For a few years, Donald Trump has been foiled in his attempts to open a high-end restaurant at the main boardwalk at Jones Beach. The old restaurant, a beautiful 1930s era building constructed when Robert Moses designed the beach, was demolished, and in its place nothing but four construction site walls and a sign proclaiming “TRUMP ON THE OCEAN” has stood since 2007.
Apparently, Trump wanted to avoid paying taxes to the town of Wantagh, to which Jones Beach State Park belongs, and encountered much red tape while attempting to do so. He also wanted the eatery to include a basement, unaware of various rules of geology and physics which make it impossible to dig down more than ten or so feet when on a floodplain, especially one at a beach- the water table is too high, and every time the tide rises, his chic restaurant would be underwater.
Upset that the laws of nature would not allow him special privileges, Trump seemed to have hit the proverbial wall. The Trump sign was gone for a few months.
Recently, however, to the chagrin of many residents who would rather not have the Don in their neighborhood, the sign is back. There are two, in fact- one now graces the Field 6 parking lot, its promise of “Parking for TRUMP ON THE OCEAN” leading unsuspecting beach goers to a restaurant that does not yet exist.
The website (http://www.trumpontheocean.com/home.html) would have you believe the place is up and running, what with all the pictures of Miss America drinking Bellinis on the shore, but there has been little if any actual construction, although the site says that they anticipate a Summer 2010 opening.
I would like to investigate the history of the situation, the circumstances behind the possibility of this restaurant being constructed, the effect on the community and Jones Beach, and the reactions of residents to the restaurant.
Rachel Vincent
I for one would welcome a quick resolution to the problems that are keeping my wife and I from enjoying our frequent walks at Jones beach.
We sorely miss the old restaurant and enjoying the amenities that were part of the quality of life we have come to treasure in our retirement. We are in our 80’s and hope to see that damn eyesore of a fence removed and replaced with what Trump promised us.
I don’t know who is at fault, but we are the ones who are suffering the consequences of this ongoing stalemate
Our patience is running out.
Dr. Stanley Hobish