In January, the plan at Atlantic and Washington Avenues was a modest one. Down Beach News reported a one-story, $3.5 million interpretive center beside Lucy. Groundbreaking was set for April and completion by Memorial Day 2027.
The October plan is bigger and slower. On Oct. 22, the New Jersey Economic Development Authority board approved up to $5.4 million in tax credits. That money covers Lucy's interior, a redesigned Josephine L. Harron Park and the new building. Groundbreaking is now targeted for April 2027, and the ribbon-cutting for mid-2028. What looked like a delay is really a bigger project. The corner Margate walks past every day will be rebuilt as a whole, and this winter is the last full off-season before that work starts.
The January Plan and the October Plan
The two versions line up like this:
| January 2026 plan | October 2026 plan | |
|---|---|---|
| What's being built | One-story interpretive center | Visitor and interpretive center, Lucy's interior restoration, redesigned park |
| Dollar figure | $3.5 million center, with Margate pledging up to $1.5 million | Up to $5.4 million in state tax credits |
| Groundbreaking | April 2026 | Targeted for April 2027 |
| Finish | Memorial Day 2027 | Mid-2028, after 12 to 16 months of construction |
The NJEDA board book caps the award at $5,401,875 through the authority's Cultural Arts Facilities Expansion Program, known as CAFE. The two dollar figures cover different things, so the second one doesn't simply replace the first. The January number paid for a building. The October number pays for the building, the elephant's interior and the ground between them.
Where the Extra Money Goes
Most of the added scope is inside Lucy. In its October 30 announcement, NJEDA said the project completes a five-year preservation plan and lists the interior work:
- Patching and refinishing water-damaged plaster
- Repairing moisture-damaged wood
- Replacing the heating, ventilation and air conditioning system
- Improving insulation, ventilation, ductwork, drains and fire suppression
Richard Helfant, Lucy's executive director and CEO, told NJBIZ that years of water damage have stained the interior, and that the work inside is just as needed as the work outside.
The rest of the money goes to the ground around her. NJEDA's release lists new landscaping, lighting, fencing and at-grade walkways so visitors can move around Lucy and the new building more easily. According to Shore Local News, the plan also includes a half-block replica of Margate's historic boardwalk. It would run along the bulkhead in front of Lucy and serve as the entrance to the new building. Helfant has asked Tom Sykes of WATG/SOSH Architects to start on construction documents.
The building itself stays small on purpose. Down Beach News reported that the design was cut back to one story so it would not be bigger than Lucy. Helfant described what goes inside to NJBIZ:
"The new building will house a larger gift shop, ADA-compliant restrooms and an Interpretive Center so that people who can't climb Lucy stairs will be able to do tours virtually."
That last part matters for anyone who has brought a grandparent, a stroller or a bad knee to the base of those spiral stairs. Margate Mayor Michael Collins made the same point in NJEDA's release, saying the ADA-compliant center "will provide an opportunity for all to experience our beloved landmark."
Why the Calendar Slid a Year
The interior money had a rough 2025. Down Beach News reported that a $500,000 Congressionally Directed Spending award for Lucy's interior was lost in the federal DOGE cuts that year. The Save Lucy Committee then said it would apply for other grants to cover the interior.
CAFE was the grant that came through, and it took a long time. Shore Local News reported that the committee spent more than $125,000 over a 17-month application process. In his statement after the vote, Helfant called it "17 months of uncertainty and perseverance." An award that also funds the interior and the park needed full construction documents for all three. That's why the April groundbreaking now falls in 2027 instead of 2026.
One formal step followed the board vote. Helfant told NJBIZ on Oct. 29 that the last hurdle was the governor's window to veto the NJEDA board minutes, and that all approved actions take effect after it closes. Shore Local News added that NJEDA would then issue a formal approval letter with any conditions on the award. Lucy's board president, Jason Tell, said the approval lets the organization "move ahead with greater confidence," though more work remains.
The Corner as It Works This Winter
Until construction starts, the setup at Atlantic and Washington is a temporary one. Lucy hasn't moved, but her gift shop has. Per Lucy's events page, here's how a visit works right now:
- Tickets and souvenirs: at the temporary gift shop, 9219 Atlantic Avenue, on the corner of Atlantic and Washington Avenues
- Tours: guided tours leave every 45 minutes during open hours, and the last one starts 45 minutes before closing
- Admission: $9 for adults 19 and older, $8.50 for ages 13 to 18, $5 for ages 3 to 12, and free for children 2 and under and for military with valid ID. The grounds and the gift shop are free to visit.
- Parking: a few free short-term spaces on site, with a dashboard permit from Lucy's staff. Cars without one may be towed.
- The park: Josephine L. Harron Park stays open as much as possible, though some areas may close for safety once construction begins
Lucy posted new hours for November and will be closed on Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 26. Check the times on lucytheelephant.org before you go. Lucy's own visiting page says operating and tour times can change and asks anyone coming from a distance to call ahead.
The order of events gives Margate a clear window. Today's park, today's walkways and the current view from the bulkhead are what the redesign replaces, and none of it changes before the targeted April 2027 groundbreaking. If you've been meaning to bring visiting family through Lucy before the corner turns into a job site, this holiday season and the early spring after it are the time.
Thanksgiving Week on Ventnor Avenue
NJEDA CEO Evan Weiss argued the project would "increase foot traffic for local businesses." Some of those businesses already have ties to Lucy. Downbeach Deli and Restaurant was among the local sponsors of Lucy's 145th birthday party. On Nov. 1, Ramziz Yakubov became the owner of the deli at 8 S. Essex Ave. Shore Local News reported that his priority is keeping its menu, atmosphere and traditions while making improvements.
Two days after Thanksgiving, the Margate Business Association's Shop Small Extravaganza takes over Ventnor Avenue on Saturday, Nov. 28, from noon to 3 p.m. ASL Santa is due around 12:30 p.m., and there will be family activities, shopping promotions and a toy drive. If Lucy's hours line up that day, the temporary gift shop at 9219 Atlantic Avenue sells tour tickets for the same afternoon.
There's a real estate side to all of this, too. NJEDA's release notes that Lucy was built in 1881 partly to promote real estate sales and draw visitors.
Thinking about how Lucy's new corner fits your plans for Margate, whether that's a second home near the bulkhead or a sale on one of the nearby blocks? Alexander Huffard follows these Downbeach projects closely and can tell you what the 2027 to 2028 construction window means for your timing. Get your free home valuation and we'll go over it together.
