By KAREN DeMASTERS, New Jersey Shore Partnership
This seaside city in central New Jersey, which for decades was a vacation destination for presidents and the rich and famous, fell on hard times during the 1960s and 70s. A lack of investment and a stock of older buildings resulted in the city's economy becoming severely depressed; the boardwalk and oceanfront were nearly empty. The fishing pier was destroyed by fire and its remains were fenced off, adding to the bleak picture along the coastline.
Now, thanks in large part to a two-phase beach renourishment project, the city is in the midst of what may well be one of the most successful redevelopment projects in the state, and possibly one of the most successful in the nation.
LONG BRANCH BEFORE RESTORATION
Between May 1997 and December 1998, 4 million cubic yards of sand were pumped onto 3.3 miles of beach, most of it owned by Long Branch and a small portion owned by Monmouth County. Designed to last 6 years, it is doing better than expected.
"We started the redevelopment process six years ago, counting on the beach renourishment," Howard Woolley, Long Branch city administrator, said. "The beach renourishment is an important part of this process. If it were not for the beach renourishment, we would not even be out of the starting blocks for the redevelopment -- and, as it is, we are well into the race."
Tom Gagliano, president of The Jersey Shore Partnership, said, "The Long Branch beach renourishment project is a prime example of what can be accomplished when federal, state and local governments work together to use the expertise of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and state officials who are truly committed to these projects.
"Not only has the renourishment made the redevelopment possible, the beaches have held up through three winter storm seasons," said Gagliano, who founded the Jersey Shore Partnership as a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization in 1991 to lobby for shore protection funding and economic development and to educate the public to the importance of wide beaches.
LONG BRANCH AFTER RESTORATION
Because of the Long Branch beach renourishment, developers have received approval for a $40 million beachfront project for 300 residential units. Other private developers are in the process of obtaining the necessary city and state approvals for a $60 million project that will include 400 residential units and 100,000 square feet of retail space. As part of the beach work, the old pier was removed and a replacement is being considered.
A hotel on the beachfront has been converted into a Corporate Conference Resort and the owners are planning a $30 million expansion. The growth in ratables for the city due to the redevelopment will be well over $100 million and it is anticipated that hundreds of permanent jobs will be created.
"The planners, Thompson Design, who have had great experience in redevelopment projects all over the country, have said the importance of the beach renourishment project to the redevelopment process, on a scale of 1 to 10, is an 11," Woolley said.