The long awaited Bader Field auction scheduled for JULY 14 was postponed, according to City Council on Wed. July 13. Council President Small says a so-called ‘advertising blip’ caused the cancellation. Really. Others suggest that legal threats from George Miller’s BADER FIELD SPORTS LLC organization are to blame for the auction cancellation. Miller seems to have accomplished his goal, or had his wish granted: the cancellation and delay of the auction for this valuable, 143 acre site on Albany Ave. in Atlantic City.
George Miller is the man behind BADER FIELD SPORTS LLC, a company that claims to have rights to building sports fields at the former Atlantic City airport.
Mr. Miller, a local attorney, is also the owner of Longport Media and WOND 1400 Radio.
City Council set a new deadline for bids: Aug. 4.
Is Mr. Miller the top dog at BADER FIELD SPORTS LLC? Or is he just an attorney representing that organization? Well, this document from the City of Atlantic City may hold the answer to that one.
Atlantic City Councilman President; Marty Small, wants Miller to get Bader Field, if no attractive alternatives are made available.
Blatstein Favored Status Causing Local Uproar; Playing Favorites in Atlantic City
Council gave final approval for the City of Atlantic City to sell Garden Pier to developer Bart Blatstein for $1.5 million. Why so cheap? Good question. When did City decide not to LEASE the pier…but SELL the pier? Good question. One would assume more bidders… would have brought a higher price for that premium property. (especially as a new Boardwalk is being built in the area, and more development looks ripe for a start soon)
An attorney for REVEL & Glenn Straub was not happy with that decision. Neither were many inside Council chambers. Straub’s lawyer described the deal as risky for the city. Some wonder if Garden Pier will be a target for those with liens against the City. Others claim Blatstein has no real plans for that Boardwalk based pier, even though City demands real, credible, jobs focused, ‘shovels in the ground plans’ for a city property sale like this.
One angry member of the audience asked Council about a recent Garden Pier party that Mr. Blatstein threw for a family member recently. It’s alleged that Mr. Blatstein did not have proper permits, including liquor, to do an event on this piece of public property.
Past Blatstein project in Philadelphia; The Piazza, has been a disappointment.
AC council mtg: Ducktown Tavern owner escorted out after shouting match with council over apparent un-permitted Blatstein Garden Pier party
— Christian Hetrick (@_Hetrick) July 13, 2016
Bill Hughes Jr. represents Straub / REVEL and his company called: 500 Boardwalk AC LLC.
Hughes / Straub want the city to be strict with it’s redeveloper-selection process. They don’t think Blatstein is ready to acquire & successfully manage more AC property. Any Garden Pier redevelopment project should have specific beginning and end dates, says Straub. If not completed as promised, penalties should apply. Straub says he would accept terms like that. Blatstein has yet to sign off and agree to those types of terms.
What does Glenn Straub from REVEL think about the cancelled Bader auction? Why did City cancel it? “Nobody bid. That’s why” says Straub, according to the Press of Atlantic City. Straub also complained that the sealed-bid process was “favoring non-transparency.”
Why is Mayor Guardian and Council President Small handing over so much Atlantic City property to Tower Investments?
According to The Press of Atlantic City, Mr. Blatstein’s Garden Pier plan is centered on a vaguely-articulated proposal for “various types of entertainment, commercial and dining activities”.
City Council also named Blatstein as the potential redeveloper of the former volleyball court situated between REVEL and SHOWBOAT.
Blatstein, who runs the Playground Pier in front of Caesars Atlantic City, claims he wants to erect an “event and entertainment center” on the former volleyball court. ‘Too broad, vague and lame’, says opponents.
According to The Press of Atlantic City, the city refused to release developer proposals following an Open Public Records Act request by The Press of AC.
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