On Thursday, August 21st, City Council voted 6-1 against requesting a recommendation from the Planning Board whether Wonderland Pier should be designated “In Need of Redevelopment.” That designation is the first required step toward advancing the controversial 252-room ICONA Resort proposal.
Since the vote, business leaders and council members who were originally opposed have started to change their position. Now, many in the community warn that keeping Wonderland Pier in its current condition could hurt tourism and local business, and say a redevelopment designation may be necessary to protect the city’s long-term economic health.
600 Boardwalk, “Wonderland Pier”
On the other side, opponents of the redevelopment argue the designation could give ICONA an outsized influence over a valuable section of the Ocean City, NJ boardwalk. Several local activists have indicated they may pursue legal action if the process moves forward, citing concerns about transparency and how the redevelopment laws are being applied.
As discussion continues on both sides, many residents expect City Council to revisit the matter at the upcoming Dec. 4th meeting. Downtown Merchants Association President Caitlin Quirk released a video encouraging community members to attend.
✅ QUICK FACTS:
The Norcross Family has bid $25M+ to purchase the property.
Council Members Pete Madden, Jody Levchuk, and Tony Polcini expected to vote in favor of the resolution.
Eustace Mita has been asked to delay the sale of the property.
Note: The OCNJ Current does not endorse any project, organization, or group referenced in this article and maintains zero financial involvement with any party connected to this coverage.