“So, what are you people doing about it?”

It’s a question that the board members of the Historical Society have been asked many times, in many different forms, for as long as our organization has been established. Here in Asbury Park — a city whose relatively brief but brilliant architectural legacy has often been challenged by the forces of the unforgiving elements, the ever-changing economic climate, and the ambitious visions of oceanfront redevelopment — the ongoing battle to protect and preserve our local landmarks remains headline news, to a degree far beyond that found in most other Garden State municipalities.

Whether you’re a lifelong Asbury Parker — or simply among the many generations for whom the City by the Sea has been the source of memories that have lasted a lifetime — the Asbury Park Historical Society understands that each of us shares a proprietary passion for this one-of-a-kind place. The boardwalk and its grand centers of amusement; the hotels, restaurants and clubs; the stores and theatres of the downtown business blocks; the schools and houses of worship; the historic public structures, parks, picturesque gardens, and private homes — all of them have had a place in the story of our lives. All of them deserve a chorus of voices raised in their support — and here in 2023, a coalition of diverse voices is “doing something about it,” with the first steps toward the formation of the city’s first-ever Historic Preservation Commission.

While the Historical Society has long played the role of advocate for the recognition and preservation of our architectural treasures, our status as a grass-roots, all-volunteer nonprofit (with no officially granted powers to enforce our own strongly held recommendations) has seen us function as a committed agency for such advocacy, rather than an entity with legal and regulatory “teeth.”

The Society has played a part in such success stories as the refurbishment of Library Square Park, the restoration and public display of vintage signage, the campaign to keep the Stone Pony at its lifelong location, and our ongoing stewardship of The Stephen Crane House, a textbook Asbury Park “rescue” story initiated by previous private owners Thomas Hayes and Frank D’Alessandro. But of course, there have been the unsuccessful efforts to avert the outright demolition of the Elks Club/ Charms Building, the Baronet Theatre, the Metropolitan Hotel, and what is perhaps the most-missed signifier of Asbury Park’s public-profile smile, Palace Amusements.

At a time when the current status and ultimate fate of the boardwalk’s most iconic features (the Convention Hall/ Paramount complex; the Carousel House; the Steam Plant building and the remaining sections of the Casino) are the “hot button” subject of conflict between the city government and private owners Madison Marquette — and the news of the Archdiocese of Trenton’s recent sale of the Church of the Holy Spirit to a home builder/developer has stirred significant public outcry and layers of litigation — it appears that the long-overdue idea of a Historic Preservation Commission is one whose time has truly come. Recently, the city asked Director of Planning Michele Alonso to advise or chair an exploratory committee whose members have been drawn from the ranks of local activism, public service, and professional practice. Meeting separately from (and serving in an advisory capacity to) that committee, a group of APHS officers  (Kay Harris, Jim Henry, Eileen Chapman, former president Don Stine) and Society members (Johna Karpinsky, Celia Morrissette) have lent their expertise and energies to discussions of how and when a Commission can take shape — what it could have the legal authority to do, and how it could benefit city-based owners of homes and businesses.

While the various committee members appear to be largely in agreement that such an agency be regulatory in nature (as opposed to simply advisory), there remain questions from the public that bear addressing. For example, properties that are locally designated as “historic” would need to abide by basic standards of preservation — and relief would need to be sought by property owners, for work that alters a historically designated structure.

According to Kay Harris, “having an official commission would allow control over what happens to the few iconic structures that have succeeded in escaping the wrecking ball.”

As Harris continues, “the intention of the Historical Society is to support the city in its efforts to establish a working Commission that serves to advance the cause of preservation — as well as to listen to the thoughts and ideas of our membership and the public at large.”

To that end, the APHS president plans an announcement of  an “educational presentation to the public;” one that addresses such concerns as homeowners’ objections to “being forced into a Historic Preservation zone, and being told what color they could paint their house.”

“I believe that presenting the pros and cons of having a Preservation Commission in a neutral and objective manner would help provide a better understanding of the information,” says Harris. “By detailing the ‘Facts’ and ‘Myths’ behind historic preservation — for example, participation in a historic zone would not impact the interior of a home, and may actually increase the value of one’s home — residents who might not be initially supportive of the idea may change their opinions.”

Watch for updates on the proposed Commission from the APHS, in addition to following coverage of the topic in local media outlets like The Coaster weekly. Follow our social media forums for details on a public-welcome informational presentation — and know that when it comes to preserving, protecting and promoting the best of our city’s unique public face, in a setting where the past, the present and the future work harmoniously together, your Historical Society is on the case!