Wave Resort In Long Branch Expanding, Building A Second Hotel

LONG BRANCH, NJ — At their Wednesday night meeting, the Long Branch City Council unanimously allowed a redevelopment plan to move forward that will allow for the construction of a second Wave Resort hotel.

Wave hotel and spa resort is the large hotel/event space in the heart of Pier Village on the Long Branch oceanfront. The owner of Wave hotel/resort is PV Motel LLC, a subsidiary of major Long Branch developer Kushner Cos.

They now seek to build a second hotel across the street, plus a new second spa, pool area and amenities, said Long Branch Planning & Zoning Director Nicholas Graviano. This second hotel will be built in what has long been an empty lot directly across the street from the existing Wave resort.

This new second hotel will have 107 rooms, and it will be called Wave resort or something similar, said Graviano, but stressed that he was purely speculating and was not familiar with their specific business plans.

"I'm sure they wouldn't be expanding if they weren't making money," said Graviano.

They will not be granted any tax abatements (tax breaks) from the city of Long Branch, and they also agreed to build a public plaza, along the oceanfront, as part of an agreement with the city to approve their redevelopment plan. The plaza will include benches, tables, and spaces for the public to use while enjoying views of the beach, said the city of Long Branch.

The City Council approve the redevelopment plan Wednesday night, but the plan still has to be approved by the Long Branch Planning Board.

Long Branch Mayor John Pallone said he supports the Wave expansion because it will create 60 additional jobs once the second hotel, pool and spa opens. And he supports the construction of the new public oceanfront park.

"It was important to our administration to gain a new amenity for our residents as part of this redevelopment agreement," said Pallone. "Our goal here is for people who are coming off the beach or walking the boardwalk, to enjoy this public space to sit, eat or take a break from exercising ... right here on the oceanfront."

"Gaining public space on the oceanfront was important to us so we very pleased to see the plaza filled with tables and benches for the community at large to enjoy," said Council President Anita Voogt said.