Public encouraged to "Revitalize Atlantic City" and offer input into Tourism District Master Plan details via town meetings and an online survey.
Back in February, Gov. Chris Christie signed — in the atrium of the soon-to-be-open Revel mega-casino — legislation that retooled the Casino Reinvestment Development Authority (CRDA) and established the Atlantic City Tourism District.
The Tourism District’s purpose is to “promote tourism and make Atlantic City a safer, more attractive place to visit,” and make quality-of-life improvements to A.C.’s residential, commercial, cultural and entertainment landscape. It would become the CRDA’s responsibility to oversee all planning and zoning issues within the district. The legislation signed by Gov. Christie also mandated that a Tourism District Master Plan be finalized by Feb. 1 of 2012, and the CRDA retained international real estate firm Jones Lang LaSalle to assist it in achieving that goal.
Recently the CRDA also authorized launch of a Web site called RevitalizeAC.com that Jones Lang LaSalle is administering, and the firm is requesting public input from anyone who has a stake in bringing the Tourism District’s goal to fruition. This could include all Atlantic City residents, business owners, casino industry representatives, property owners, investors, developers and elected officials.
“For the Master Plan to be successful, the master planning process needs to include the voice of stakeholders with an interest in Atlantic City,” says CRDA executive director John F. Palmieri. “We encourage the public to take time to become involved in this process.”
The new Web site includes a survey form that invites feedback from stakeholders on the approach of the Master Plan to address immediate, mid-term and long-term actions, and to identify key factors, priorities and areas of improvement that should be addressed. All responses and contact information will remain confidential. Survey participants are encouraged to become involved and can elect to receive more information and updates via e-mail or telephone.
“We really [see the skatepark] as an opportunity [to complement] all of the other non-gaming kinds of activities that we want to support,” says Palmieri. “And we own a few parcels and this one we thought would be a potentially very good location.”
“The master plan is designed to breathe new life into this historic coastal playground and transform the city into a highly desirable place to live, work, play and visit."
"It was a little bit of a culture shock coming from Las Vegas, as you can imagine. But then when I actually spent some time [in Atlantic City] and spent some time in competitors' casinos, I was pleasantly surprised and I feel that, you know, being involved in Revel is a very exciting piece of history for Atlantic City and I think will change how people look and perceive the market."
Aside from calling, writing, e-mailing, or using a new Web site the CRDA says is in development for users to share ideas, as well as offer new ideas and projects, there are public CRDA meetings (on the third Tuesday of every month; the next one is Nov. 15) that you can attend to vocalize your support for certain projects or offer new ideas.
ATLANTIC CITY — John Palmieri, the new head of the Casino Reinvestment Development Authority, comes to Atlantic City like no other executive director of the authority ever has. Palmieri, who was head of the Boston Redevelopment Authority from 2007 up until earlier this year, and has headed redevelopment and economic development in other cities such as Charlotte, North Carolina; Providence, Rhode Island; and Hartford, Connecticut, certainly has the qualifications and background for the job. But so have other CRDA directors. What’s different is the CRDA he’ll be heading. Never in the authority’s history has the role of the CRDA been so large. An agency created to build housing in Atlantic City and...
Atlantic City residents filled the Westside Complex auditorium to offer input to Susan Ney Thompson, interim director of the Casino Reinvestment Development Authority (CRDA), as they prepare to take over many functions of Atlantic City's municipal government.
The bills create a CRDA run tourism district encompassing the city's casinos.
"The ideal situation for any city is to create a place were people want to live, work, learn, and enjoy their surroundings. That in return will make the Atlantic City arts and education District a must see destination for visitors and tourists."
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1. Randy F said... on Dec 30, 2011 at 04:19PM
“bout freakin time guys..we heard about this being in the works for months, wtf?”
2. Filmacracken said... on Dec 31, 2011 at 07:09AM
“Yeah, and the final town meeting is set about three days before the Feb. 1 deadline. wtf?”
3. Filmacracken said... on Dec 31, 2011 at 07:09AM
“Yeah, and the final town meeting is set about three days before the Feb. 1 deadline. wtf?”
4. who knows said... on Jan 4, 2012 at 12:10PM
“who knows..maybe the deadline got extended? Maybe the whole thing is a ruse!”