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Historic Register Nomination Moves To Federal Level A few months ago The Doo Wop Preservation League announced that the State of New Jersey approved the National Register Nomination for the Wildwoods and sent it on to the Federal government with enthusiastic support. That nomination is being reviewed and there is every reason to believe it will be approved in the near future. Subsequent to that nomination the Greater Wildwoods Tourism Alliance and the Greater Wildwoods Hotel Motel Association endorsed the nomination and made the formation of an historic hotel and motel district a priority for the coming year. The hotel-motel association shares a concern with local residents and business organizations that there is an overbuilding of condominiums that will change the character of the Wildwoods for the next generation. Demolition of historic hotels and motels is accelerating at a disturbing pace as town house condominiums replace the many fine lodging properties that support the boardwalk, restaurant and other tourism related businesses. The indiscriminate building of town house condominiums has even spread into some of the most attractive residential areas in the resort. While the historic designation will not restrict the use of private property or prevent demolition, it is hoped that the recognition of the many fine Wildwoods properties by the Federal government will cause owners to think twice before they demolish the many fine properties now being lost to the condominium overbuilding. The Wildwoods are getting an extraordinary amount of recognition and support right now. In the same month, Smithsonian magazine is featuring "Doo Wop by the Sea" and the Wildwoods are being considered for the National Register of Historic Places. The national recognition of the Wildwoods as architecturally and culturally important has been strong for a while. Now, it is getting even stronger. Regarding the Wildwoods, in a wonderful quotation, Smithsonian wrote, "When its all lit up at night, you feel like you're on vacation even if you're working." The State Review Board for Historic Sites (a New Jersey agency) has sent our "multiple property documentation form" on to the National Register of Historic Places in Washington for an informal review by the staff. There are three more steps that will end with the Wildwoods being added to the National Register of Historic Places. ˇ One, the Federal government will decide whether the multiple resource nomination for the Wildwoods is so important that they will make an exception to the usual rule that a property must be 50 years old to be nominated -- and will list the Wildwoods on the National Register of Historic Places. ˇ Two, the New Jersey State Historic Preservation Office will schedule reviews of two individual nominations (within the multiple resource nomination) for next September. ˇ Three, The NJ State Historic Preservation Office will consider a group of buildings for an historic district (also within the multiple resource nomination area). This is a great day for the Wildwoods. The state is recognizing Wildwood Doo Wop as a cultural treasure, and that the Federal government is considering it also. This is fantastic. Who would have thought that the whole country would know the Wildwoods for its spectacular architecture?" Élan Zingman-Leith This article was submitted by enthusiastic Doo Wop Preservation League board member Élan Zingman-Leith. Élan has worked on similar very successful projects including the exciting and extremely successful South Beach art deco renaissance in Miami, FL. |
