CRDA board rejects architectural plans for Atlantic Avenue - NBC40.net

Residents may soon notice some significant changes in the central business district of Atlantic City.  

The Casino Reinvestment Development Authority met Tuesday afternoon to discuss the future of Atlantic Avenue and how it will be getting an impressive face-lift in the coming months.

Thomas Meehan, the Director of Implementation and Management for the CRDA, said,  "So what we're trying to do is build on the success of 'The Walk' and take it down through the central business district."

The CRDA board rejected existing architectural bids for the project on the 1700 block of Atlantic Ave, and will search for new bids to improve the area.

Board members say they rejected the first bids because they exceeded the new façade's budget by approximately $400,000.

Meehan added, "We are rejecting all bids.  The board will take action on that today, in which case we will then immediately go back out to bid.  We're looking at the designs we have and then speak with some of the other contractors for value and engineer opportunities."

The project will not just revitalize one block of the central business district.  Board members say they plan on expanding the project and hope to assess bids in the coming months.

Meehan went on to explain, "Then we have three other blocks which is the 1700 block North side, we will design the 1700 block South side, the 1600 block North side, and the 1600 block South side.  Next month we will look to hire three more architectural firms to do three more designs."

The Casino Reinvestment Development Authority says that the revitalization project is one step closer to breaking ground on Atlantic Avenue, but first, architectural bids must be approved within the CRDA's budget next month.