Anchor Beach Resort introduced

[JerseyDigger29]

Hey, guys. Wanted you all to be the very first to see the new development coming to the site of the former Anchor Inn Restaurant, 4501 New Jersey Avenue. (Across from the bus terminal and Wildwood City Hall).

The "Anchor Beach Resort" was presented to the Wildwood Zoning Board tonight (April 10) in an abbreviated application. Because of a technical problem involving alleged unpaid fire department fees and penalties for the former Anchor Inn, the zoning board decided to cut the application short and clear up the problems. The application will be continued until the next meeting on the 24th.

The full story will appear in next week's TWR, but these are the basics: The Anchor Beach Resort is a five story combined commercial and residential condo property that will be located at 4501 New Jersey Avenue.

Because New Jersey is zoned commercial and combined commercial/residential, the Anchor Beach will have 9000 sq. feet of retail space on the NJ ave side of the first floor. The second floor will have 3000 sq-feet of commercial office space. The commercial space will be only on the front side of the building. Behind it, the rest of floors 1 and 2 will be indoor parking (1st floor dedicated to parking for the retail spaces and 2nd floor parking for residents).

Floors 3 to 5 will be the normal condo suites we're getting used to, although I have to admit these will be pretty classy and nice. The condos will be arranged around the outsides of the building. The central area of the residential floors will be a 3 story open garden, or landscaped courtyard with a skylight letting sunlight into the inner courtyard. (Sounds pretty much like an atrium in a mall).

The center of the building will also include a year-round indoor/outdoor pool area. During the summer, the pool area can be opened on the New Jersey Avenue side so fresh air can be let in. And of course, the pool area will have an outside deck overlooking NJ ave. (perfect for watching the firemens parade).

And the Anchor Beach Resort will also include a spa and gym for residents.

Well, those are the basics for now, the rest will be presented at the meeting on the 24th.

Thom

TheWildwoodsReporter.com

[writhinganacondo]

Fitting. It looks like a municipal condo building!

What happened to beat up NJ Ave. and the shuffling welfare?

Lets not forget that view. The bus station!

I think I'd prefer the old Anchor with its steamed clams & mussels.

[MMM]

Thanks Thom. It's not bad. It seems like an odd location though...

[FlyinGN]

good news.. I guess.. Like writh says Id rather have th eold place back BUT since that ain't happening, this is better then standard condos..

[Al Alven]

Thanks, Thom... outstanding report and info!

Now, as far as I'm concerned, this is more like it.

This looks like a return to unique, well-crafted architecture. There is nothing "cookie cutter" about the above rendering. It appears to be a very unique (and stately) entity, the kind of building and image the Wildwoods can be proud of.

This, along with the Pointe at Moore's Inlet condo complex, are the best upcoming examples of what seems to be a return to classic seashore architecture for the Wildwoods.

I was (and remain) very, very sad to see Moore's Inlet (the classic bar, of course) go, but it was a dinosaur. Similarly, though I never had the opportunity to enjoy food there, it was a shame to see an institution like the Anchor Inn go away.

What I like about the buildings replacing them is not only the fact that they look very classy (while, at the same time, having character), but also that they will be incorporating commercial businesses as well. This can only help revitalize their respective areas.

The Anchor Beach should help what is essentially a rather downtrodden area of NJ Ave. in Wildwood. More reputable commercial businesses are exactly what that area needs.

And, a new Moore's Inlet bar, of sorts, will be added to the new Moore's complex, I believe on the first floor. This will help carry on the tradition of the old place, but with an updated and more practical setting for the future.

[wildre]

Thanks Thom, As always you are on top of everything!
Wow, great looking building, going to put the surrounding areas on their toes to upgrade, update their properties. I just hope they can draw businesses that can afford the rents year round.
Any idea when this project is planned? I realize they have some issues to sort out but hopefully they can begin by Fall?

[wildwoodlifer]

looks nice, thanks, the old place turned into a rat infested sewer, a haven for crack addicts, such a shame since it was such a nice place in the early 70's, but then again, weren't they all.

[JerseyDigger29]

1) The new owners need to deal with that technicality before the ZB can even hear the rest of the application (Apparently, the Anchor Inn ALLEGEDLY owed about #29,000 in back fire dept. fees and penalties for fire code violations. No one knew about this until a memo was introduced last night. The ZB didn't know, and the new owners didn't know. But the issue has to be addressed before the project can proceed).

2) It seems to me that a lot of the new Wildwoods is going to become self-contained, indoor communities: everything you need within one facility. All the new condotels, the new Anchor Beach Resort, etc. Food, living quarters, entertainment, health clubs and spas, and parking, all inside one facility. Is anyone going to venture outside in the future?

3) Yes, New Jersey Avenue needs to clean up its act so to speak. This great facility at the Anchor Beach is a good beginning (Some of the worst hotels on the island are located on NJ Ave). Chiarellas Restaurant seems to be remodeling from what I saw yesterday, but I can't be sure yet, haven't checked into it. And directly across the street from Chiarellas, they're building a really first-class office complex called the "Galleria," although it has been taking an incredibly long time to do it. Yesterday, I saw them installing the new glass windows on the front of the building. Pretty neat looking for a building that used to be an old, closed bakery.

Thom

TheWildwoodsReporter.com

[wildre]

Thom, great observations, as usual. It hopefully will be the catalyst for sprucing up NJ Ave. It sorely needs something.
I heard Chiarellas was purchased by Kona Sports(next store). They are going to rent it out this year to the folks that had Daniels on Broadway in Cape May. Not sure how reliable the info is, a friend heard it from a waitress at the Vegas last month. You may want to check it out?
Thanks for the info on what that ongoing construction is across the street. No one seemed to know till you! This will be the 3rd summer that property has been under construction, if it's not completed. It is a nicely designed building but it's taking forever.
It architecturally looks like the Pizza place next store, I think?

[writhinganacondo]

I see all you mid-century architecture enthusiasts are now praising Romanesque, neo-Victorian and 80's mansard roof styles. The "preservationists" have succumbed to the developers!

[JerseyDigger29]

wildre said:

Thom, great observations, as usual. It hopefully will be the catalyst for sprucing up NJ Ave. It sorely needs something.
I heard Chiarellas was purchased by Kona Sports(next store). They are going to rent it out this year to the folks that had Daniels on Broadway in Cape May. Not sure how reliable the info is, a friend heard it from a waitress at the Vegas last month. You may want to check it out?
Thanks for the info on what that ongoing construction is across the street. No one seemed to know till you! This will be the 3rd summer that property has been under construction, if it's not completed. It is a nicely designed building but it's taking forever.
It architecturally looks like the Pizza place next store, I think?

I can't take credit for any advanced sleuthing techniques on the "Galleria." I just drove by and took the time to actually read the sign out front. Yes, it's taking a really long time; I guess the cash flow dried up for a while or something.

Thom

[MMM]

writhinganacondo said:

I see all you mid-century architecture enthusiasts are now praising Romanesque, neo-Victorian and 80's mansard roof styles. The "preservationists" have succumbed to the developers!

I didn't praise it - I said "It's not bad". I'm not in love with it, judging by the picture, but I don't think it's so bad either. It could be worse...

Also, that area didn't have much of a mid-century "look" to preserve and/or build on.

[Al Alven]

writhinganacondo said:

I see all you mid-century architecture enthusiasts are now praising Romanesque, neo-Victorian and 80's mansard roof styles. The "preservationists" have succumbed to the developers!

writhing, I don't consider myself to be a mid-century architecture enthusiast, per se. I have always been an advocate, however, of the uniqueness and originality that has exemplified many Wildwood structures over the years.

To that end, this proposed Anchor Beach Resort rendering fits the bill. It is a new development that would stand out in what is fast-becoming a cookie-cutter landscape.

It has character, and does, in fact, bear a resemblance to many of the older, stately hotel buildings that populated the island prior to the big motel boom in the 50s and 60s.