Atlantic City may gut historic convention hall - PhillyBlog

HowardBHaas · #1 (**permalink**) 12-26-2006, 08:36 PM

Imploding world famous landmark hotels for the creation of casinos wasn't enough! Losing famous piers, every single movie palace, and so many historic structures wasn't enough! Atlantic City may gut their historic 1929 convention hall...to create yet another casino. Recently, Philadelphia saw its Art Deco convention hall demolished, but $90 million dollars was spent on restoring Atlantic City's. Will it have a future? Other cities, such as in Nevada, used gambling revenues to restore historic towns and buildings, not destroy them.

Article:
www.philly.com/mld/inquirer/16314214.htm

MayfairMeat · #2 (**permalink**) 12-26-2006, 08:41 PM

That's so weird.

I heard a year ago that that place was supposed to be renovated and sound proofing changed so it could hold live shows and boxing matches.

First Monopoly... Now this!

Jayfar · #3 (**permalink**) 12-26-2006, 09:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EastChestnut

That's so weird.

I heard a year ago that that place was supposed to be renovated and sound proofing changed so it could hold live shows and boxing matches.

First Monopoly... Now this!

It has been hosting these kinds of events for several years now. The bookings have been a little sparse, but they have hosted a lot of big name musical acts since the renovations (Springsteen, Fleetwoold Mac, Neil Diamond, Paul McCartney, Bette Midler, etc...) You can catch the Trans-Siberian Orchestra there this Thursday.

http://boardwalkhall.com/Calendar/

http://boardwalkhall.com/history.asp

Quote:

The Historic Atlantic City Convention Hall, now commonly referred to as the Atlantic City Boardwalk Hall, was listed on the United State Register of Historic Places as a National Historic Landmark on February 27, 1987. As a result, all work performed in the building must be executed in compliance with the Secretary of the Interior's Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties.

As originally created, the building was not designed to accommodate present-day production standards and efficient use of space. The structural improvements addressed accessibility for rigging, lights and sound equipment; newer, wider and more comfortable seating with acceptable sight lines between the lower edge of the balcony and the floor level; and improved use of corridor space, modern back-of-house facilities and guest accommodations.

The $90 million renovation to transform historic Boardwalk Hall into a state-of-the-art special events arena was completed under the auspices of the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority, the building's owner. The facility is operated by the Atlantic City Convention and Visitors Authority and managed by SMG.

[SNIP]

MayfairMeat · #4 (**permalink**) 12-26-2006, 10:01 PM

Why fix something that isn't broken? And why that property?

Trump Plaza is directly next door and just got a interior face-lift. Is this some sort of add-on to compete with Caesar's which got through expanding on their lot?

It's not like there isn't a shortage of beach to develop... the Trop is way the hell away from the expwy and isn't losing business... why "Midtown" [I hate those cutsey AC/Manhattan neighborhood names when you get off the expwy]

Borgata isn't even anywhere close to the beach. It just has a super-flashy fascade so you can't miss it when you drive into town.

And because there isn't enough shopping on the boardwalk.... ugh there is already the upscale strip center behind Caesar's that just got brand new streets (and it actually has pedestrians and shoppers!) and then there is the new Pier in Atlantic City which just opened this summer, sitting on concrete and steel piles out in the ocean.

WTF? A Mall-Casino just to get Steve Wynn to come back? WTF-ever! If Steve wants to build, he'll build.

Don't demolish something Atlantic City needs (and the other casinos rely on that property to comp their guests) just to put in a casino with a Celine Dion store.

F__k him.

Only a Republican New Jersey state senator could dream up such a cockamamy idea.

Scoats · #5 (**permalink**) 12-27-2006, 09:16 AM

My fiancee took me to see Bruce Springsteen there last year. It's a really wonderful renovation. There is a very modern setting arena area built into the wonderful old structure. I recall the ceilings being a really wild but nice color combo.

Seems odd to be willing to destroy it to lure another casino.