ATLANTIC CITY — Late last year the east end of the historic Garden Pier — the dilapidated area jutting into the ocean and ruined by storms over the years — began to be demolished and its concrete remains being used to bolster the Great Egg Reef eight miles offshore.
The Casino Investment Development Authority (CRDA) financed the demolition, and in doing so will rid the city of a longtime eyesore sited directly in front of the forthcoming $2 billion Revel casino.
The remaining part of the Garden Pier, located off the Boardwalk at New Jersey Avenue and first built in 1912 (subsequently demolished and rebuilt to debut in 1954, as part of Atlantic City's centennial celebration) remained in place and, despite some structural issues that caused a few temporary closures recently, serves as the home to the Atlantic City Historical Museum and Atlantic City Art Center.
In a media release Wednesday, Feb. 8, the CRDA announced progress in an effort to restore and enhance the 100-year old pier, which has been owned by the city since 1944. R.E. Pierson was awarded a contract to stabilize the Garden Pier’s substructure and remove an unusable building at the end of the pier, which will open up views to the ocean.
The renovation project will also include new facades for the exteriors of the museum and art center, creating new lighting and landscaping, and adding new decking and fencing around the property. The upgrades are expected to be completed by May. 
Right: This recently demolished section of the Garden Pier once included a band shell and elaborate fountain. Demolition produced 6,000 cubic yards of concrete that was used to bolster the Great Egg Reef eight miles offshore.
“This project will provide a fresh new look at the north end of the Boardwalk,” says CRDA executive director John Palmieri. “We’re looking forward to seeing new visitors to the city’s quality museums as a result, and providing another reason for people to visit Atlantic City.”
The CRDA’s 17-person board of directors previously approved funding for the renovation and construction work, and is cooperating with Atlantic City officials to execute a public-private partnership agreement with Revel. The city is contributing approximately $750,000 and the wood-decking materials, the CRDA is funding $1.5 million, and the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection is funding $300,000 for total renovation costs of $2.5 million. It is expected to be completed before the 2012 Memorial Day Weekend.
Many new programs have been put in place by the ACFPL since assuming management of the museum, the next of which is entitled “The Atlantic City Experience: The Night Clubs and the Northside.”
To usher in the historic first day for Revel, the property has booked the band The Raveonettes to perform a free show at 9pm at The Social, located near Revel's imaginative casino floor.
Akron, Ohio rockers The Black Keys have been booked for Revel.
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1. Anonymous said... on Feb 10, 2012 at 12:13PM
“This is good, the north end needs some renovation.”
2. richard/jonathan said... on Apr 12, 2012 at 02:13PM
“”