Mayor Marty Small Sees Wave of Private Investment Reshaping Atlantic City's Future

ATLANTIC CITY — Atlantic City is on the verge of a new era of private investment, with several major residential and mixed-use developments poised to reshape the city's skyline and economy, Mayor Marty Small said during a wide-ranging interview Friday.

Appearing on WOND's Off The Press with Scott Cronick, Small pointed to Wednesday's groundbreaking for K. Hovnanian's waterfront residential development at New Hampshire and Pacific avenues as one of the most significant milestones in the city's ongoing redevelopment.

"This Wednesday is going to be huge," Small said. "The K. Hovnanian groundbreaking is finally here."

The mayor said the project represents more than just another construction site. He believes it demonstrates growing confidence among private developers who are increasingly choosing Atlantic City as a place to invest.

"It's another sign that people are believing in Atlantic City," Small said. "Everybody is going to be in Atlantic City. The people that slept are going to be very, very, very sorry that they didn't."

According to Small, the K. Hovnanian project won't be the last major investment announced this year. He said another large residential development by Trax Partners near Ocean Casino Resort is expected to break ground within the coming weeks, further adding to the city's redevelopment momentum.

The mayor said those projects reflect years of work to convince developers that Atlantic City is once again a place worth investing in.

A Vision Beyond Casinos

While casinos remain Atlantic City's economic foundation, Small said the city's future depends on creating a vibrant community where people choose to live as well as visit.

He said that means encouraging more residential development throughout the city, particularly along the Boardwalk.

"We should have high-rise condominiums up and down the Boardwalk," Small said. "People want to live in Atlantic City."

Small said increased residential development would help diversify the local economy while creating additional year-round activity for restaurants, retailers and other businesses.

Planning for Long-Term Growth

During the interview, host Scott Cronick suggested Atlantic City could benefit from a more unified long-term development strategy to ensure new projects complement one another and create a more cohesive look throughout the city. He referenced the new Tennessee Avenue Container Park as an example of a project that could have been better integrated into its surroundings.

Small agreed that coordination is important and said city officials have been working toward a more collaborative planning process.

"I've always believed it needed to be one band, one sound," Small said, referring to cooperation among city government, the Casino Reinvestment Development Authority and private developers.

The mayor said Atlantic City has strengthened its planning efforts by relying on experienced professionals within city government while also consulting with experts who played key roles in the redevelopment of Asbury Park.

"We have planners. We have people who know what they're doing," Small said, adding that collaboration between agencies has improved significantly in recent years.

Looking Ahead

Small said Atlantic City's momentum is becoming increasingly difficult to ignore as more private developers commit to projects throughout the city.

While acknowledging that redevelopment takes time, he expressed confidence that residents will continue to see cranes, construction crews and new investment across Atlantic City in the months and years ahead.

"We're just getting started," Small said, describing the current pace of development as the beginning of what he believes will be Atlantic City's next chapter.

South Jersey NewsBeat will be at Wednesday's K. Hovnanian groundbreaking and will provide continuing coverage of the project, along with updates on other major development initiatives planned throughout Atlantic City.