Jessica Norton 
The Asbury Park Carousel building, a beloved fixture on the city’s boardwalk, and the area surrounding it have been closed to the public after inspectors labeled it as an “unsafe structure,” prompting concerns over its immediate safety and long-term future. The historic pavilion now faces uncertainty amid rumors that developer Madison Marquette may consider demolition of the property. Community members and preservation advocates have expressed alarm at the potential loss of a landmark that has been part of Asbury Park’s identity for decades. Read on to learn more about the closure of the Asbury Park carousel building.
What’s Happening
On January 19th, 2026 The Jersey Shore Girl team noticed that the walkaround that connects the Ocean Grove and Asbury Park boardwalks, around the Casino and Carousel building, was closed. A few days later, on Friday, January 22nd, 2026, an “unsafe structure” notice was applied to the windows of the Asbury Park Carousel building at 700 Ocean Avenue in Asbury.
The notice does not specify the reason, but that it is “unsafe for human occupancy” and that “no individual is to occupy this building until the structure is rendered safe and secure.” An “unsafe structure” notice on a building is a formal warning from local building or code enforcement authority that the building is considered unsafe to occupy. It usually means there are serious structural, fire, or health hazards that could put people at risk if they enter. What happens next to a property deemed “unsafe” depends on the severity of the issues and the owner’s response.
According to the most recent property tax records for 700 Ocean Avenue — the address of the historic Carousel Building — the owner is listed as MADISON ASBURY RETAIL, LLC, which is associated with Madison Marquette’s Asbury Park boardwalk redevelopment holdings, a major waterfront developer involved with properties on the Asbury Park Boardwalk, including Convention Hall, Paramount Theatre, and related amenities. Madison Marquette is responsible for all of the retail redevelopment activity along the boardwalk, south of Sunset Pavilion (across from Berkeley Oceanfront Hotel).
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While the City of Asbury Park maintains control and responsibility for the beach and actual boardwalk, Madison Marquette leads the redevelopment effort on Convention Hall, the Casino building, Carousel, and the individual retail pavilions located at 1st, 3rd, 4th, and 5th Avenues. Madison Marquette also has rights to construct a new pavilion at 2nd Avenue, across the street from the iconic Stone Pony.
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The Carousel Building’s future redevelopment is part of the larger Asbury Park boardwalk waterfront plan led by Madison Marquette and iStar Financial. At this time, no major redevelopment plan specifically for the Carousel Building has been formally submitted or approved with detailed architectural plans, uses, or construction permits listed publicly on the current Planning Board agendas or redevelopment plan amendments.
The Jersey Shore Girl team has contacted Madison Marquette for an official statement regarding the future of the carousel building, but has not yet received a response.
Historical Site
Palace Amusements, a landmark on the Asbury Park Boardwalk, was added to the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) in 2004, and the listing encompassed the Casino and Carousel buildings with it. Despite this recognition, the Palace Amusements complex was demolished that same year for redevelopment and was removed from the NRHP. Although the Casino and Carousel buildings remained standing, they did not retain the NRHP status.
Being listed on the National Register is largely honorary, as it recognizes a property’s historical, architectural, or cultural significance, but it does not automatically protect it from demolition or major changes. The designation can make a property eligible for federal preservation grants and tax incentives, and federal agencies must consider potential impacts on the property if a federally funded or permitted project is involved. However, private owners are still free to sell, alter, or even demolish a listed property.
Whether the Asbury Park Casino and Carousel buildings are protected from demolition depends more on local or state historic preservation laws than on their National Register status. These buildings are listed on the New Jersey Register of Historic Places and are in the State Historic Preservation Office inventory for Monmouth County (SHPO ID #1951), which means the state recognizes them as historically significant. However, this listing doesn’t automatically prevent changes or demolition at the local level. It does mean that if a project uses state or federal funds or requires certain permits, the Historic Preservation Office must review it first.
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Local advocacy groups have discussed the need for such an ordinance to protect historic structures like the Casino and others, but it has not yet been adopted. There is a City Council meeting on Wednesday, January 28th at Asbury Park City Hall at 6PM to discuss.
City Council Update
At the City Council meeting on January 28th, the city confirmed the developer’s plan to demolish the building. The city also confirmed that it had issued several default notices to the developer, to no avail. The city also confirmed that the Carousel Building and Breezeway are eligible for historic designation, but are not listed. However, the Convention Hall complex does have a historic designation, and the New Jersey State Historic Preservation Office has an easement on the building. The City has reached out to the NJSHPO to discuss options.
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