Rocco Sebastiani’s vision is reflected in the artist renderings of what the shuttered Ocean Club building on Pacific Avenue will look like as a brand new “condo-tel” after undergoing renovation over the next two years. Sebastiani serves as the president of Colosseo Ocean City Inc., the development company that owns the former hotel and casino in the Chelsea neighborhood. He plans to open the new “condo-tel” in 2025.
“The renderings are my own design,” Sebastiani said. “I spent hours drawing them myself. I dedicated a lot of time to figuring out how to make the property look beautiful and how to preserve some of the original Golden Nugget appearance.”
The renderings, which were shared with PlayNJ by Sebastiani, provide a first glimpse into the outdoor and interior renovations planned for the former Atlantic Club hotel casino, which closed in 2014.
Certain details to obtain Atlantic Nightclub North and even South Structure plans
Renderings show the 23-story South Tower, with six condos per floor ranging in size from 1,700 square feet to 3,000 square feet. The North Tower will be a 330-room luxury boutique hotel.
“So the project will be classified as a condo-tel, with condos on one side and a hotel on the other side,” Sebastiani said. “It’s going to take us two years to open.”
However, he is not revealing the name of the person he is working with as he wants to keep the brand a surprise.
Sebastiani plans to have private elevators to take residents up to the 120 condos in the South Tower.
“There will be 360-degree breathtaking views from every point in the condo. You will be able to see Ocean City and both ends of the city, east and west, north and south, with stunning panoramic vistas,” he said.
Sebastiani noted that each condo will have floor-to-ceiling glass doors, offering views of the ocean and city. The condos will also feature balconies with Juliette doors and glass patio railings.
“When you open your doors, there’s a glass railing 47 inches tall,” Sebastiani said, noting that they opted not to build actual balconies to sit on. “This way, you don’t see people storing chairs and putting things on balconies.”
Sebastiani envisions the entire South Tower, from the 3rd floor to the 23rd floor, having identical units.
“We designed it so all the plumbing would line up. There will be full washers and dryers, plenty of amenities, and lots of space,” he said.
Sebastiani has quite a few amenities at heart
One thing the Atlantic Club is not going to be is the tenth Atlantic City casino floor. It’s one of several former AC casinos with an action restriction that prevents the property from offering slots and table games.
However, Sebastiani is considering other amenities including:
- Theater
- Golf simulator
- Fitness center
- Yoga
- Wine cellars (if condo owners choose to have one)
Sebastiani’s plans also include a “secure and cool” mailroom, one for food deliveries and another for receiving packages.
“People get food delivered all the time and we want to have that space available,” he said.
And condo owners will be able to control most functions from their smartphone, he added.
“Everything is on your iPhone. You can turn on the heat, the air conditioning, or your lights before you get home,” Sebastiani said.
He also mentioned that there will be heavy security. The condos tower and hotel will have separate entrances.
Giving typically the Atlantic Nightclub an Ocean City ‘ showplace’ photo
The exterior of the building will be transformed into a showplace with glass doors from Pacific Avenue to the roof.
“I wanted to take full advantage of all the great views, the redevelopment, and the new developments in Chelsea like Stockton University,” he said.
Sebastiani obtained a construction permit from the city in September 2022 to begin recladding the building.
Looking back at Atlantic City history, it’s the former site of the original Golden Nugget Casino Hotel (owned by Steve Wynn), Bally’s Grand, The Grand, and Atlantic City Hilton.
“We’ve had a really good working relationship with Atlantic City,” Sebastiani said. “As a result, I’ve had a lot of people reaching out to see what support I need.”
Why recladding exterior is usually a priority
Recladding refers to upgrading the exterior facade metal cladding, which is necessary when the current cladding is deemed hazardous or begins to deteriorate.
The recladding will ensure that there is no water leaking into the building, Sebastiani said.
“By removing the façade, it will provide the building envelope with a new water-tight system. No more mold, everything will be up to 2023 standards, including lighting, safety, and fire suppression,” Sebastiani said.
The recladding will begin once bids for the project are received, he said.
Sebastiani notes that once the façade is recladded, they can start working on the condominiums.
The exterior design shows glass metal cladding on all sides of the building, from the street to the roof.
“Windows are incorporated into the building’s former casino area, which had no windows,” he said. “We want to open it up and allow people to look out and others to see inside,” Sebastiani said. “It will be recladded with modern glass throughout the entire podium and public areas.”
Think about Atlantic Club’ s consumer areas?
Public areas at street level will feature modern glass, providing a new look throughout the entire podium and public areas.
Sebastiani expects the work to begin once recladding materials are secured.
“Supply times are a bit slow at the moment,” he said. “We’re trying to get our hands on the materials, and we’re working with national vendors to see who can assemble it.”
Other ideas for the public areas include:
- Restaurants
- Food and beverage areas
- Spa
- Event facilities for hotel guests
Additionally, the roof will feature waterfalls, fountains, an outdoor pool, and a food and beverage section.
On the beachfront, Sebastiani is planning cabanas and beach chairs with food and beverage service.
Subsequent steps in making Atlantic Nightclub vision an actuality
Sebastiani mentioned that once the façade is cladded, then work can begin on the condos.
Sebastiani, who is a glazier specializing in installing different window products, is excited about the recladding process.
“Once the glass comes in, I’ll be there doing some of the work,” he said.
“We can reclad the building and make it brand new and offer the condos at reasonable prices,” he said.
Sebastiani’s research has shown that since the Covid-19 pandemic, families from cities like Philadelphia, Washington, D.C., and Baltimore have been looking for larger spaces near the Atlantic Ocean.
“Since Covid, people have been looking for large spaces to accommodate their families coming down to the shore, with their son-in-law, daughter-in-law, kids, and grandkids,” Sebastiani said. “But there are no big places in the area. There hasn’t been anything built new in 15 years.”
Sebastiani also plans to involve local interior designers to review the property drawings and get their input on style and décor.
The project will also create jobs for the people of Atlantic City, Sebastiani said.
“We will need a lot of interior designers and people in the trades,” he said.
Sebastiani draws creativity from Southern region Florida
Consumer areas will be designed with a contemporary theme that includes “ultra-high-tech modern LED lighting, reminiscent of what you would see in Lebanon or South Florida,” he said.
Sebastiani chose to reclad the building in glass to mimic the architectural style commonly found in Florida.
“I grew up in Miami, and many of the designs in Florida are focused on connecting with the ocean because it’s too beautiful not to,” he said. “Growing up in Florida gave me inspiration to be able to enjoy the outdoors. If you come here to go to the beach, why come here and not be able to look out the window?
“We want people to see a full 360 degrees of Atlantic City. Everything will be brand new. This is truly my vision of what I wanted.”
Stephanie Loder is a freelance writer. She has worked as a breaking news reporter, copyeditor, and Public Editor for Gannett/USAToday in New Jersey and North Carolina.
