PODCAST: CRDA’s Formica, Boardwalk Hall, Sheraton Low Income Housing Plan

Atlantic City’s development strategy under the microscope. Potential conversion of Sheraton Hotel into affordable housing sparking heated debate over city’s “optics”. Move could undermine AC Convention Center’s appeal. Boardwalk Hall needs better utilization as well.

Listen: CRDA board member Frank Formica. WOND Radio. April 22, 2026:

From state-level financing hurdles to a bold new vision for revitalizing Boardwalk Hall, the latest updates reveal a high-stakes tug-of-war over the city’s iconic landscape.

Critical discussion on the future of Atlantic City.

CRDA’s Frank Formica: Everybody senses the urgency that Atlantic City has to do something now. Possible challenges coming up with legislation on expanding gaming.

Another questionable use of Area in Need of Redevelopment?

WOND radio host: One of the things that disturbs me, Frank—the Convention Center hotel, the Sheraton. It’s being converted to low-income housing. A thorn in my side—you’re going to take our convention center’s hotel and make (portion of it) low-income housing is just the opposite of what should be happening in the city, in my opinion.

Frank Formica: The CRDA board was in a difficult position because the way it occurred was everything was sort of approved as a redevelopment area. And I know that there was support.

When you talk about the optics of Atlantic City, what are people are turned off by? A classy convention center hotel, and you’re going to put affordable senior housing there. It was appalling to me, but CRDA were sort of forced to just vote on the legality of the application. We still have options. Investors still have a way to go. Seemed like the wrong thing to do.

WOND radio host: This project is still going to happen Frank? Whether we like it or not?

Formica: No, I wouldn’t say that. It’s all dependent on some financing program that’s not guaranteed. So, no, that is not etched in stone yet. The CRDA, to its credit, through Eric Scheffler and the other board members and Mo Butler, do have a contingency plan to possibly rescue it from that use.

Entrance to Atlantic City. Get owner—Carl Icahn— put a welcome to Atlantic City sign on former Trump Plaza parking lot wall.

Formica: The CRDA had to take ownership of the Convention Center and Boardwalk Hall. When I think of an iconic building that is underutilized, I cannot think of one more than Boardwalk Hall. To have that so underutilized.

One of the CRDA board’s objectives is to get at least one production a month in Boardwalk Hall. CRDA just discussing it now. It doesn’t have legs yet, but it will. Most important to keep the Boardwalk alive, to get things moving in Atlantic City—just to use that hall.

Note:

CRDA Planning Director is Ventnor’s Lance Landgraf.

Ventnor’s Chris Brown (R) quietly attends CRDA meetings as liaison for NJ Gov Sherrill.

CRDA still blocks live ZOOM video of their meetings held at 2p each month.

What will improve Atlantic City? Light up the city. Make it brighter and safer. Crack down on crime. Relocate needle exchanges, social services and homeless. Hire more cops. Clean up Boardwalk. Lower mountainous dunes to allow views of AC’s top assets: the beach and ocean.

Key Discussion Points:

• Sheraton Hotel Conversion: Significant concern regarding proposal to convert portion of Sheraton (Convention Center hotel) into affordable senior housing.
• Financing Uncertainty: Conversion not yet finalized as it depends on financing programs that require approval from the state Economic Development Authority (EDA).
• CRDA Contingency Plan: The Casino Reinvestment Development Authority (CRDA) has contingency plan to potentially ‘rescue’ Sheraton Hotel from being converted to low-income housing.
• Boardwalk Hall Utilization: Major objective for the CRDA board is to increase use of Boardwalk Hall with goal of hosting at least one major production per month.