|
Post by novillero on Sept 29, 2008 16:27:55 GMT -5
The Hotel is looking good, but I haven't heard any news lately. I think they wanted it open before the winter holiday.
Anyone have any news?
|
|
|
Post by admin on Sept 29, 2008 16:44:43 GMT -5
I haven't heard any further news, but it is looking great. I look very forward to the day when I can put the finished photo on the page that I have dedicated to the hotel. www.people-fb.com/American_Hotel.html
|
|
|
Post by botaniseur on Oct 17, 2008 8:32:57 GMT -5
Apparently the owner has run dry on capital for the remainder of the work...not good
|
|
|
Post by admin on Oct 17, 2008 8:41:12 GMT -5
Apparently the owner has run dry on capital for the remainder of the work...not good I am realllyyyy hoping you are wrong. This would be some rotten news.
|
|
|
Post by novillero on Oct 17, 2008 8:53:24 GMT -5
that is bad, I was thinking to myself the other day that I haven't seen any activity there lately. I can definitely see someone's funds drying up with the way things have been lately. I hope that this is just a rumor.
On a side note... given the economy and that state-funding being lowered lately for municipalities, etc. the vision of the parking garage should take a major, major backseat before something is started that can't be finished...
|
|
|
Post by admin on Oct 17, 2008 9:20:37 GMT -5
I noticed, too, that there has not been much activity there. I was hoping there is still work going on inside. It will be awfull for our town if this project does not get completed. Lets hope this all just nasty rumor.
|
|
|
Post by admin on Oct 17, 2008 14:48:14 GMT -5
From a very good and credible source-- These rumors are unfounded.
|
|
|
Post by botaniseur on Oct 20, 2008 10:35:14 GMT -5
Brian, I was told by a person very close to the construction company that work was stopped over a month ago while additional capital was secured to start the inside of the project. No one has been there for sometime, what else would cause a delay like that? The owner spent a lot of $$$ to buy the property and I have to believe he wants it completed asap.
|
|
|
Post by admin on Oct 20, 2008 16:12:04 GMT -5
Brian, I was told by a person very close to the construction company that work was stopped over a month ago while additional capital was secured to start the inside of the project. No one has been there for sometime, what else would cause a delay like that? The owner spent a lot of $$$ to buy the property and I have to believe he wants it completed asap. I am not negating you concerns or dismissing what you say. I think we will all agree that we should keep our fingers crossed and hope that the AH does open and do well. It will be a real kick in the teeth for our town if it does not open or fails.
|
|
|
Post by admin on Nov 12, 2008 9:16:15 GMT -5
The Hotel is looking good, but I haven't heard any news lately. I think they wanted it open before the winter holiday. Anyone have any news? This should ease all the internet rumors ( though sad to see the delay)......... newstranscript.gmnews.com/news/2008/1112/front_page/035.htmlDeveloper still at work on new hotel BY CLARE MARIE CELANO Staff Writer FREEHOLD — Although the reconstructed American Hotel will not be up and running by its original target date of December, anyone watching the building process over the last year will agree that progress has definitely been made. A new structure now stands in place of the historic hotel that had fallen into a state of disrepair. The building bears a remarkable resemblance to the original hotel that was built in about 1824. That resemblance to the original hotel has always been the plan of Steve Goldberg, who purchased the American Hotel for $2.5 million at a public auction in March 2006. Goldberg spoke with the News Transcript this week and said the new target date for the hotel opening is June. Plans call for the new building to be an actual hotel — something the previous American Hotel had not been for years before it was closed. "We are still very excited about this project. This is a very big project, for me it is anyway," Goldberg said, adding that part of the "big project" is financial considerations and he acknowledged that "we do have some financial issues and with today's market, it's hard." Nonetheless, Goldberg said things are progressing, albeit a bit slower than anticipated. With its old gold exterior and a balcony in place, the rebuilt hotel appears very much like the original building that was such a familiar site lining the streetscape of the town's main thoroughfare. The exterior, which only lacks the finishing touches, is reminiscent of days gone by and a reminder of the town's history and how the hotel fit into that history. The circa 1824 hotel with its Greek Revival/ Italianate style and its several additions, was in the Daesener family for more than 90 years before it was sold several years ago to a group of businessmen who let the neglect begin amid a host of financial problems. Goldberg's original plan was to restore the hotel, but when work began on the building it was discovered that goal would be impossible to accomplish. When the interior finishings were removed it was determined that the second and third floors of the hotel could not be saved, according to Freehold Borough code enforcement officer Hank Stryker III. And so it was that the oldest part of the American Hotel had to be demolished in order to make room for a new structure that could once again become the focal point of the downtown area as its predecessor had been for so many years. The exterior still needs some finishing touches, according to Goldberg, who said the rear vestibule has been torn down and that work on the new rear vestibule and a deck will commence shortly. Borough Administrator Joseph Bellina said, "We continue to work with (Goldberg) and offer our cooperation with permit issues. We look forward to the hotel once again being the linchpin of our downtown area."
|
|
|
Post by Bermuda98 on Nov 12, 2008 11:07:27 GMT -5
I will look forward to June, then! Doing things on this scale (properly and with attention to detail) does take time and looooots of money. Until then, let's enjoy what has come a long way thus far....
|
|
|
Post by admin on Dec 11, 2008 14:36:54 GMT -5
Looks Like Botaniseur is in the know.... Brian, I was told by a person very close to the construction company that work was stopped over a month ago while additional capital was secured to start the inside of the project. No one has been there for sometime, what else would cause a delay like that? The owner spent a lot of $$$ to buy the property and I have to believe he wants it completed asap. www.app.com/article/20081211/COMMUNITY/812110392/1285/LOCAL09Ongoing hotel project sees financial boost FREEHOLD — The re-opening of the landmark American Hotel — delayed to the summer of 2009 — got a big boost last week. Hotel owner Steve Goldberg learned last week that he had secured a loan from OceanFirst Bank, his first outside financing for the large-scale construction project, he said. "It's exciting," Goldberg said. "We're just thrilled with OceanFirst Bank." He did not have the specifics of the loan as of press time, but said it was "significant." It is particularly significant because, as Goldberg said, up to this point he has been paying out of his own pocket for the project. That has not stopped construction, but it has slowed it down, he said. The news may be welcome for those who have been eagerly awaiting the re-opening of the hotel, a mainstay in downtown Freehold since its beginning in 1824 as a stagecoach stop. The building was shut down for fire code violations in 2004. A fire in 2005 caused significant damage to the structure. Goldberg bought the property and its liquor license for $2.5 million at a 2006 bankruptcy sale. Work on the new American Hotel has been ongoing for about a year, ever since about 6,000 square feet of the building were demolished in January because it was deemed structurally unsound. The steel underpinnings of the new building were erected in May. Goldberg's eventual plans for the hotel are to create a new restaurant, a lobby and lounge area, catering facilities, a general meeting area, 22 hotel rooms and a spa, he said.
|
|
|
Post by admin on Dec 18, 2008 13:13:52 GMT -5
|
|
|
Post by beachwooderik on Dec 20, 2008 2:29:35 GMT -5
Glad to see you found our site - yes, we are indeed looking at Monmouth County and the various ways it has approached historic preservation in the past century and today as Ocean County is becoming poised for more and more of these battles. We need better tools to reach agreements, wins and compromises to ensure a large part of our area doesn't get inundated with Rite Aids and condos at every turn where once there were summer bungalows and resort hotels. As the 'About' section of the site states, we're always looking for others from anywhere to form an alliance of their own and link with ours so that the future will be a bright, co-educational network of organizations set about to helping one another and their preservation causes. Erik beachwoodhistoricalalliance.wordpress.com
|
|
|
Post by admin on Dec 20, 2008 17:26:43 GMT -5
Glad to see you found our site - yes, we are indeed looking at Monmouth County and the various ways it has approached historic preservation in the past century and today as Ocean County is becoming poised for more and more of these battles. We need better tools to reach agreements, wins and compromises to ensure a large part of our area doesn't get inundated with Rite Aids and condos at every turn where once there were summer bungalows and resort hotels. As the 'About' section of the site states, we're always looking for others from anywhere to form an alliance of their own and link with ours so that the future will be a bright, co-educational network of organizations set about to helping one another and their preservation causes. Erik beachwoodhistoricalalliance.wordpress.comWelcome to the Freehold Voice, Erik. Your site is very informative. I will be reading it some more in the future. It was neat seeing you posting about our town and the American Hotel. It really has been and will again become the jewel of Main Street for us. Here is a link with some pictures of the progress. www.people-fb.com/American_Hotel.htmlFreehold Borough is a very historic town. We are lucky that we have people with a strong interest in the local history. We have learned our lesson the hard way, though. It took the demolition of a magnificent house, the Bartleson house, before we established a Historic Preservation Commission. I recently attended one of their meetings and they are doing a very good job. They have programs in place that encourage residents to research and restore their historic homes. They also make sure that historic preservation and character are preserved via ordinance, often in a co-operative effort with the planning board. Be sure to visit the Freehold history section of this site. Here are a couple of other sites that are very good. freeholdnj.homestead.com/home.htmlwww.metzbicyclemuseum.com/www.monmouthhistory.org/
|
|
|
Post by admin on Dec 26, 2008 5:38:47 GMT -5
I know this is gong off topic, but it is a continuation of some above discussions. Check this link again, there are updates. beachwoodhistoricalalliance.wordpress.com/It is refreshing to see others looking at what we have done as inspiration for their own towns.
|
|
|
Post by irisheyes on Jun 26, 2009 16:43:23 GMT -5
I know this is an older thread but has anyone heard news about the hotel? I was looking forward to possibly having my daughter's wedding there.
|
|
|
Post by Bermuda98 on Jun 26, 2009 17:17:44 GMT -5
If memory serves, there was a sign on the front door over Memorial Day weekend ( I don't know if it's still there) announcing reservations/bookings being taken for December 2009!
|
|
|
Post by admin on Jun 28, 2009 18:48:29 GMT -5
If memory serves, there was a sign on the front door over Memorial Day weekend ( I don't know if it's still there) announcing reservations/bookings being taken for December 2009! Your memory serves you well. That sign is still there.
|
|
|
Post by admin on Jun 30, 2009 17:51:56 GMT -5
freehold.injersey.com/2009/06/30/coming-soon/After years of waiting, optimism is high that the landmark American Hotel could be open by December. "It just feels great," said Steve Goldberg, the area businessman who purchased the historic building at a 2006 bankruptcy sale. The American Hotel has been a borough mainstay since its beginning as a stagecoach stop in 1824. In recent years, though, it has fallen on hard times. The building was shut down for fire code violations in 2004. A fire in 2005 then caused significant damage to the structure. In January 2008, approximately 6,000 square feet of the building had to be demolished because it was deemed structurally unsound. But if a banner hung from a second-floor balcony in recent weeks is to be believed, better days are just around the corner.
|
|