First New Hotel In More Than 50 Years Opening In Asbury Park
ASBURY PARK, N.J. (CBSNewYork/AP) -- Later this month, Asbury Park will see the opening of its first new hotel in more than 50 years.
Designer Anda Andrei and hotel operator David Bowd have transformed the vacant Salvation Army Retired Officers Home into The Asbury, a 110-room hotel that will permit guests to check in at any time of day, for accommodations ranging from ocean view suites to rooms featuring bunk beds that can sleep up to eight.
"I really, really want this place to really be the beginning of turning a whole other page," Andrei told WCBS 880's Peter Haskell.
The company has spent about $46 million on the property, which had an outstanding judgment of $8.5 million against the previous owners at the time of foreclosure.
Previous rebuilding attempts in Asbury Park -- made famous by Springsteen's 1973 album "Greetings from Asbury Park, N.J.'' -- have seen grand ideas and great expectations collapse because of shallow pockets in economic downturns. But iStar Inc., which is developing the hotel and beachfront, believes it has a long-term strategy.
"It's all part of elevating the customer experience and trying to make the waterfront great,'' said senior vice president Brian Cheripka. "You have this eclectic community. This urban vibe. This little city by the sea, and there's this opportunity to get it right.''
Andrei also thinks the city is prime for a turnaround.
"You have the music, you have the people," she said. "You have the beach, but you have no place to stay."
The Asbury is scheduled to open for Memorial Day.
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