WESLEY GROVE AT ASBURY PARK REKINDLES YOUTHFUL PLEASURES FOR NEW HOME BUYERS
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Condos and Townhomes Combine Luxury With Seaside Nostalgia

ASBURY PARK, N.J., March 31, 2006 – Bob Russo, former Mayor of Montclair, N.J., spent the last year and a half searching for a vacation home on the Jersey Shore. He and his wife, Christine, wanted a scenic refuge that would remind them of the joys of childhood summers gone by. A few months ago, that search finally paid off when they found the perfect place: Wesley Grove at Asbury Park, a mixed-use community of townhomes, duplexes and condominium flats now under development by Westminster Communities just blocks from the Ocean in this historic shore town.

“I have been going to Asbury Park since I was a kid,” said Russo. “My family had a place in Long Branch, and every weekend we went to Asbury Park to enjoy the amusements, the rides and the boardwalk. I remember the Swan Boats on Wesley Lake and the old Casino and Carousel. After I got married, my wife and I have been returning regularly to take advantage of the wonderful restaurants, shops, concerts and special events. So buying a shore property in Asbury Park seemed natural.”

After looking at other seaside resorts, as well as other properties in Asbury Park itself, the Russos chose a duplex condominium in The St. James, the first residential building now taking shape at Wesley Grove.

Wesley Grove occupies one of the most unique locations within the newly emerging Asbury Park waterfront community. It is nestled amid tree-lined streets and beautiful Victorian homes, just steps from the thriving turn-of-the-century downtown area with its eclectic mix of boutiques, restaurants and art galleries. The site is just minutes from the train station and almost afloat on an expanse of Wesley Lake overlooking Ocean Grove and the Atlantic Ocean.

The Sales Center – featuring a virtual reality DVD presentation, a scale model of The St. James, and replicas of the available high-tech kitchens and baths – is located at 600 Cookman Avenue in the Press Plaza, adjacent to the site.

“At first we were a bit hesitant to buy something that hasn’t been completed yet,” said Russo. “But we are impressed with Westminster Communities’ plans. And the location is perfect, with views of Wesley Lake, the boardwalk and beach, as well as great shops on Cookman Avenue.”

The New Look of Asbury Park
Wesley Grove is part of the 56-acre Oceanfront Asbury redevelopment plan currently underway in Asbury Park. When completed, Wesley Grove at Asbury Park will consist of approximately 750 homes and 35,000 square feet of retail space. The first building, The St. James, consists of 30 townhomes of approximately 2,200 square feet in size, and 61 duplexes and condo flats averaging more than 1,800 square feet, with interior garage access. Some of the condominium flats and duplexes include walkout balconies and roof terraces, and the townhomes include spacious loft and rooftop terrace areas.

“We’re not just buying something to exploit an investment opportunity,” Russo noted. “We’re looking at it as a place we can relate to, sort of a Montclair by the shore. We may someday retire in Asbury Park.”

“I’m very confident about the future of Asbury Park and happy to invest in the City and be part of its revival,” he added. “I was Mayor of Montclair for four years, and I see many parallels: the diversity of the population, the revitalization of historic neighborhoods. Asbury Park has good leaders who are committed to returning the City to its old glory days. I’ve known Mayor Saunders for many years, and I also have a lot of confidence in Town Manager Terry Reidy and Councilmen John Loffredo and Jim Keady. I am impressed by their energy and enthusiasm. They make me feel that investing in property in Asbury Park is a good choice.”

Indeed, the Russos count themselves among Asbury Park’s strongest fans. “We visit every month for the First Saturday Night celebrations. We go to the Bradley Beach Cinema during summer weekends for the $4.50 movie just a few blocks from the Asbury Park Boardwalk. We are big fans of local restaurants like Posillipo’s, Carmine’s, The Tides, Moonstruck, Chat ‘N Nibble and Be Green. We love knowing that these places are within walking distance of our future condominium.”

Russo is so enamored with the City that he recently bought two framed photos at Asbury Park’s Apex Gallery to hang on the walls of his Montclair home, reminding him always of the shore town he loves. “One of the photos has a beautiful view of Wesley Lake, with the old Casino building in the background. You can even see the new Wesley Grove community under construction, with the new townhouses reflected in the sunlight,” he said. “It reminds me of the pleasures of my childhood and the joys that are yet to come.”