Asbury Park Press

The current oceanfront reconstruction of the Asbury Park boardwalk and parking lot by iStar, the waterfront developer, is a maneuver to take over the north end oceanfront in Asbury Park through an outdated 2004 permit.

It is not for the common good. It is not for the preservation of our public beaches, ocean, lakes, parks and land. It is not for the health and well-being of our economically inclusive and racially diverse residents. iStar’s reconstruction action needs to be stopped now to address these moral and threatening issues.

iStar already owns most of Asbury’s waterfront area from Grand Avenue to the west side of Ocean Avenue, from Lake Street south to Deal Lake Drive north. Its ownership of this area in a mile-square city has already caused affordability and discriminating displacement problems for many of our residents. Does iStar want to take away our public beaches and ocean too? Itsr reconstruction action restricts public access.

iStar cannot own public land. It can only lease it. The protection of Asbury Park’s public land is mandated by the Public Trust Doctrine under the stewardship of Asbury Park’s elected governing body.

A grassroots protest movement spearheaded by a committed diverse group, Save Asbury’s Waterfront, plans to make sure this wrongful iStar operation does not continue. It is not a done deal.

Joyce Grant

Asbury Park