Simultaneously, Asbury Partners has tapped Cushman &Wakefield as exclusive leasing agent for the retail portion ofOceanfront Asbury, which is expected to encompass a mix ofconvenience stores, general merchandisers and restaurants. Headingthe effort is Susan Kurland, executive director and senior-mostretail broker in C&W's New York office. The team also includessenior directors Tom Glerum of the East Rutherford, NJ office andJoanne Podell of the New York office.

"We consider this the 'center of the universe' along the Jerseyshore," Kurland says. "We anticipate music venues, restaurants andleisure activities. Our selection and targeting of specificretailers will be conducted with the objective of creating ayear-round destination."

The newly acquired structures run parallel to Asbury Park'sboardwalk, and Asbury Partners has already started cleaning up thesites. The firm, which is a joint venture of OceanfrontAcquisitions of Lakewood, NJ and New York-based M.D. Sass Partners,has also agreed to buy several other city-owned properties over thenext year. Among them are Convention Hall, the Paramount theaterand the Asbury Park Casino.