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Post by Al Alven on Oct 22, 2006 11:04:19 GMT -5
The Wildwood Beach project is a very bold endeavor, just as the Manor and the Dayton and the Ottens hotels were in their day.
I believe that NOW is the time to make a BOLD move, to take the concept of "Doo Wop" to the next level.
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Post by fuzzyscorpio on Oct 22, 2006 11:35:49 GMT -5
You say bold, I say garish. To each his/her own  |
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Post by Al Alven on Oct 22, 2006 11:54:03 GMT -5
I like garish, too.  As long as any of the new proposed projects in the Convention Center area aren't "grey-ish," like many recent developments.  |
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Post by fuzzyscorpio on Oct 22, 2006 12:10:36 GMT -5
I like garish, too. Well, call me a fossil, I don't care, but "upscale" just ain't what it used to be. We live in a swamp of tackiness, culturally/aesthetically speaking, nowadays and I think this project partakes of it. But as previously acknowledged, Wildwood needs a few of these monsters to feed the convention center. Clearly, not enough developers and operators of smaller lodging establishments will ever step up to the plate in time. I just hope at least one of these highrises gives something back in the way that you envision... although I'm not really equipped to speculate as to who might be the contemporary equivalent of Bill Haley and the Comets. Hmmm... maybe the beginning of a new thread there... |
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Post by fuzzyscorpio on Oct 22, 2006 13:20:22 GMT -5
I've been so busy ranting about the monster that I'm just getting around to looking at these. Thanks, re! That Wildwoods Future page of videos from happeningstv.com is fascinating. I wouldn't have guessed such a thing existed... I love Ernie Troiano blowing off everyone's concerns about the height of the new projects. Back atcha, Mr. Mayor. I'm going to sit down again later and watch them all. |
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Post by JerseyDigger29 on Oct 22, 2006 21:22:17 GMT -5
Thom, did you go to the "do" last night? If so I think we would all enjoy your thoughts? Sorry, Marie. I did recieve a media invitation to the party but I'm still not able to give up my weekend side job just yet to run the paper full time as I would like to so I couldn't get there because it started at 5 p.m. (Hey, advertisers: Almost 900,000 hits in 14 months with only word of mouth and the power of the internet. Give a new guy a chance so he can place some real advertising and those hits will go through the roof {northeast metro and world-wide, not just local}. Ya know, I was listening to 94.3 during the location broadcast they did on Saturday from the 50's show at the convention center. The DJ interviewed a lady in the crowd who said she was from Brighton, England (?) This wonderful lady said for all to hear that she gets all her news about the Wildwoods from the DWPL forums. ;D That's the power of the internet, folks. News and advertising about the Wildwoods is no longer just local). Anyway, sorry, Marie, a little off topic there. My first thought about the party, as I said before, was why would they be throwing a big celebration if CAFRA has so far denied one hotel and has a second in temporary limbo? They must know something about eventual approval. They even set Dec., 2009 for the grand opening. Then a "source" told me that word has filtered down that all the Wildwood projects should recieve approval?  Grain of salt here. But it seems fishy that Princeton Junction would commit so publically to a date if they don't know something. As for those videos from above: I only watched a couple - for now - and they don't seem to be news events. Taken together as a group, they seem like a clear cut info-mercial. Notice that the interviewer didn't ask any hard news questions, all his questions seemed to lead the person to the same conclusion: what a great thing giant condotels are for the Wildwoods. Also, the aerial videos that I watched all revolved around the current Oceanic block where the WB will be located. (Info-mercial). And the developer's using the tragic association with 9/11 to evoke sympathy for either his effort or for the project itself is overhanded, obvious, cheesey, and clearly out of line. Probably a bad idea by his PR firm because there isn't a good reporter in the world who won't notice the ploy. It can only result in negative publicty. Bad idea! Personally, I'm a supporter of the need for all these hotels. They are still tearing down the old ones and there is simply no other way we are ever going to replace the sheer number of lost rooms. Without sufficient rooms, the Wildwoods as a tourist economy cannot thrive. I also believe that these hotels will allow the Wildwoods to finally go year around. (If they can fill the convention center on a regular basis, and not just on weekends). Each condotel will be its own self-contained indoor food and entertainment mecca, no need to worry about the weather outside in the winter. As I've also said before, another project we need to pursue in the near future is winterizing at least a good portion of the boardwalk. NW is now considering a major redevelopment for Seaport Village Pier at 22nd Street in conjuction with the new 150' hotels they are also considering. I'll bet the farm that the eventual developer they choose will be proposing a year-round facility to support those hotels. Build higher (on the east side only), build a lot of rooms, and winterize enough of the boardwalk to make it attractive!!! That's how I feel. Thom  |
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Post by thelastresort on Oct 23, 2006 13:10:18 GMT -5
Still don't understand how this one is getting approval while the Rio one was denied??? I hope they both get approval, honestly, but I don't understand how they can approve this one and deny the other?
Are we getting our hopes up a bit?
I think this design is a bit gaudy, to be honest.
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Post by wildre on Oct 23, 2006 15:18:54 GMT -5
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Post by thelastresort on Oct 23, 2006 15:34:19 GMT -5
Interesting, thanks Wildre.
So it/they still need to get approval from the almighty CAFRA it seems...
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Post by Doowopper on Oct 23, 2006 15:46:17 GMT -5
I *wish (know it won't happen) they would be forced to lower it to 15 floors. I think that's a nice height for a large hotel in a small town atmosphere.
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Post by wildre on Oct 23, 2006 15:55:09 GMT -5
Interesting, thanks Wildre. So it/they still need to get approval from the almighty CAFRA it seems... Right, CAFRA has yet to rule on their plan, that can sometimes take years. However, I believe there is a move afoot to put Wildwood CAFRA permitting on a faster track, like AC has. re |
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Grain of salt here. But it seems fishy that Princeton Junction would commit so publically to a date if they don't know something.
