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Post by Al Alven on Mar 30, 2005 14:32:28 GMT -5
Is this the “movement” we’ve all been waiting for?
Are the new, proposed multi-story “Doo Wop” hotels the answer to our prayers to combat the rampant condo development, while helping to preserve the cultural spirit of the island?
In an ideal world, of course, we would keep and preserve all of our beloved Doo Wop motels, no building in the Wildwoods would rise about three or four stories and condo development would be outlawed.
But, in our reality, the landscape of the resort is radically changing. There can be no denying this.
The question is, are the new hotels the answer (or do they hold the keys to the answer) to our preservationalistic needs?
Thoughts, comments, concerns, etc.?
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Post by wildre on Mar 30, 2005 14:40:06 GMT -5
Well it is movement, maybe the beginning of the dedicated Hotel district they have been talking about. The building is sure doo wop inspired. It's a start, lets hope it's in the right direction, only time will tell. Maybe this is what DW Mike was talking about in his post? re
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Post by Doowopper on Mar 30, 2005 15:03:09 GMT -5
It's nice that they are hotels first off and second that they are Doo Wop styled. However, I used to think that places like the Bal Harbour were big for Wildwood. The BH is 6 stories. The new hotels are supposed to be around 25 stories. Put that into perspective and picture that in Wildwood. These new Hotels will have their ups and their downs. They are too big for Wildwood in my opinion but I will take them over condos any day.
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Post by choochoochuck on Mar 30, 2005 17:40:39 GMT -5
I have a feeling Wildwood might become the next OC, MD of Jersey with these giant motels
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Post by FlyinGN on Mar 31, 2005 7:59:05 GMT -5
I think it can only help the cause.. Sure there will be 'growing pains' but in the big picture it wil help tourism in ww. Which helps save the motels.
Frank
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Post by eyescreamlover on Apr 26, 2005 15:19:05 GMT -5
Wrong again Frank, This development of high rise hotels will put the mom and pop Doo Wop hotels under. These hotels will have restaurants, hair salons and other businesses that will directly COMPETE with existing owners who actually made wildwood what it is today. Wake up Wildwood! ( and thanx Al for this opportunity )
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Post by Al Alven on Apr 26, 2005 15:54:40 GMT -5
Frank is anything but “wrong again.”<br> This is all speculation at this point. None of us can predict for certain what kind of impact the new highrise hotels will have on the island and its tourism industry.
These new properties are, however, an outright “win” for Doo Wop preservation, in that they are being designed with the island’s tradition and sense of cultural history in mind. I suppose some may lament the construction of such large buildings. But, we already have multi-level condos, so which is worse?
For the record, I don’t see the highrise hotels having a negative effect on the standard motels. For one, not everyone (in fact, probably most people) will want to shell out the kind of money it will take to stay in these more upscale establishments.
The Nouveau Wave and Wildwood Beach could have all the amenities in the world, but it won’t matter. If people can’t afford to stay there, it’s not going to take business away from the classic motels.
Also, there will be many people (myself included) who, while having nothing against the highrise hotels, will prefer to stay in a traditional two or three story motel.
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Post by Doowopper on Apr 26, 2005 16:47:51 GMT -5
Also, say some people stay at the Nouveu Wave hotel, and when taking an evening stroll, see the newly renovated Carribean and say "Wow that place looks cool, lets stay their next year" In any case, it will bring more people to wildwood, and hopefully cause some motel owners to step it up a bit.
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Post by FlyinGN on Apr 26, 2005 19:21:39 GMT -5
how do you know Im wrong again?? Can you tell for certain the future and what it will hold? It was just my opinion.. relax..
Who would have EVER thought that what is happening in WW would ever happen?? I surely did not..
Frank
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Post by sueashatyshdond on Apr 26, 2005 20:27:28 GMT -5
Anyone know if the Rio Motel is still standing? Last I heard it was gutted
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Post by AnthonyV on Apr 26, 2005 23:44:13 GMT -5
Although not nearly as high and extensive, the Wildwoods already have a few upscale motels/hotels like Pan American, Port Royal, El Coronado and they never seemed to impede on any of the small business down here to any serious extent as far as small motels were concerned.
What's already threatened and what has already contributed to putting the "mom and pop" motels out of business is the condo craze that's spread all across this island. This destructive activity has had more of a direct negative bearing on the motel industry down here than these future hotels possibly could. And in some ways, probably other small business activity as well.
These new hotels are being built primarily to help accomodate "short time span" convention visitors now that so many motel rooms have disappeared without any sign of them being replaced. And if these new hotels are going to offer other upscale luxuries like salons, spas, restaurants, or anything else, than that's the type of people they plan on attracting as visitors for any convention and that's the type of people who will book a room there.
Condos, on the other hand unlike motels, fail to remedy this problem because most condo owners are not interested in breaking up a week long rental "block"(and the few thousand dollars that block might generate for a week's rental...if lucky) in order to rent for a weekend.
I'm sure there are a few exceptions to this scenario, but go into any major realty office down here and tell a realtor that you want to rent a condo for just a three day weekend in order to attend a convention... Not only would they look at you like you were crazy, but they'd be pissed that you even had the nerve to walk into their office and waste their time with such an idiotic notion. They'd probably tell you that you'd be better off trying to find a motel room on the island for that weekend.
As a result of all this demolition, the Wildwoods now have the rare distinction of being one of the few resort destinations in this country that go out and build a new multi-million dollar convention center, promote that center for prospective major conventions, and then allow so many motel accomodations to disappear almost as soon as the new center is completed without giving a second thought as to where all these potential visitors (they want to attract) might be staying for any weekend convention.
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Post by MMM on Apr 26, 2005 23:47:39 GMT -5
The Rio was there as of this past Sunday. I wanted to take pictures of it that day, but when I planned on doing so (right before having to leave and drive back up here) it started to rain. I hope it's still there the next time I get to the Wildwoods so I can take some pictures...
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Post by wildre on Apr 27, 2005 9:39:40 GMT -5
It appears research says folks are not all into a week anywhere. In order to rent their condo's, owners have to learn to think outside the norm and rent for 3/4 nights. I've done this, with some success this year, for early weeks that just won't rent on a weekly basis.
I'll drive by the Rio today and let you know it's condition. There was a pile driver at the corner of the building, facing the Convention Center, last week.
Also as I recall, most of these conventions are mostly"off season" or "shoulder season" when many of the smaller Motels are closed, many of them don't have heat, they are strickly geared summer rentals. So the impact of the these highrise condotels wouldn't impact the smaller operations as much as one would think. There will always be a market for both IMHO.
re
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Post by wildre on Apr 27, 2005 11:21:15 GMT -5
Okay, folks, just drove by the Rio Motel. It's still sorta standing. The pile driver is gone, didn't see it. Looks like they dug around the foundation all along Rio Grande Ave. They were using a crane to remove something from the roof.
re
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Post by FlyinGN on Apr 27, 2005 12:01:39 GMT -5
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