The Asbury Park City Council approved on Mar. 13 the hiring of Archer & Greiner, P.C. as independent special counsel to examine the city’s legal position regarding its longstanding redevelopment agreements with Madison Asbury Retail, LLC. This company manages Convention Hall, the Casino building, and other historic properties along the boardwalk.
The council’s decision comes amid ongoing questions about the future of these properties and recent proposals affecting historic structures. The contract for legal review is capped at $20,000 and will be led by retired New Jersey Supreme Court Associate Justice Lee A. Solomon.
The city’s relationship with its boardwalk redeveloper dates back more than twenty years. An initial agreement in 2002 with Asbury Partners, LLC outlined plans for major renovations but was revised in 2010 when Madison Asbury Retail took over certain properties. The new agreement removed specific timelines and narrowed the developer’s obligations, requiring new development agreements before construction could begin on some sites.
Mayor John Moor said, “Look, these agreements have been around for a long time and they’re complicated. The last thing I want is to leave residents holding a big legal bill without knowing what they’re getting for it. Justice Solomon is going to give us a straight answer, and that’s what we need right now.” Deputy Mayor Amy Quinn added, “These agreements are going to be with us for a long time, and the decisions we make now will shape what’s possible down the road. You want someone with Justice Solomon’s depth of experience giving you a straight read on something this consequential. He’s been a prosecutor, a legislator, and a Supreme Court justice. He’s not going to sugarcoat anything.”
Justice Solomon brings experience from serving in the New Jersey State Assembly, as President of the Board of Public Utilities under Governor Christie, as a Superior Court judge, and as an Associate Justice of the New Jersey Supreme Court since 2014. He currently works at Archer & Greiner focusing on complex business disputes.
The review aims to clarify what remedies remain available to Asbury Park under current agreements and whether further action would benefit city residents.
