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Comments

• [1] sharon Stein from new jersey August 27, 2009 - 11:31AM

  thats because everything that was built all the businesses were "upscale." there is no middle income housing. NO affordable eateries. they were trying to be "red bank".

  The community 3 years ago was filling up with artists and creative people. rents were raised severely and people were forced to move.

  
  
• [2] Daniel Goldstein from Brooklyn August 27, 2009 - 11:33AM

  Thanks for the story on eminent domain "for the developer's sake," and developer's blight, in Asbury Park, NJ.

  I hope you will cover the biggest eminent domain issue in New York State, and developer's blight, headed for the Court of Appeals and to be argued on October 14.

  More here:

  End eminent domain abuse: N.Y.'s highest court should rule against Bruce Ratner

  BY DANA BERLINER. New York Daily News

  http://www.nydailynews.com/opinions/2009/08/24/2009-08-24_end_eminent_domain_abuse.html

  
  
• [3] kai from NJ-NYC August 27, 2009 - 11:34AM

  Well said, Lauren.

  
  
• [4] Marc Steinberg from Jersey City August 27, 2009 - 11:40AM

  Asbury Park's problem has to do with class and race. As your guest was touching upon, the housing and businesses cater to middle and upper middle class, however, there is "another side of the tracks" literally, the other side of the railroad tracks, and a very depressed African American community, which is the Achilles heel for Asbury. There were urban riots in the 1960s and Asbury has never really recovered. Unless Asbury solves the problems of economic inequality and lack of good schools and public services, not to mention crime, Asbury will never come back!

  
  
• [5] John Kuras from Red Bank, NJ August 27, 2009 - 11:41AM

  Lauren's points are extremely well made. As for evidence of the viability of the area to revitalize itself, one only has to look to the immediate communities to the north and south of Asbury Park; neither of which could be considered blighted.

  
  
• [6] Linda Griggs from lower east side and asbury park August 27, 2009 - 11:42AM

  The Asbury Park Chamber of Commerce is really interested in bringing in more artists along the lines of the Paducah Artists Relocation Program which was used to bring artists into a blighted downtown area.

  There are still cheap houses there.

  Cookman Avenue was redeveloped by artist who rented were relocated by rising rents.

  
  
• [7] Linda Griggs from lower east side and asbury park August 27, 2009 - 11:44AM

  Doesn't Asbury Partners own the historic Baronet Theater?

  Why did they renovate it and then let it mold?

  
  
• [8] sharon Stein from new jersey August 27, 2009 - 11:44AM

  the only street that was repaved was kingsley st. the roads are awful.

  and the two buildings that were built north beach and wesley grove are half empty because they are million dollar condos.

  
  
• [9] Peter Ranis from NYC August 27, 2009 - 01:19PM

  The eminent domain discussion often focuses on the abusive cases of ceding property from small owners to larger ones. But the Supreme Court from Berman ('55) to Kelo ('05) has focused on "public purpose" (development, tax base, jobs). In that context, we should revisit eminent domain as a potential for defending jobs against runaway factories and enterprises. A good place to begin is the Stella D'oro factory which could be taken with compensation from an equity firm thus preserving 135 jobs in the Bronx along with avoiding potential blight and poverty.

  
  
• [10] diane August 27, 2009 - 06:28PM

  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w8T4QqtjNM8

  music video short about eminent domain in

  long branch nj & america

  
  
• [11] Helen-Chantal Pike from United States August 28, 2009 - 11:21AM

  Thanks to the Kelo v. New London Supreme Court decision, eminent domain has become a policy that enables towns to pay for their municipal obligations by taking, and giving, land to developers whose projects will generate higher property taxes. Doesn't matter if it's Asbury Park or Brooklyn.