New Jersey coastal city clashes over proposal to transform amusement park into luxury hotel

New Jersey's Ocean City council approved rezoning a former amusement park, Gillian's Wonderland Pier, for potential redevelopment into a 252-room luxury hotel. The park, closed in 2024 due to financial struggles and storm damage, sparked mixed reactions, with some residents supporting the hotel's economic benefits and others criticizing it as a threat to the boardwalk's character. The next steps include drafting a redevelopment plan and public hearings.