Tallest Building in New Jersey Could be A Casino Establishment

February 15, 2007, brand new casino planned for a gambling destination or resort could be considered to be New Jersey's largest and tallest establishment if the City Council decides to remove the restrictions on the sizes of skyscrapers. The city council is expected to vote next week about the proposal on raising the limit of skyscrapers in New Jersey from the current 485 feet to about 800 feet on a vacant lot located north of the Showboat Casino Hotel.

A building that will measure that high will undoubtedly be the highest structure that can be found in New Jersey, which will replace the current tallest building in the area, which is the 781 feet Goldman Sachs office located in Jersey City. But the developer of the project said that the skyscraper will probably not reach the maximum of 800 feet. The Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Revel Entertainment Kevin DeSanctis said it will be really expensive if they will make it that tall.

But he said that it will be a one of a kind landmark in the city. City Officials said that now that the Bader field, which is a historical airport that is located in the downtown area is now closed, the restrictions that have been previously imposed on tall buildings are no longer that important. Just last year, New Jersey agreed to increase the height of the buildings that are located in Marina area to 560 feet to have more space for the expansion of the Harrah's Atlantic City Casino.

The adjacent Borgata Hotel Casino and Spa is the tallest building in Atlantic City, which is at 480 feet. Bill Crane, the City planning director, said that he expecting higher structures to be built right on the boardwalk because there is just so little space to expand horizontally. The current limit that is imposed for most casinos that are located in the Boardwalk is at 385 feet, but now that the Bader field is already closed; there is no limit that is needed.

The area where the building built by Revel will also feature a city-managed Garden Pier. Both Revel and the City officials have been discussing these plans since fall last year about the purchase plans and the construction in the pier, which was first constructed back in 1912 and once the location of the marina's largest ballroom.

06/13/2007, Wednesday