By Scott Lewis
Developers discuss plans for Superblock site at City Hall hearing
The process has moved slower than a speeding turtle. The final result is tougher to determine than the Long Island Rail Road train schedule. And, if the Long Beach City Council has its way, several tall buildings will abound.
It's a 100-room hotel, it's condominium towers, it's two upscale restaurants, it's... the Superblock!
A special public hearing was held at City Hall on Thursday, August 24 to discuss three preliminary proposals for the development of the Superblock site between Long Beach Road and Riverside Boulevard, from East Broadway south to the Boardwalk.
The three proposals--by developers Phillips International, The Kurtz Organization and The Haberman Group--all included, with slight variances, a hotel with 90-100 rooms, a small conference center, a condominium tower and two restaurants.
The proposals featured architectural drawings, models and a power point presentation. Attended by roughly 300 local residents, the crowd applauded at the conclusion of each proposal.
"I think most of us were pleased with the evening," said City Manager Bruce Nyman. "We kind of liked parts of each [of the three proposals], but I think the Council is primarily focused on the hotel and parking."
According to City Council President Joel Crystal, the City Council wants to see "a very nice hotel, with catering facilities, nice restaurants and a bandstand."
The City Council will hold a hearing in September for two other proposals. While noting that all the Superblock proposals are in the conceptual stage, Mr. Crystal said the City Council hopes to have a project approved within the next six months.
"I think we're in the window of opportunity to get this project done," Mr. Crystal said. "We're cautiously optimistic, but we've learned to take our time. We're looking for a group of organized people that can fund this project themselves."
Back in 1997, a proposal by The Parkoff Organization for the Superblock site was approved. The deal died when the financing fell through.
"The Superblock has been vacant for a long time, and I think there's a reason why it's been a long time," Mr. Nyman said. "You don't want to make a mistake. You only have one shot at this.
"We're going to be very careful and we're going to go very slow to make sure we get the project we want," Mr. Nyman added. "We're going to get the project we want, and not the project the developers want. We're in the driver's seat and we're not going to lose that."
While all three proposals were nearly mirror images, prompting Mr. Crystal to say he was "struck by the similarity of the designs by the presenters," one Long Beach resident felt that the presentation by Phillips International stood out.
"Phillips International is head and shoulders above the others," said Richard Boodman, a local activist. "It blends in with Long Beach, it's perfect for Long Beach. They really have the best plan. Phillips International came out with things that make a lot of sense for our little town."
The Phillips International plan--with a 100-room hotel, small conference, two condominium towers and two restaurants--is the only one with a private movie screening room.
While many Long Beach residents on hand appeared to be excited about the prospect of the Superblock, there was opposition to the Superblock plan. Local activist Mark Jackson called the hearing "a joke, a dog-and-pony show."
"I think it's a big sham, a hoax," Mr. Jackson said. "It was all cosmetic. These [presenters] didn't even come prepared. They didn't even know how much they're going to charge for the [condo] units. When I asked them how much it was going to cost the city, nobody had the answer. If you don't have your figures set by the time you make your presentation, then you don't know to run a business.
"The guy's who's smart is [Jacob] Haberman," Mr. Jackson added. "He owns almost all the land, he's got first crack at it, and if they try anything, he's going to sue the city. That's my gut feeling. He's a real merchant. He said he'll build a hotel, with the option of turning it into an apartment."
Most of the Superblock property is owned by private developers. The City of Long Beach would use its eminent domain powers (condemnation) to purchase the property, which would then be sold to a single developer. Meanwhile, the City Council will continue to mull over the proposals.
"It's at the beginning of another great adventure for the city," Mr. Crystal said. "I think it's going to be very exciting for the city as we get closer to finalizing this. It's really exciting to try and find something that fits our community and we'll all be proud of."
