CAPE MAY — A special public meeting of City Council has been scheduled for Thur. Oct. 21 at 7 p.m. in City Hall Auditorium to discuss a business plan for a new Convention Hall.
The plan has been prepared by Temple University School of Hospitality Management. An earlier business plan was modified to reflect the design of a smaller facility. Initial construction bids exceeded the city’s $10.5 million budget by as much as $2 million.
City Council unanimously approved a scaled down version of architect Martin Kimmel’s earlier design of a larger Convention Hall, shrinking from a 32,000 square foot building to a 20,000 square foot facility.
The design concept is for a one-story building with a side entrance lobby with space for either two retail stores or conference rooms. The design includes room for an administrative office and additional restrooms for the public and storage space. The auditorium measures 8,000 square feet.
It has a catering kitchen with direct access to the auditorium and a full size backstage area. The hall can be divided in half to host two events simultaneously.
Plans calls for tearing down the neighboring Solarium which has received negative comments from some member of the public. A group of residents wants to preserve the Solarium and has contacted the State Historic Preservation Office.
The building was constructed in the early 1990s but the group contends its demolition would have a negative effect on the city’s historic district and historic landmark status The Herald received several news tips indicating a representative of the State Historic Preservation Office was scheduled to inspect the Solarium on Fri. Oct. 15.
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