Just when Atlantic City residents thought they were getting thousands of new homes and parks, the city has flipped the script—and not everyone’s thrilled.
A once-promising plan to revamp a long-abandoned airport with new housing has been axed.
What’s taking its place instead? A flashy, multi-billion dollar F1-style racetrack.
From Housing Dream to Racetrack Reality
Back in 2022, there was real excitement around redeveloping Bader Field, a closed airport that’s sat empty since 2006.
The idea was to breathe life into the 140-acre site with a massive residential community called Casa Mar, backed by developer Bart Blatstein.
His vision? 10,000 homes, 20 acres of parks and trails, and hundreds of thousands of square feet for retail and office space.
But that vision is officially dead. On July 16, city officials gave the green light to an entirely new project—one that swaps homes for horsepower.
A 2.5-mile racetrack will now be built on the same site, led by real estate firm DEEM Enterprises.
Officials Call It a “Game Changer”
Mayor Marty Small Sr. is backing the racetrack plan with full enthusiasm.
He’s dubbed the $3.4 billion project a total “game changer” for Atlantic City.
The city, known for its beaches, casinos, and bustling boardwalk, will now also be home to what’s being pitched as a high-octane tourist magnet.
Surrounding the racetrack will be shops, condos, and entertainment venues.
And although it’s expected to take six to nine years to complete, Mayor Small says he’s confident it will be worth the wait.
“We’re more confident than ever that we have the funds,” he said, stressing that DEEM has been thoroughly vetted.
A City Divided Over the Track
But while city leaders are applauding the project, locals are singing a very different tune—and not a happy one.
Many residents feel betrayed after believing the city was investing in homes, green space, and livability.
Now, they see the new plan as desperate and misguided.
“Atlantic City leadership is so desperate that they will support any development offer no matter how stupid it is,” one resident vented on Facebook.
Another chimed in: “Building that into a racetrack has to be the dumbest idea in the world.”
Noise and Congestion Concerns
Many are worried about what the racetrack will actually bring to the city—especially noise.
Atlantic City already draws big crowds for beach concerts and nightlife, and some fear that F1-style racing will push things over the edge.
“If people are bothered by the noise from beach concerts, the screaming race cars would be unbearable,” one local said.
Not Everyone Hates It
While the backlash is loud, it’s not universal.
Some residents have expressed excitement about the project online, saying things like “Hell yes” and “Do it!” Others are cheering for the project with heart emojis and thumbs-up reactions.
Still, the loudest group seems to be those who just don’t believe it’ll ever happen.
“They’ve been talking about it for years,” one person wrote. “Highly doubt it’ll ever happen.”
Another posted, “This is all BS. Every few years this story comes out.”
A $100 Million Deal in the Works
As part of the proposed deal, DEEM Enterprises is looking to buy the vacant airport site for $100 million.
In return, the company would donate $15 million toward building a long-awaited community center—something Mayor Small says the city badly needs.
“We don’t have a recreation center in our town,” he said.
“We use the schools and different things like that.”
Original Vision Focused on Growth
Developer Bart Blatstein originally pitched Casa Mar as a solution to Atlantic City’s stagnant population, pointing out that other nearby New Jersey beach towns have seen massive growth.
“What really is needed here is a new plan, a new way of living, a new opportunity for people to come to Atlantic City,” Blatstein said back in 2022.
But with the shift toward a racetrack, that vision has officially been sidelined—at least for now.
Locals Still Waiting for Answers
As of now, Mayor Small and DEEM Enterprises haven’t offered new comments in response to the public outcry.
While some residents are clinging to hope that the racetrack never materializes, others are bracing for what could be the city’s loudest transformation yet.
Only time will tell if this high-speed gamble pays off—or crashes before the first lap.