ATLANTIC CITY — Former Atlantic County Democratic Chairman Michael Suleiman is expressing growing skepticism that the long-discussed redevelopment of Bader Field will ever become a reality, saying Atlantic City has already lost years waiting for a project he believes may never get off the ground.
Appearing Monday on WOND's Off The Press with Scott Cronick, Suleiman criticized the proposed multi-billion-dollar redevelopment by DEEM Enterprises, arguing the project has continued to grow in cost while making little visible progress.
"I think this DEEM Enterprises proposal is a total joke," Suleiman said. "It's been five years. The cost has gone from $2.7 billion to $3.4 billion...So that's even outpacing inflation. I don't think it's real. I think it's wasting everybody's time."
The proposal calls for transforming the former municipal airport into a mixed-use waterfront community featuring residential development, entertainment, retail, restaurants and a luxury motorsports attraction.
Suleiman questioned whether the project will ever secure the financing necessary to move forward.
"My frustration is another five years without action on Bader Field," he said, suggesting the city should instead consider temporary uses for the property while awaiting a viable long-term redevelopment plan. Among the ideas he mentioned were youth sports fields and concert venues.
"I don't think a bunch of rich people driving around in Lamborghinis on the racetrack with luxury housing is the answer," he added.
Host Scott Cronick challenged Suleiman's position, arguing that despite frustrations over delays, no competing redevelopment proposals have emerged that are capable of addressing one of the property's biggest obstacles: raising the flood-prone site several feet before construction can begin.
"My question is, where are the other suitors for Bader Field?" Cronick asked. "Frankly, there are none because no one wants to spend the money that's going to take to raise that field two to three feet to get it away from floodwaters and rising tides."
Cronick argued that even if the DEEM project were never fully completed, requiring the developer to elevate the site before construction would leave Atlantic City with a significantly improved property for future development.
"If the project stalled in any of the phases, Atlantic City is still better off because they now have land that's two to three feet higher so that other developers can come in and do what needs to be done there," Cronick said.
Suleiman agreed that any sale of the property should include safeguards to protect taxpayers if a project fails to move forward.
"I think we both agree that if we're going to sell this piece of property... we need a reverter clause," he said. "If a developer stalls or sits on it or just speculates on it, you get the land back."
Still, he maintained that Atlantic City should begin planning for alternatives if the current proposal cannot secure financing.
"If we realize DEEM is not going to get the financing, it's not going to work out, well, we just wasted five years and we could have put something else in motion over that time," Suleiman said. "You may not see the fruits of the Bader Field thing for 10 years from now, but you've got to start now."
Suleiman said what concerns him most is the lack of a long-term vision for Atlantic County's economic future.
"Who's thinking about where Atlantic County is going to be in 20 years?" he asked. "I don't hear people talking about that. And that's what frustrates the hell out of me."
While Suleiman and Cronick disagreed on the merits of the DEEM proposal, both acknowledged that the long-vacant property remains one of Atlantic City's most important redevelopment opportunities and expressed frustration over the lack of visible progress after years of discussion.
