According to a number of reports, there is a new trendy hotel being planned for the downtown area of Asbury Park.New Hotel

It would occupy the building that once housed the Savoy Theater, where John Barrymore, Helen Hayes, George Abbot and Shirley Booth graced the state. In 1931, The Savoy was converted into a motion picture movie theater. The original building dates back to 1911, when it was built by Walter Reade.

The developer is looking to build a luxury hotel with access to parking. The developer, Sackman Enterprises, expects the project to add a number of new full-time, year-round jobs for the bustling town, and possibly drive additional traffic to year-round tourism.

The current proposal is for the new downtown structure to have at least 100 rooms, a rooftop pool, and a liquor license. The building will also need a variance from the current 45-foot maximum height limit. The developer had previously proposed building micro residential units at the site but believes a hotel would be more beneficial to the community. A discussion of the proposal took place last week at the City Council meeting.