Even Donald Trump can't escape Hurricane Sandy's wrath.
The billionaire real estate mogul has abandoned plans to build a controversial $24 million catering hall called Trump On The Ocean because it's, well, on the ocean, Newsday reports. Developers and state park officials are calling it quits on the restaurant, which was planned for New York's Jones Beach park, citing concerns over future storm damage after the current foundation flooded. The project was first announced back in 2006.
“The state parks department and myself felt it was an inappropriate time to be building a luxury catering facility-restaurant when so many people have been wiped out from their homes,” Trump told Newsday.
Jones Beach park suffered substantial damage from Hurricane Sandy including beach erosion and destroyed boardwalks, according to CBS New York. Just 15 miles away, the beach front at Robert Moses State Park was washed out almost entirely.
Trump's decision not to build the restaurant is probably a good PR move for the billionaire mogul, particularly after his controversial behavior in the aftermath of the hurricane. Tweets he made claiming the hurricane was “good luck for Obama again,” among other outlandish statements, were lambasted in the wake of the tragedy. Trump's controversial tweets on climate change several days after the storm were likewise poorly received.
While Trump said “it’s possible” the project may be renewed, the destruction caused by Sandy has made developers wary of building so close to shore again anytime soon, according to the Associated Press. The state of New York has requested $42 billion in federal funds to assist with relief efforts following the storm.