Demolition began November 29th on Convention Hall and the Solarium, making way for a new $10.5 million hall slated for opening spring of 2012.
The first Convention Hall opened July 4th, 1917 and was a precursor to the multiplex – it had an arcade, retail stores fronting it and a movie theater along the east wing. The two-story $100,000 structure was the center of all activity in Cape May from dances to flower shows to concerts to the crowning of the Queen Maysea in August – a ticket so coveted it drew lines in front of Convention Hall. Those heady days came to an end one Ash Wednesday in 1962 when a massive Nor’easter swept through the island destroying Convention Hall. That led to the construction of a “new” Convention Hall built by city workers for a cost of $250,000 as a temporary measure until a “proper” Convention Hall could be built. That temporary building finally faced the wrecking ball Monday. The new hall will come with a price tag of $10.5 million and has faced two long years of controversy since it was condemned in the spring of 2008, forcing two voter referendums regarding the cost and multiple town meets regarding the amenities and construction design.
Demolition of the Solarium
Demolition of Convention Hall as well as the adjacent Solarium will be take place over the course of the next three to four weeks according to City Manager Bruce MacLeod. The next steps in the process, he said, were to award the bid for pile installation needed to support the building. Those are due in mid-December and the city has 60 days to award the contract. Work on the pile-driving project should begin sometime in February or March. Simultaneously, said MacLeod, the city is also awaiting N.J. Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Coastal Area Facilities Review Act (CAFRA) approvals on, what he termed, “minor modifications” to the earlier permit. The application was sent last week and the city expects to hear from the state regarding their request by mid-January. The hope is that both the pile driving contractor and the CAFRA permits will be in place by March so that preliminary work can begin on time. MacLeod said he did not anticipate any delays with regard to the CAFRA permit.
Also in January and February, the city will let out to bid specs on the actual construction project targeted to begin in May, 2011. Once construction begins, it will be continuous. Tourists can look forward to a summer of watching it progress and store owners along that portion of the Promenade can hope that between the construction workers and the curious tourists, they can begin to recoup their losses from a closed Convention Hall these past few years.
Conceptual drawings for the new Convention Hall (PDF)
Demolition Gallery
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History of Convention Hall
Editor’s Note: The following are remembrances of Convention Hall, both one and two. Bob Elwell (“Growing up on The Pier”), who served as mayor three times from 1990 to 2000, grew up in Cape May and spent many hours on the Boardwalk at Convention Hall. Frank Gauvry (Remembering the “new” Convention Hall”), oversaw construction of the second Convention Hall while he served as mayor from 1964-1972.
PLEASE SPEND THE MONIES TO RE-CREATE THE BEAUTY OF HISTORY AND BUILD REPLICAS OF THE OLDER BUILDINGS SO THAT THE NOSTALGIA CAN STAY ALIVE. THAT'S WHAT MAKES CAPE MAY SO SPECIAL IS ITS UNIQUE, ONE OF A KIND BUILDINGS NOT THE MODERN, COLD ONES BEING CREATED TODAY. KEEP THE CITY AND ITS SURROUNDS BEAUTIFUL AND CONTINUE TO KEEP ITS HISTORY ALIVE FOR CENTURIES TO COME !!!!
I agree! I can remember the old Convention Hall from when I was a child in the early 60's. I remember there was a popcorn place inside the arch! And I remember dancing with other children on the wooden floor. It would be so wonderful to see it again! The rest of Cape May prides itself on remaining true to its history. Shouldn't the new Convention Hall do the same?
YES!!! Carolyn is correct…though unfortunately it does take money. BUT there are thing all residents can do that only takes your time and energy. I go out every saturday/sunday and select an area of roadway here in Durham NC…and clean up the trash on the road side. last weekend when it hit 60’s here…i collected over 600 miller 24 oz beer cans…from Duke University football games. For two years nobody has done anything about it. It got me mad when i would ride my bike along this greenway/corporate area..so i took it on myself to do it. THING POBAMAS MESSAGE FOR USA.ORG…GIVE BACK TO YOUR COMMUNITY AND YOUR COUNTRY.Its now a 1mile greenway and i have gotten many compliments and thank yous…even a God Bless You sir! That itself made me feel good and satisfied that “I” could make a difference. I don’t have the money like many who work in the corporate/univeristy buildings on Croasdale Drive, but my effort made ME feel enriched. i wish my earlier comments were posted but this website had its problems. I did submit 3 comments on here and sent them to the main/editors email…so lets see if they will post it…so far they haven’t. But I just sent my 4th one a few minutes ago and it did take…so please read it….because its VISION and HARD WORK that will take Cape May into the future while preserving its the past. Finally it disturbs me that BEACH THEATRE is being torn down…and they want to put 6 condos above the stores. WOULD YOU PLEASE POST A PICTURE OF WHAT THEY HAVE PROPOSED…I’VE SEEN NOTHING YET. Also…YES the theatre was built in 1950…THE HEYDAY OF MOVIEMAKING…I watched so many movies there as a kid…it was an awesome theatre. I don’t understand why it can’t be properly preserved and utilized as a theatre and playhouse…remember the old Cape May Playhouse where that monstrocity of a building is now. The Atlas and the addition to the old Golden Eagle ARE the things that should be torn down. Victorian Towers is also another BIG mistake. I’m not against the developmet, but how things like this get thru and built. Victorian Towers could have been an archetectural wonder…but itl looks cheap and depressing…like public housing!
I buried a treasure under the Hall earlier this year. Has anyone reported finding a treasure there yet?
Read "Growing Up on the Pier" it's an interesting story. I love hearing the history of Cape May and I love envisioning what it was like living and vacationing there at that time. The current hall being demolished wasn't that much to look at inside or out (except for the mural in the back) but the previous convention hall before its destruction in '62 was beautiful. I can’t believe they didn’t rebuild something similar then or now and the pier would be awesome too. It certainly seems to be one of those things where the past was definitely better. I’m afraid the new center is not going to do justice to the “atmosphere” of Cape May.
Opps, sorry for the double entry that nasty work gets in the way and interrupts me.
The Bunny Hop, roller skating, dance-a-thon the summer Tony Oreo was my boyfriend, Janice Holst Dance recitals, a concussion falling off the stage performing the "Grumpsicle", jumping off the "backyard', watching "burgers" surf, reading a book in a nook sitting in the sun during the fall and winter with Marie or Robin or Jodie, Rudy, The Cape May Diamonds playing outside, my first kiss underneath, smoking a doobie, early morning summer dance workshops with the sound of the water outside while twirling and spinning or just quietly stretching…the list and memories go on…
Can anyone direct me to a site where renderings of the new building are posted? I would love to see what is planned for the replacement of the old convention center. Thanks.
The City of Cape May has conceptual drawings on their website here: http://www.capemaycity.com/Documents/ConventionHa…
Just looked at the drawings. Thanks Bernie. Wow, could it look any less Victorian? The windows are nice but what's with the big block Lego design?
Breaks my heart….just saw the drawings….nice but just not the same.
Why isn’t my comment posted that i sent to this site and to the editor? I thought it was thoughtful and well suggested. Please have it posted. In the meantime key words/places i mentioned for the citizens of Cape May to consider with the direction of the town to the future: NATIONAL HARBOR in DC, DISNEY WORLD, REHOBOTH BEACH, OCRACOKE ISLAND, NC..KEY WEST…Tearing down the entire 3-block section of the boardwalk and rebuilding it to a higher standard…SHUTTLE PARKING OUTSIDE CAPE MAY, PARKING PERMITS REQUIRED IN TOWN…TEAR DOWN ACME SHOPPING CENTER AND REBUILD IT, GOING 2-3 STORIES UNDERGROUNDfor parking/stores (like World Trade Center or all NEW DC buildings) utilizing MAXIMUM space, above could be for a level/mall, OR HOW BOUT A VICTORIAN PARK!!! CAPE MAY HARBOR…like National Harbor-see their website- if built on OCEAN DRIVE side…WOW! Remember…people will come if they build it or offer something WORTH IT: consider REHOBOTH BEACH…OCRACOKE ISLAND…KEY WEST…SHANGHAI CHINA… Purpose and vision. Also, one thing Reho Beach has going for it…MAJOR retail stores…only 1-2-3 blocks from their boardwalk. Cape May has…NONE. Ask why. Its more year-round than Rehoboth…whats the reason? MONEY…a more affluent tourist. Cape May survives on ice cream cones, fudge, t-shirt, ugh…tacky trinkets. Yuck! Good luck CM…i offer this at no charge…advice is cheap and you dont have to do it.
JD – I think most people here would agree that the main reason they enjoy Cape May so much is because of it’s old world charm! I would rather visit a small historical artistic and foodie town than go to some major commercial outlet like Disney World (who already has a Cape May Cafe btw). I have plenty of retail chains at home, why would I travel to Cape May for something I already have? Apparently you haven’t checked CM’s calendar lately as it has events going on 10 out of 12 months per year. While it’s time for the City to have a new Convention Hall, I am hoping that the finished product has more of a victorian feel than the architect’s renderings offer.