Hello friends and supporters of APCSC,
You might have learned about the pending demolition of the historic Holy Spirit Church in Asbury Park.
I hope you are on the mailing list, and got the email about this important issue. If not, please email apcompletestreets@gmail.com to be included on our mailing list.
Asbury Park Complete Streets Coalition supports maintaining the character of neighborhoods, public spaces, a vibrant connected city, and affordable housing.
The reconfiguration of the interior of the Holy Spirit Church building for community use, and residential units (plus affordable units), would be a springboard to the AP Transit Village designation which was awarded in 2017.
Asbury Park Sun:
- This iconic structure is part of Asbury Park’s character (like many other buildings that have been destroyed, or are at risk of demolition). We have already lost so many structures. The city must adopt an ordinance to preserve historic structures so that the integrity of neighborhoods is maintained now and for the future.
- It is not acceptable to destroy this historic building in favor of six market rate houses, and parking, although the developer will do so if he is allowed by this council.
- Original plans were modified to address parking concerns and further adjustments can be discussed, but parking should not be the reason to kill an opportunity for a unique arts & cultural space and destroy a historic landmark in the process. *Please note – There are solutions to the parking issue, which we will be happy to discuss furtrher if you’d like to email apcompletestreets@gmail.com
- Affordable units in the preservation plan are more important – and necessary – than six market-rate houses (i.e. single-family mansions).
- Ongoing concern regarding the city offering PILOTs may also be addressed.
If you believe that Holy Spirit Church should be preserved, please email apcompletestreets@gmail.com, and include the three elected city leaders who voted against the preservation plan. Voice your support for preservation of Holy Spirit Church:
Councilwoman Angela Ahbez Anderson Angela.Ahbez@asburypark.gov
Councilwoman Yvonne Clayton Yvonne.Clayton@asburypark.gov
Mayor John Moor John.Moor@asburypark.gov
In your email please include and thank
Amy Quinn amy.quinn@
for their votes in favor of preserving the church.
Read on…
There is no point blaming anyone – the pastor, the diocese, the judge, the city council, the developer.
We only hope that it’s possible for the city to go back to the drawing board with the developer.
Re PILOTs: There is no longer a need to attract developers with this kind of incentive. We need leaders with business and negotiating acumen.
Re. taxes and school funding: The church paid zero taxes. The preservation proposal will pay more in absolute dollars than the six huge market rate houses will: The marginal amount of school funding lost on an abatement with this preservation plan wouldn’t even make a significant dent in the school budget shortfall. The city could make a budget allocation to the schools that reflects the difference of the abated school funding.
Re. Parking: The City has never addressed parking in this neighborhood, and tends to address parking everywhere in a piecemeal manner. Diagonal spots on one side of the numbered streets would add spots.
There is discussion of a parking garage, hopefully with retail and residential as part of the project, as part of the Transit Village, built away from the biz district, with 24/7 shuttle (year round), bike share, better infrastructure for walking and biking AP can be the perfect model as a truly walkable, rollable city.
Dense, walkable development – meaning infrastructure, transit options, housing, and community amenities (like some proposed for the church), allows people the opportunity, and encourages the desire not to drive.
We believe that the city wants to see Asbury Park fulfill the goals of the Master Plan for Walking and Biking.https://apcompletestreets.org/asbury-park-plan-for…/.
This image showing the proposal for the 6 houses is the opposite of what a city would want in a vibrant neighborhood – gentrification. We believe that we can work together to find a solution in the best interest of the city now and in the future.
Asbury Park needs an Historic Preservation Ordinance NOW.
There would be no going back if this huge, iconic structure is demolished in favor of these types of houses, and would potentially lead the way for more demolition throughout the city.
Forever changing the character of a neighborhood would be tragic.
It makes no sense to look backward, to be angry, or to blame.
The question is what cam be done now?
Please email apcompletestreets@gmail.com and our city leaders.
Onward~
Polli Schildge, Editor
