To:
The Mayor and City Council of the City of Asbury Park, New Jersey

Petition Statement:
We the undersigned residents, visitors, preservation advocates, and supporters of historic Asbury Park call on the City of Asbury Park to formally retake possession of the Asbury Park Casino building, Convention Hall complex, and other historic boardwalk properties currently held by Real Estate Developers, Investors, and Management Groups due to repeated contract violations, prolonged neglect, and harm to these irreplaceable landmarks.

Why This Matters:

• Real Estate Developers, Investors, and Management Groups have repeatedly failed to uphold the terms of their redevelopment agreement with the City of Asbury Park — including its obligation to develop, finance, maintain, repair, and operate the Casino and Convention Hall complex — as required under the 2010 Subsequent Developer Agreement and earlier easement agreements.

• The City has already issued multiple notices of default to Real Estate Developers, Investors, and Management Groups for failing to meet its obligations, permitting these historic structures to languish and deteriorate while failing to protect them from the elements or advance meaningful restoration.

• The Casino building and other parts of the waterfront complex have been allowed to fall into a state of serious disrepair, including closures due to safety concerns.

• Real Estate Developers, Investors, and Management Groups' long delay and lack of progress — even after default notices — have created conditions where demolition is now being considered due to neglect, not necessity. This approach contradicts the very purpose of the redevelopment agreement and historic preservation commitments.

• The historic boardwalk, including the Casino and Convention Hall, is not only part of Asbury Park’s architectural heritage but also a cultural landmark — a symbol of community identity, history, and tourism that should not be lost due to mismanagement.

What We Are Asking For:

The City of Asbury Park should immediately pursue its legal rights under the default provisions of the 2010 Subsequent Developer Agreement and related easement agreements to retake control of the Casino building, Convention Hall complex, and associated historic properties from Real Estate Developers, Investors, and Management Groups.

The City should terminate the current development agreement with Real Estate Developers, Investors, and Management Groups due to repeated failure to perform, and subsequently partner with experienced preservation professionals to restore and complete these landmarks.

The City should ensure transparent public oversight, with regular progress updates and community involvement in future planning for these properties.
Sign this petition to protect Asbury Park’s historic heart and ensure our treasures are preserved for future generations — not left to decay.