"Official Records and Vital Statistics Prove that People Live Longer in Asbury Park," the same Chamber of Commerce flyer fearlessly proclaimed, calling us the "The Ideal Spot in the Garden of the Gods." And, if that didn't sell you, maybe the Hotel Association's more practical approach would: "There are no mosquitoes in Asbury Park," their 1926 lodging guide swore.

OK, so maybe there was some illegal gambling and drinking going on, compounded by a reputedly crooked mayor and police chief, several houses of ill repute, and an extremely active KKK, but visitors looking for such distractions could doubtless find them unaided.

Still, I doubt that even those inventive chamber copywriters could have glamorized Asbury Park's boardwalk at the start of the 21st century.

Which is why this Friday is so important: As you probably know, Asbury Partners only partially met the City Council's January 18 deadline to present a concept plan, budget and timeline for redeveloping the boardwalk buildings.

Rather than listen to an incomplete presentation, the council set a 9 a.m. executive session for January 27 to discuss the city's legal options with regard to the boardwalk. They also gave Asbury Partners a second chance to present their plan at a 10:30 public work session that day -- a deadline that Chief Operating Officer Larry Fishman told me they will definitely meet.

With active negotiations finally re-opened on the boardwalk buildings, I believe there are two commitments the council must immediately win from Asbury Partners -- and one they definitely shouldn't rush:

1. Hire an accomplished redevelopment manager. In spring 2004, the mayor, city manager, redevelopment attorney and I met in New York with the heads of Asbury Partners and their financial backers, M.D. Sass.

M.D. Sass President Hugh Lamle promised us that by fall 2004, they would hire an accomplished redevelopment manager -- equal in authority to Larry Fishman -- to coordinate the technical end of the billion-dollar project, since Asbury Partners and M.D. Sass lack that expertise.

With $20 million worth of Phase 1 infrastructure work already in full swing and detailed boardwalk planning about to begin, that promise remains unfulfilled.

Not to fill that spot is patently stupid -- particularly when you look at the money and effort poured into such relatively minor items as designing historically accurate windows for Convention Hall (a project that's bumped along for almost three years -- how long will it take for the rest of the building?) or constructing simple covers for the Palace Amusements icons. (And, no, that last dispute is not resolved, so hang on to your "Beverly Hillbillies" sing-along kazoos...)

As those of us who have served on the city's beachfront subcommittee can testify, lack of a seasoned redevelopment manager has been supremely frustrating -- to the city, to our subdevelopers, and even to Asbury Partners' own professionals -- and it has certainly hurt Asbury Partners' bottom line. So, please: Hire someone with an outstanding track record -- and heed his or her advice.

2. Concentrate first on our historically significant buildings. It may be too early to answer in-depth questions about the proper retail and entertainment mix for our boardwalk, but the Redeveloper's Agreement clearly spells out Asbury Partners' obligation to historically restore Convention Hall, the Paramount Theatre, the south-end heating plant, the Howard Johnson's Restaurant, and the Casino arcade and carousel house.

The council and Asbury Partners must establish firm deadlines to submit construction plans for all these buildings to the state Historic Preservation Office (SHPO), with intermediate deadlines to prevent slippages. And both groups should schedule regular joint meetings with SHPO and the N.J. Department of Environmental Protection to prevent last-minute surprises.

And please post these deadlines on the city web site, along with whatever disclaimers you need to discourage the crowd-that-loves-to-sue, so all of us can track your progress.

As I described in earlier columns, Asbury Partners can legally delay its boardwalk commitment until all remaining legal challenges are resolved. However, that tactic makes little sense at this point -- particularly since we are so close to resolving the final boardwalk appeals. (And, yes, city Redevelopment Attorney Jim Aaron deserves considerable credit in this regard.)

After all, every time a copper seahorse dies, Asbury Partners' restoration bill only increases.

3. Take your time developing a comprehensive boardwalk plan. As SOSH Architects skillfully demonstrated in their 2003 plan (and I urge every council member to review their conceptual video), designing a memorable boardwalk involves much more than running a few unrelated building designs past the Planning Board. (And that's definitely what the city's seen since.)

There's decorative lighting to consider; fun and imaginative gazebo designs; creative options for railings, streetscapes, signage and other amenities; and ways to integrate current icons (like those flying copper seahorses) into even the most modern pavilions.

And, yes, it will take an imaginative, unified hand. And, yes, the final results (if we're serious about recreating Asbury Park's legendary magic) will be much more expensive and time-consuming than throwing together a Route 35 strip mall -- which is what some of the more recent designs have resembled.

This is where the council needs to show real wisdom and restraint: ensuring that the overall boardwalk design is done thoughtfully, at the right time, and with sufficient planning and input. Because, barring a hurricane or other disaster, that boardwalk will serve our residents, visitors and business community for a long, long time.

So, get the right people involved -- including the experts on our Technical Review Board and our friends at Metropolis Magazine. And don't sacrifice the long view for short-term political glitz. The wait will be worth it -- particularly if you demonstrate progress on our historic structures.

So here's hoping that Friday's meeting will bump an already successful venture up to the next level -- and will let the council and city professionals concentrate on equally burning issues, like the West Side, crime, a senior center, and more.

As those 1925 chamber writers promised, "[Asbury Park] is the model small city of dreams -- the very sort of place in which every one desires to live.... COME! And then you'll be happy."

That's the Asbury Park I'm looking for.