starlux and could be showcased right infront of the convention center and boardwalk, so all could see.
Here's how I feel.
When you come off the bridge, you see all these cool places. Commerce Bank's sign, the most flamboyant WAWA in the world, Harley Davidson, the colored sidewalks, awesome streetlights etc. Then you see the Starlux, the ultimate neo doo-wop example. A great success story, proof doo-wop works. By the time you get to the end where the Reo stood, you know your in a whole different world. If some of this excitment and unique character could be brought down around the convention center it would be perfect. The new museum will be a good start. I'm not a fan of high-rises, and if they don't happen I see no reason why motels sized liek the Starlux (six or less floors) couldn't make a major contribution, without the problems the high-rises could bring (traffic, shadows, domineering, water pressure, sewage, fire etc). Whipe out some of the dives near the convention center and have some low/mid-rise motels like the Starlux take their place and you'll not only clean up the area, you'll keep it different, thus giving Wildwood another way to set itself apart from the world.
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Post by thelastresort on Sept 13, 2006 16:43:45 GMT -5
As stated in another post, a couple of these types of hotels www.orlando-hotels-classify.com/hampton-inn-convention-center/front.jpgwhich have a nice new airbrushed look, and also have modest rates, would do wonders for that strip. something forward-looking needs to be done soon, or all of these grandiose plans surrounding the new convention center will go down the dumper, big time. |
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Post by Doowopper on Sept 13, 2006 18:04:19 GMT -5
Here's my opinion on a place like that. That hotel is nice, but it's too common looking, and would drag the Wildwoods further into monotony.
A hotel of that size (which is a perfect scale for the convention center area) and caliber (3-4 diamond) would be perfect. Some neon, design, and color would make the building perfect. Not only would it bring the area up to par, which is expected for being around the convention center, it would suit the towns colorful more is more atmosphere. Actually, it would almost be like building some more Pan Americans. The Pan American is a wonderful clean hotel, the new rooms are retro/modern and it is a very appealing building to look at. More places like that would be great. It has to be shown the Doo-Wop does not equal old/shabby/run down. In fact, retro is very in style now. Most appliances are now designed in a retro look.
Your dead-on about foward thinking. No one in the 3 towns is thinking very much. There is no sensitivity to the Federal List worthy architecture of the towns or the fact that the Wildwoods need tourists. These people must have rocks in their heads. Iv'e never seen such a non pro-active munincipality in my life. Well, at least Wildwood took the surf-side in and did all the work with the sidewalks, lights, signs etc. I'll give them credit for that. But now that the housing market is failing to some extent, it's time to strategize and make plans for the towns.
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Post by hulk007 on Sept 13, 2006 20:08:53 GMT -5
I agree, places like that lack character. If anyone saw the new condo design for the Hawaii Kai I think places like are more fitting for the new look of WW.
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Post by fuzzyscorpio on Sept 13, 2006 20:48:08 GMT -5
Here's my opinion on a place like that. That hotel is nice, but it's too common looking, and would drag the Wildwoods further into monotony. Right... I had the reaction, "that looks like every Hampton Inn I've ever seen," and then looked back at the URL, and sure enough that's what it is. Sounds like a plan to me  |
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Post by thelastresort on Sept 14, 2006 7:37:18 GMT -5
I agree, retro is cool, and if they can do it, great. but what concerns me is that they are going to keep hand wringing for the next 3-5 years about what to do, and then are going to miss the boat on capitalizing on the newness and appeal of the convention center, in which event it will take a long time to get the interest back again, if they ever can. So if the doo wop thing is not going to fly, I would rather that they fix up those blocks sooner than later. Once the bloom is off the rose with the convention center, it will be too late.
Also, I've seen it discussed on the board before, that WW is pricing itself out of the middle class market with all the expensive condos, etc. I think we need a few of these to accommodate for the loss of the modest motel rooms. I checked the rate on this place, and in Orlando, it is $109 per night, which is in the ballpark. You can bet that the monstrosity that they plan for the Oceanic site will be renting at $250 - $295/night. I think the design is somewhat hideous, by the way, it looks like it was drawn by someone on LSD with all the extreme exaggerations. what is that big round silver thing in the front supposed to be?
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Post by hulk007 on Sept 17, 2006 23:23:09 GMT -5
Sadly, WW is pricing itself out of the middle/working class market. The same market that helped make it what it is in the first place.
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Post by thelastresort on Sept 19, 2006 13:39:34 GMT -5
Sadly, WW is pricing itself out of the middle/working class market. The same market that helped make it what it is in the first place. I agree somewhat, but I don't think this needs to be the case. The problem could be solved by putting up some well-done but moderately priced new hotels that have some tropical beach flavor to them. Nothing wrong with having a mix, some doo-wop, some condos, some new hotels, something for everyone. |
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Post by bossman on Oct 9, 2006 11:36:09 GMT -5
A high rise or two may be the answer, but if you want to become another Ocean City, Maryland, build as many as you can find room for. I've never stayed in Ocean City, but I've driven through it. From the highway, all I could see was high rises and nothing made me want to pull over and stay. I'm sure Ocean City does well and hosts thousands of people a summer. I know many people that go there.
That's why I always stayed in The Wildwoods. It had charm, quaintness, hospitality, choices of motels, restaurants, and attractions.
Maybe I'm wrong, but my limited knowledge of planned high rises is that they will be mostly "condotels." Only a small percentage, maybe 10%, will be standard hotel rooms. I saw the plans for one stated in the paper, and it stated out of 25 floors, 2 would be devoted to rooms. Wow!
Unless these high rises are family friendly and affordable, you might as well make them all "condotels." Affordable isn't $200 + per night, or $1500 - $2000 per week for a family. Availability should be for a little as 2 or 3 nights, or longer as needed. That's the way most motels were run. There should be "single" rooms because all people don't want or need efficiencies. Bringing food and cooking it in the room hurts the restaurants doesn't it? I think all the planners see is $$. Have any outsiders or pesky tourists ever been asked their opinions of what they look for in a vacation area? I don't think so, or at least not the right ones.
With all of the condos sitting empty, you would think that someone calling the shots in the 3 towns would have at least a little bit of common sense. High rises with rooms,-- maybe. High rises with 80% "condotels,"-- dumb!
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Post by Doowopper on Oct 9, 2006 12:20:03 GMT -5
I agree that the prospect of having mostly condos in the would be high-rises would be dumb, seeing the current state of the market. And I'm sure they wouldn't be even close to affordabe.
Honestly I hope they just don't get built. I despise the claustrphobic feeling they give off. The "small" condos farther down in the Crest that make the Royal Hawaiin look small give off this feeling, I don't even want to imagine what 15+ floors would make the area feel like.
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