AC Gambler

ATLANTIC CITY TO GET FIRST BOUTIQUE HOTEL?

The Philadelphia Inquirer reported Friday (January 26) that the Tropicana Casino is negotiating with developers to build the city’s first boutique hotel on a two-acre site next to the casino on the Boardwalk.

The site is a parking lot between California and Belmont Avenues, just northeast of the Tropicana and separated from the casino by a condominium tower.

The paper reports that Tropicana President and CEO, Fred A. Buro, said this week that the boutique hotel would be connected to the casino by an enclosed connector bridge.

"We have several developers bidding on it," Buro said in an interview. "A developer will buy the site and select an operator." Buro said Tropicana would build the connector bridge to the casino and its mega-entertainment, retail and dining complex… [T]he Quarter.

The proposed hotel could have as many as 500 rooms, which would make Tropicana the Atlantic City hotel with the largest room count. Buro also told the paper that

[I]n addition to the two-acre parcel, there is also the potential to develop a site on the other side of the Tropicana, which is currently a Holiday Inn, into another hotel that would also be linked by connector bridge to the casino. He said Tropicana was also exploring adding a tower to the casino. Combined, the three projects could add 1,500 to 2,000 hotel rooms to Tropicana's inventory. He added that the Tropicana would not own the rooms in the two non-casino hotels, but would partner with the developers and negotiate for a block of rooms.

No talks about developing the hotel can begin until Columbia Sussex Corp, the new parent company of the Tropicana, completes its acquisition of Aztar Corp., which owns the Tropicana casinos in Atlantic City and Las Vegas. The sale was completed two weeks ago.

CRDA ANNOUNCES BOARDWALK FACADE PROJECT

The Casino Reinvestment Development Authority (CRDA) announced Wednesday (November 1) a $100 million Boardwalk Facade Project whose objectives are to evoke a feeling of the Boardwalk during its early 20th century heyday and to reinvigorate the role of the Boardwalk as an Atlantic City tourist attraction.

The first phase of the project encompasses the 1500 block, from New York Ave. to Kentucky Ave.; the 1600 block, from Kentucky Ave. to Dr. Martin Luther King Blvd.; the 2500 block, from Bellevue Ave. to Texas Ave.; the 3000 block from Morris Ave. to Chelsea Ave.; the bandstand at Kennedy Plaza; and the Fountain of Light at Brighton Park.  The work began in September 2006 and will be substantially completed by April 2007.

"The Boardwalk is what sets Atlantic City apart from other destinations," Tom Carver, CRDA's executive director, said. "It is Atlantic City's most important man-made feature, so it is central to our visitors' experiences and should live up to their expectations. With this project, we want to recapture the excitement and grandeur of the Boardwalk when it was an attraction unto itself."

To guide the Boardwalk's revitalization, Design Standards for the Atlantic City Boardwalk was created by Michael Calafati, AIA of Trenton-based Historic Building Architects, LLC.  The standards are based on the architectural designs prevalent on the Boardwalk in the early 20th century.  Calafati is also responsible for coordinating the execution of the Boardwalk Facade Project in conjunction with CRDA and for restoring the Fountain of Light.

"The vitality of the Boardwalk directly contributes to the vitality of Atlantic City, but the Boardwalk of today is disappointing," Calafati said. "Atlantic City has seen great improvements recently with the Borgata, The Walk, The Pier at Caesars and The Quarter at Tropicana.  The resort is at a crossroads and the Boardwalk should have the lead role in the re-invigoration of the city."

The first three architects were chosen to implement the design standards such that each block is cohesive but consistent with the other blocks. Cristina Buendicho, AIA of CBArchitect designed the facade plans for the 1500 block and Kennedy Plaza's bandstand.  Joe Matis, AIA of MPM Studio created the plan for the 1600 block.  Craig Dothe, AIA of Craig Dothe Architect, LLC planned the facades for the 2500 and 3000 blocks.

LEGENDARY STEEL PIER TO BE SHUT DOWN

Atlantic City's legendary Steel Pier will close in October, and will be replaced by a "shopping, gaming, and condo complex," according to The Press of Atlantic City.

The pier currently is operated by a family amusement firm; however the pier, which is viewed as an extension of Trump's Taj Mahal is owned by the Trump Corporation.

Opened 88 years ago as a resort for Quakers, the pier was soon opened to the public and through the decades hosted numerous show-business acts, including Frank Sinatra, Bob Hope, Benny Goodman, Guy Lombardo, Mae West, and The Three Stooges.

In the 1970s, the pier was known for the High Diving Horse who jumped from a platform into a pool of water with a rider on its back.

In 1982, the Pier burned in a memorable fire, one of the largest ever seen in Atlantic City. It was rebuilt in the same location and reopened in 1993.