A request to demolish part of the iconic Asbury Park Casino is drawing strong reactions from city officials, historians and residents who say the century-old boardwalk landmark represents the heart of the city. The owner of the property is seeking permission to demolish the casino’s breezeway, citing safety concerns. The proposal has prompted pushback from locals, who say the structure’s historic value should not be overlooked. Tom Deseno, an attorney and Asbury Park historian, said Madison Marquette, the company that owns the casino and several nearby boardwalk buildings, is contractually obligated to redevelop the properties. “The biggest problem here is that the company that owns all these buildings is contractually bound to redevelop them,” Deseno said. “They had enormous amounts of financial incentives over the years so that they would have the money to do it, and they’ve simply refused to get it done.” The casino and surrounding boardwalk buildings have long been considered symbols of Asbury Park and its history. Some residents say they want to see the casino restored, not removed.

“I would love to see the casino back, I would love to see the boardwalk back,” one resident said. “Asbury was beautiful back in the day.” Others echoed that sentiment, saying redevelopment should preserve the building’s character. “We’d really like to see it restored but also keep some of the nostalgic elements that made it so popular back,” another resident said. Deseno said the city may have the authority to reclaim the properties under what’s known as an abandonment provision in the redevelopment contract. “If you abandon these properties, we get to take them back,” Deseno said. “The city is allowed to take them back and resell them to somebody who will do it.” After receiving the demolition request from Madison Marquette, the city released a statement criticizing the move, calling it “disrespectful to the historic heritage of Asbury Park.” As the city reviews the request, many residents say they hope any changes honor the commitments made to preserve Asbury Park’s historic boardwalk.