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BROWN'S COMMENTS ON THE "EXTRAORDINARILY AMBITIOUS."

January 15, 2009

Long Branch wants to rebuild oceanfront pier

Hoping for federal stimulus dollars

By CAROL
GORGA WILLIAMS

City officials expect within the next two months to formalize plans for a rebuilt oceanfront pier, one that would include ferry service.

Mayor Adam Schneider met Monday with members of the council's redevelopment agency as well as administration officials and experts advising the city on its redevelopment plans, to determine whether the timing is right to get the multimillion-dollar project ready for funding.

 

Schneider argues both the pier and the reconstruction of the boardwalk are perfect projects for the federal stimulus program being debated in Washington, D.C.
The $13 million boardwalk project in particular, with final plans, an appropriate state construction permit and a pledge from the dockworkers union to be on the job as soon as the money comes, is considered "shovel-ready," which is what President-elect Barack Obama hasdescribed as ripe for approval.
Another attractive aspect of the city's pier proposal is it complies with alternative forms of transportation, which Obama officials also have indicated could receive a high priority in federal assistance programs, Schneider said.
The next step, said Councilman Anthony Giordano, is to bring the pier project to the same preparedness level as the boardwalk project.
Giordano was an employee at the famous Long Branch pier in 1987, when it burned in a devastating fire that symbolized the end of the city's seasonal economy as well as the loss of the regional landmark.
"I think we made a great deal of progress," said Schneider, who has been working with Rep. Frank J. Pallone Jr., D-N.J., to generate support for the projects. Pallone was instrumental in getting a $3 million federal commitment for use in planning for the pier's reconstruction.
"The plan for the pier is extraordinarily ambitious, based on what it can deliver to the city," said Schneider. "We're talking about a large structure with ferry service. It would be very difficult to finance."
Schneider, Giordano and other city officials met with design experts from the Thompson Design Firm in Boston, along with Ralph J. Basile, a principal in Basile, Baumann, Proust and Associates of Annapolis, Md., the city's advisers on financing redevelopment projects.
"There is no reason why we can't be at the front of the line," said Giordano. "Probably in 18 months, we will be ready to put a shovel into the ground or, should I say, a shovel into the sand?"
Giordano and Council President Michael DeStefano expressed enthusiasm for putting the pier project on a front burner, and Schneider said he was confident of "four out of five" council votes. Councilman Brian Unger has generally positioned himself as the "opposition" member of the governing body, but he said during a break in the city council meeting Tuesday night that he had no intention of opposing the pier.
"I think we made a great deal of progress," said Schneider, who has been working with Rep. Frank J. Pallone Jr., D-N.J., to generate support for the projects. Pallone was instrumental in getting a $3 million federal commitment for use in planning for the pier's reconstruction.
"The plan for the pier is extraordinarily ambitious, based on what it can deliver to the city," said Schneider. "We're talking about a large structure with ferry service. It would be very difficult to finance."
Schneider, Giordano and other city officials met with design experts from the Thompson Design Firm in Boston, along with Ralph J. Basile, a principal in Basile, Baumann, Proust and Associates of Annapolis, Md., the city's advisers on financing redevelopment projects.
"There is no reason why we can't be at the front of the line," said Giordano. "Probably in 18 months, we will be ready to put a shovel into the ground or, should I say, a shovel into the sand?"
Giordano and Council President Michael DeStefano expressed enthusiasm for putting the pier project on a front burner, and Schneider said he was confident of "four out of five" council votes. Councilman Brian Unger has generally positioned himself as the "opposition" member of the governing body, but he said during a break in the city council meeting Tuesday night that he had no intention of opposing the pier.
 

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