Hi Damon,
I’m actually on the Board of Directors out here for the Jersey Shore Surfrider Chapter, so we are very closely involved with this Asbury Park Redevelopment.
This site will shed some light as to the proposed plans: http://www.asburypartners.com
The reason people are so hesitant to put faith in this thing is that for the past 15 or 20 years, there have been plans to revitalize this area that have fell by the wayside for a number of unimportant reasons, but mainly funding. Asbury Partners, just got all their CAFRA permits approved and the state is in the process of setting up a seperate office specifically for this development. While this is all well and good, there are a number of environmental and social issues…
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There are a riddiculous number of condos proposed with no accomodations or thoughts for parking, run off and utility provisions (i.e. Water Treatment and Resevoir).
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Part of what makes Asbury so unqiue is it’s cultural diversity. It’s comprised of african americans, mexicans, islanders and over the last 5 years or so, there has been a large population of the gay community moving in. It’s my personal opinion, that these plans will ultimately drive this middle to lower income population out with high taxes and unaffordable housing.
However, it is a fantastic town in my opinion. There are a number of restaurants that have recently opened with amazing reviews, lots of art galleries and a large amount of Victorian style houses just waiting for good owners.
This is really going to be the make or break plan in my opinion. If it goes through, it will change the face of Asbury for ever, if it doesn’t, I think people will be hard pressed to support any future plans, but this again is just speculation. There is also a tremendous history to asbury that dates back to the early 1900’s and even before that. I really have a special place in my heart for this town, and to be honest, its’ a place I’d consider living once my fiance is out of grad school.
The surf break in asbury is as uncrowded as you can find. I’ve surfed this break in chest to head high waves with 2 people out, both left and right peaks. Loch Arbour the next town over, has a fantastic right that on a good swell could produce a nice few hundred yard long ride (It has to be a great swell breaking outside the jetty) But it holds the bigger swells really well.
Neptune is a bigger town with a township called Ocean Grove that is right on the beach. It’s right next to Asbury and also has a pretty wide range of population. I love the town and there are some STEALS there. Ocean Grove is a great little walking town that has a great surf break out front. People dont think it breaks, but it’s a deceiving wave that is often bigger than it looks. There’s a new surf shop that opened there http://www.alohagrove.com that is such a rad place to hang out and get great equipment. Real board makers, not the rusty mass production stuff.
Next to neptune is bradley beach, then Avon and then Belmar. They are all great towns, but Belmar is the NYC jar head magnet of the world. Well, that and sea side. You couldn’t pay me enough to be in Belmar during the summer.
Neptune’s got a good variety of restaurants and shops, and the city is only 1hr train ride away. Philly is also about 1 hour away, straight across 195, with AC being about 2 hours away.
Either one is a great choice and email me if you want more info, I’d be happy to help ya out.
SOrry, just want to add a few comments after reading the quick responses people wrote:
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NJ and NYC are filled with areas far worse than Asbury and if you are looking for trouble you’ll find it. I’ve NEVER, in 5 years of surfing in that area, had any trouble. I am there on weekends downtown for a jazz night, and walk around a great deal.
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The people who usually say it’s bad drive through deal to get there. Deal is filled with 10,000 square foot mansions and no trees, so yes, it’s a culture shock coming from there, however, it’s what beach towns should be, wakling, buzzing, older, not pristine spanish tudors in the middle of the north east with all the minorities pushing the rich’s kids down the block.
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I’ve surfed Asbury well into the night on full moons leaving my car unlocked and window cracked open with never a problem. However, in Spring Lake, one of the most afluent shore towns, someone stole a god damn wet rash guard from my car.
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The surf clinc is happening again this year. July 10th and August 14. The person in the center photo of that link is me. We need teachers, so if you are in the area and want to come see what Asbury is all about, make the date on your calendar.