By Paul Goldfinger, Editor @Blogfinger Re-post from 2017.
Cindy Stiles, the proprietor of Pet Boutique* on Main Avenue in OG, has collected 1,000 signatures on petitions and she has gone before the Camp Meeting Association at least twice to ask them to permit a “private” dog park facility on their land near the tennis courts, but each time she has been turned down.
Ocean Grove could be called “Dog Town” because it’s loaded with dogs—residents and visitors. But evidently there aren’t too many dog lovers on the CMA Board.
Today, at the Annual CMA Labor Day Report, Cindy went to the microphone to try again. And try she did: Cindy even told them that “God spelled backwards is dog.” She seemed a bit desperate when she said that “some dog owners would like to pray with their pets in a dog park.” Her main argument was that many visitors to town are dismayed when they learn that there are no dog runs for their pets.
However, regardless of how many persuasive arguments Cindy could muster, Dale Whilden, CMA President, could not be moved saying that the Board had a variety of reasons for rejecting the idea including concerns about animal “spats”, diseases, poop, security issues and more.
But the idea was checkmated when Dr. Whilden disclosed that the CMA had its eyes on that property for a possible parking lot or a place to store off-season life-guard chairs and/or more beach lockers.
And the final coup de grace was when he said that the CMA needed to focus its attention on its “vision and mission”and that they had a “long list” of new ideas to get to, and a dog park was not on that list. Priorities trump pets. He did mention that the OG beach was open for dogs during the off-season, and many Grovers with dogs take advantage of that courtesy.
But Cindy was still not backing down, until someone shouted, “Let’s move on,” followed by a smattering of applause.
So Cindy had to step away—-clearly she was barking up the wrong tree.
* Cindy lost her business in the Grove due to unaffordable rent increases by her Main Avenue landlord.
“Below is a link to an interesting article about Pitman, NJ. Ocean Grove is specifically mentioned:
Pitman, New Jersey. From their web site.
‘Originally a Methodist camp town, similar to Ocean Grove, its streets were once lined with tents. Now, quaint cottages fill those spaces. An alcohol-free town until 2014, you can now purchase wine by the bottle at local wineries and beer by the glass at breweries. Very much a family friendly town, the borough is big on community events. ‘”
“I know you write about how OG can adapt in changing times to reflect the needs of its residents. Thought this was a valid comparison of how a similar town has adapted.”
Editor’s note: Pitman is in Gloucester Country and has a 2010 population of 9,011. Its history is remarkably like ours including a governing Camp Meeting Association, but Pitman Grove (it’s historic name) jettisoned that plan and became an autonomous borough in 1905 with the approval of the State of New Jersey. It is on the State and National Historic Registers.
Unlike OG, it has continued to evolve as a community. In 2014 it became an ex-dry town. Two years ago it added an annual art stroll to its activities.
It is known for two major craft shows per year, spring and fall, but that’s it as mega-events go.
This year it will begin a tradition of an annual Harry Potter Festival and, as part of that, will be a theater event. They have a Pottery Festival in October and, of course, Christmas festivities.
This sounds a lot like what Blogfinger and others have been hoping for in Ocean Grove. Thanks Stacey.
—Paul Goldfinger, Editor@Blogfinger.net
ANITA O’DAY AND CAL TJADER “Thanks For the Memory.”
Blackbirds sit along the front downstairs railing at the Quaker Inn in Ocean Grove, NJ. Paul Goldfinger photo. Re-post from 2012.
By Paul Goldfinger, wildlife editor @Blogfinger
Carl Hoffman was startled when he walked by the Quaker Inn on Main Avenue in Ocean Grove. There along the front railing was a row of blackbirds. So Carl tipped us off, and over we went to get some photos. Sure enough, there were 13 blackbirds sitting there unperturbed. I decided to interview one of them and to get a quote. He wasn’t shy — quoth the raven, “Nevermore.” After that there were no more quothes.
It seems one of the innkeepers at the Quaker found the birds and put them up for Halloween. While we were there perusing the blackbirds, a young man named Nick Scott, age 14, came flying out of the house trying to make a getaway on his bike. Nick, a personable 14-year-old student at St.Rose, is the son of Liz Scott, one of the innkeepers. She preferred not to be in the picture, but Nick agreed to pose with the birds; that’s not to say that he is for the birds — only with the birds. Not that there’s anything wrong with being for the birds.
Nick Scott, Ocean Grover who was fearless in posing with a fake flock of finely feathered flying blackbirds. PG photo
The Quaker Inn dates back to 1877, making it an old hotel. It’s terrific if you are from out of town and feel like packing up all your cares and woes. There are no woes at the Quaker. So, if no one seems to love or understand you, this is the place.
The Quaker Inn sans blackbirds. Website photo.
SOUNDTRACK: From the movie “Sleepless in Seattle,” by Joe Cocker (who sure sounds a lot like Ray Charles, but they cannot be brothers).
Quite a few folks in Ocean Grove were out today for a sunny nearly 70 degree Thanksgiving day in the Grove. This morning there were a few people downtown on Main Avenue, walking around or having a coffee at the OG Bakery.
Two workers were operating heavy machinery at the 50 Main Avenue building site. That was an insensitive and disrespectful thing to do, especially when people were already downtown early on Thanksgiving, trying to enjoy small town America in the historic seaside village of Ocean Grove, a community with a unique personality and style that doesn’t normally include construction work on Thanksgiving morning. Fortunately the workers didn’t stay very long.
Downtown the OG Bakery was serving coffee and…..outside their tables were still set up. Some people were on their feet watching the workers. The flower shop was open.
At the beachfront, folks were playing with their dogs by the water’s edge, and Dave Shotwell, a Grover, was taking a swim in the 50 degree frigid water. He didn’t spend much time in the surf, but he emerged refreshed, and he wasn’t even shivering. Evidently he has done this ritual in the past. The boardwalkers were active, and we met some who were from out of town.
In Firemen’s Park, a spirited game of Wiffle ball was going on. (see below.)
Some Grovers are investing huge sums to create authentic Victorian restorations like this gorgeous newly redone Main Avenue showplace, but that alone does not define us. Paul Goldfinger photo May 2, 2017.
Ocean Grove July 4 parade, 2015. A truly unique community event. Paul Goldfinger photograph
Paul Goldfinger, Editor @Blogfinger–updated and re-posted from 2017.
In 2019, on its 150th birthday, Ocean Grove is a small town without a clear sense of identity. It has a local government that treats us like an appendage to be milked, but otherwise there is no love emanating from Neptune Township. We may be part of Neptune officially, but we are clearly NOT part of Neptune in our hearts. Most towns have a continuous thread of history that has resulted in a strong sense of identity, but not Ocean Grove.
Citizens say that they “love” the town, but the definition of that love remains undefined. Many just like being here at the beach. Is the Grove just a collection of old houses interspersed in another cozy shore town? Or maybe it is the perception of the town as a place with an unusual and special culture that attracts people to live here.
Many like the urban feel, the friendly neighborhoods, the comfortable sidewalks for walking, the porch culture, and the magic of summer evenings on the boards or fun at the beach. And for some it is the closest nicest shore town to NYC.
Those who say they “love the town” often have little knowledge of the town’s history as a religious enclave. They have no interest in it as a historic place recognized by State and Federal historic registries. So, to what extent is OG an authentic and serious historic district—a very special place for that reason?
A related question is whether this town was conceived as a tourist attraction? The answer to that is an emphatic no. Sure, in the late 1800’s, religious tourists came here in droves, mostly by train, and that identity persists to a lesser extent today, but the CMA community is no longer as central to life in Ocean Grove as it once was. OG evolved into a residential community with cottages and boarding houses. The Victorian buildings were less valued than they are today and many had gone into decline. Its census population was more than it is today.
Forty years ago, the downtown was not a tourist place to have a burger, buy a T shirt, take a tour, go to a massive craft show on the Pathway, or close down Main Avenue to sell Thai food or sell shlocky art or display old British cars.
Instead the downtown had a serious grocery/butcher shop, several doctors’ offices, a video store,a flower shop, a cleaners, a cafeteria, a newsstand, a newspaper, a drug store, a barber shop, a fishing club, a seashell shop, and a town pool. In other words it was a town that was largely for the residents. So many towns at the shore are not primarily for tourists, for example Atlantic Highlands, Avon-by-the Sea, Long Beach Island, Spring Lake, Deal, Avalon, and Allenhurst.
But now Ocean Grove has become a mish-mash—a combination of all of the above; but for those who actually live here (year round or part-time), or want to live here, we need to define our situation more clearly: what is the heart and soul of this town? Or maybe those attributes don’t even exist. Maybe it will never be that sort of town.
Elected officials do not really represent the Grove’s citizens. So democracy doesn’t exist as defined by representative government. The Neptunite governing operation is like a secret foreign occupying power that has undercover agents and contacts who live among us, but has underlying agendas based upon self interest.
A local government is supposed to represent its community of residents and try to make their lives better, but our situation now is the opposite. Witness the efforts to bring large numbers of tourists to town to the consternation of those who live here, and the failure to solve problems like zoning abuses, over-building, and the invasion of the parking snatchers.
The Camp Meeting Association ran the town for 111 years. During that time, until 1980, they had reason to believe that the unique religious culture which prevailed till then, as odd as it was in America, would last forever. They certainly did not envision the town becoming a historic site. They had no problem letting many of the early houses deteriorate. And it is unclear if stores during those years sold T shirts, surf boards, jewelry or pizza.
But when Ocean Grove was handed over to Neptune Township in 1980, and with the CMA giving up governance and most blue laws, it was like a child who lost his parents and was given to someone for foster care—for money.
The town, which was becoming quite diverse by 1980, went forward without a clear sense of who or what it was, and today, what is its character and purpose?
The result is a place with a variety of power centers, all self interested and largely propelled by an active real-estate market; and all without the will to find a framework, a common identity, and direction for the town as a whole.
So the town of Ocean Grove, lacking leadership and a sense of town-wide community, is adrift and thus what goes on here is helter-skelter and out of focus. That is why no progress is made in solidifying the town as a real place with its own sense of being. If it weren’t for the homeowners who have brought to life historic homes that had been on life-support, this would be a pretty disheveled and much less desirable place.
The vision of an authentic historic town, defined by its historic designations, is currently fraudulent because most citizens don’t give a rat’s tail about its history. Even the “Historic Preservation Commission” has gone dark and has seemingly slipped into the shadows, never to be trusted again.
It is rare to find a historical event here such as re-enactments, poetry readings, vintage music concerts, classical street musicians, jazz, and educational programs about the town’s history for those who actually live here. Instead we shut down Main Avenue for car shows and we crowd the town with huge numbers of strangers (ie tourists) to have giant retail events of no value to the town itself while the residents struggle to find a parking place and to share our streets with the free parkers heading to Asbury.
We have had a major Walt Whitman Poetry Festival and a Blogfinger Film Festival (for collegiate film students.) And we had arts in the parks, People’s Garden Tours, classical street musicians, and other community cultural events, but most of them died on the vine.
The Ocean Grove Homeowners Association has no idea what it should be doing, and its leadership has no idea what its mandate is. It is not only essentially worthless in terms of bringing this town together and forward, but it has actually become a force working against the people—a subversive presence.
Jack Bredin is correct that the only workable solution is to become our own town again (it actually happened for one year in 1925, but the church vs state dilemma caused it to collapse on itself.) Perhaps it is possible once again, but not in a place where the citizens are apathetic and don’t seem to care about a vision for the town.
So Ocean Grove, despite some wonderful attributes, is poorly defined, and the citizens are seemingly satisfied to ride the waves, sleep on the beach and enjoy being here, much like so many other Jersey Shore towns, although many of those towns actually have their acts together and know who they are or what they want to be. For example Belmar has only one mega-event each year. Its mayor says that his main concern are the town’s residents. The beach scene is a given in all Shore towns.
Bradley Beach , our neighbor to the south, which lacks the history that we have, knows what it is. Go there to experience a true Jersey Shore town. Forget the architecture, just view it as a fine place to enjoy the shore. Take a deep breath and smell the ocean. Go on Main Street on a summer night and have some Thai food or terrific Italian delicacies. Sit outside at a real coffee shop and watch the young people walking by or heading towards the boardwalk. Bradley Beach has a heart and soul which goes all the way back to its founding. It knows what it is, and that’s a good thing.
And here’s a song for the kids in town, especially the teenagers who breathe life into the town no longer known as “Ocean Grave.”
Sackman Enterprises created 98 rental units near the beach in A. Park. They own other properties in AP including a new condo project and the restored Steinbach building. They also own #60 Main Avenue in OG. (the brick pizza building with high rentals) Internet photo.
By Paul Goldfinger, Editor @Blogfinger. 2018.
Here is a link to a post we published last July regarding the relationship between OG and A. Park. It raises some important issues.
In Ocean Grove the pressure on “our” parking will continue to increase due to the Asbury parkers. And this is on top of other parking concerns such as the Camp Meeting Association’s plans to increase its year round programming, and the ambitious new activities at the Jersey Shore Arts Center which has new year-round events that have made life intermittently difficult over in that west end Grovarian neighborhood, and the JSAC has even more ambitious plans for the future.
And then there is the pressure (as with the Warrington site) to create multi-unit condominium or hotel units without offering off-street parking. Added to the mixed bag is the continued large-scale extravaganzas by the Chamber of Commerce which shuts down our streets and crams thousands of tourists for their big events. They, the Township, and the CMA have done nothing to help residents with the parking situation during these grid-lock megalomaniac events.
Real estate in Asbury Park continues to be hot as millennials* come into town to be close to the Asburian action. A side effect of that is the growing AP housing demand resulting in real estate spillover to Ocean Grove—–be close to the action while paying less for housing here. But then we will see rising price pressure in OG.
If you go to any fine restaurant in A. Park you will find well-healed young people enjoying expensive dinners. This trend will increase, and a large new high-rise building near the ocean will have condominiums, a hotel, stores and offices.
Some condos in AP have doubled (or more) in value in just a few years, and resales can bring up to $1 million. There are quite a few smaller condominium conversions as well as large units all over Asbury-town, especially at their north end. Of course they have parking problems that keep increasing. A recent condo project recently took over a parking lot near Wesley Lake. All of this development impacts Ocean Grove to some extent. Woe is us!.
And how about the street water runoff into Wesley Lake? Jack and I visited the Monroe work site a few months ago (below) and all we saw regarding the Lake’s ecology were a few ironic storm drains along the lake with a carving of a fish on them.
Where is the DEP? We hear that the DEP plans to get involved in shore lake management, but so far, no news on that front.
Storm sewer on the Asbury side of Wesley Lake. Blogfinger photo. Click to see the ironic fish.
This is the newly built Monroe which faces Wesley Lake on the AP side. Internet photo.
In addition, Bradley Beach has become hot with higher prices for homes that sold for a lot less not long ago. This is the Asbury Park effect to the south of OG. And you can buy alcoholic beverages in BB.
It’s interesting that back in the day, when AP had roaring honky tonk going on, people from BB, Avon and other southern destinations would walk through OG, heading north on the boards, admire the scenery and the peacefulness of our town, and then proceed as fast as they could to reach the promised land of Asburian hot-times before some Grover calls them sinners. Now the Asbury Park two-step is back again, and developers want to turn OG into AP South.com.
Some buyers are seeking houses in OG and BB as sources of income for Air B& B and more long range rentals. From the point of view of OG residents, this is not good news. This kind of activity can change Ocean Grove significantly.
*Millennials often are highly educated and have good jobs. Now they have saved some money and they are looking for housing around here. Some condos in AP have doubled their valuations (and along with it their property taxes.)
The Pew Research Center will use 1996 as the last birth year for Millennials. Anyone born between 1981 and 1996 (ages 22-37 in 2018) will be considered a Millennial, and anyone born from 1997 onward will be part of a new generation.
This is an explosive time for the staid Victorian town of Ocean Grove. Anyone who lives here, full time or part time or as a vacation destination should be aware.
LIANNE LA HAVAS from the movie Loving Vincent—-“Starry, Starry Night”
Says Blogfinger reporter Jean Bredin who was running around town at the parade and at the Main Avenue Fireman’s Park in her witches outfit.
The Ocean Grove Pet Boutique (Main Avenue) sponsored today’s event.
“The weather was perfect. There were lots of dogs, children and grown ups in costumes. Ocean Grove shops gave out candy to those who stopped in.
“The Parade marched down Main St., then turned around to where it originated, Firemen’s Park, where prizes were awarded to the winners.”
Photo Gallery by Jean: Click on any one photo and then follow the big side arrows. Use the little X to return to BF. Click on the music and then view the gallery:
This car at Heck and Benson has been parked there for 4 months. It is missing the rear license plate. Imagine if that corner house were yours. The police have not acted. Blogfinger photo 9/28/17
The Township Committee has proposed an ordinance to deal with the problem of warehoused cars in the Grove. Such vehicles will be impounded if they have been parked in one spot for 30 days or more.
There will be a public hearing on this proposed ordinance at the Oct 5 meeting.
The definition of impounded is “seize and take legal custody of something, especially a vehicle, goods, or documents because of an infringement of a law or regulation.”
If a car does not have an up-to-date registration, it can currently receive a summons and can be towed.
The car above is missing the rear license plate, but the inspection sticker is up-to-date. We don’t know if it has a current registration. There are no tickets under the wipers.
There is a warehoused vehicle on Delaware Avenue which the out-of-town owner moves slightly every once in a while. We also know that some people store a car on Ocean Avenue to use as a beach locker.
HERE IS ORDINANCE 17-40. There is a second page which has to do with “presumption of abandonment” but this is the main part. Click on it for easier reading:
PAGE 2 BELOW:
Paul Goldfinger, Editor @Blogfinger.
GRIMES X BLEACHERS “Entropy” (Soundtrack of HBO’s Girls.)
“Calculate the entropy
Running out of energy
A lack of love or empathy
Leave me lonely”
By Paul Goldfinger, Editor @Blogfinger.net. 5/9/2017
Recently Blogfinger published a series of articles called “the Case of the Worrisome Warrington” This quote is from our March 3, 2017 post—on the day of the fire:*
“Three days ago we wrote a piece about how the Warrington project would receive official final approval this week for their site plan to turn that crappy building into a modern 21 room boutique hotel with an apartment in the basement and a basket full of variances to permit this special use, despite all the land use violations which we have documented. The Zoning Board official at the Mother Ship told us that the signing was just a formality, so we assume that it was done.”
The roaring fire that occurred that day was thought to have begun in the decrepit vacated building called ”The Warrington Hotel.” Later investigators backed off from that assessment somewhat, but now we know that it was true.
An investigation has been ongoing as to the cause of the massive fire that destroyed 7 buildings and damaged a large condominium near the ocean—the LaPierre. Nearly 100 people lost their homes.
The day after the fire, Blogfinger heard from an attorney who was looking into the matter. We understand that a number of lawsuits are in progress. One of those people who was injured in the fire is suing the owner of the building as well as the contractor who was in there for months doing some sort of demo work. They also were removing the siding on the building—which could make it easier for a fire to spread. And, there were no working fire alarms inside.
Blogfinger questioned the land use issues regarding the property including the permission to build a 21 room boutique hotel on a land-locked lot.
A federal agency was involved (ATF), but they reportedly turned their investigation over to the lead investigator, the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office. The fire Marshall was looking into the matter as was the State. Up to now, no results were announced.
But last night, after the Township Committee had its usual work shop (ie a secret session,) Mayor Brantley announced that the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office told him that an accelerant was found inside the Warrington. In other words, the fire was begun by an arsonist.
No other specifics are currently available, but this is obviously now a criminal investigation in addition to a fire investigation.
And, finally, some agency will likely be looking at the Neptune Township Government and how it so easily evades Land Use Laws and favors developers over the best interests of the citizens of Ocean Grove. In addition the Neptune Township governing body will probably be named as defendant in one or more of the pending lawsuits and investigations.
By Paul Goldfinger, Editor @Blogfinger and Jack Bredin, Blogfinger researcher and reporter.
In recent posts, Blogfinger acquainted our readers with the renaming of Wesley Lake into the “Wesley Detention/Retention Basin.” We alerted our readers to the change in Wesley Lake from public open space land to a water retention basin on the Tax Map. Jack Bredin, Blogfinger researcher, has reviewed this issue and he has used the Neptune Township Master Plan (2011) and the latest Tax Map as his main sources.
Today’s post focuses on the “Name Blame Game” and tries to get some answers.
Our emphasis is on Wesley Lake, but the same thing happened on the Neptune Township Tax Map for Fletcher Lake which also has a new name: “Fletcher Detention/Retention Basin.”
The link below is to our latest post (Nov 13, 2016) on the subject of “What’s in a Name?”:
We pointed out that the Neptune Master Plan supports the idea of keeping our lakes clean. It says, “Encourage the reduction of runoff into surface water bodies.” We think that the name change was done to save money for developers in Asbury Park and Ocean Grove.
This name change would not be permitted by the DEP or the Green Acres program.
In addition, Wesley Lake and Fletcher Lake are on the Township’s ROSI list (Recreational and Open Space Inventory) where the Township is committed to hold these lands reserved for recreation and conservation “in perpetuity” in exchange for Green Acres funds.
But instead, the Township seems to be committed to dumping even more dirty water into Wesley Lake and using the Lake as a municipal facility.
Our prior posts also contained email exchanges with Tee Lesinski, a member of the Wesley Lake Commission, who said, “The Commission had nothing to do with the name change, and Wesley Lake is not a retention basin.”
Despite our publicizing this issue, no one from Neptune Township has explained to the citizens of Ocean Grove who is responsible for the name change and what is the true reason for it. We believe that the Neptune Township Committee has to accept responsibility for the name change because they have the exclusive authority over the Tax Map. Only they could order the change.
At the last Township Committee meeting on November 28, 2016, Jack Bredin once again waited patiently for the public portion and then he went to the microphone to publicly ask the 5 man/woman Committee about this name change situation. What he said was recorded and will appear in the Committee’s minutes, although it might take quite a while.
Here is a summary of what Jack crammed into 5 minutes:
—– He reminded them of their environmental obligations under the State Land Use Law and their own Master Plan. They are supposed to reduce dirty street water runoff into our lakes, not increase the runoff according to the Tax Map renaming Wesley Lake.
Jack also reviewed the ROSI statement and the Green Acres obligations for protecting all places on the list for recreation and conservation. A ROSI statement is required to be signed by the Mayor and the Chairman of the Planning Board and is attached to each application for Green Acre funding.
—–This obligation is confirmed by the Neptune Township Planning Board Chairman and the Neptune Township Mayor when they signed off on the 2011 Master Plan.
—–Jack asked who will take responsibility for the name change on the Tax Map?
—–He asked who will publicly explain why the name change was done?
—–He pointed out that all Township maps (eg zoning and Wesley Lake Commission) must contain the same name change as is present on the Tax Map. These maps must be consistent with the Tax Map, but they are not.
—–And he wanted to know why there is no formal resolution available to authorize the name change. Without a “Resolution” there are no “Reasons” to change the name of Wesley or Fletcher Lake.
In response to Jack’s comments, no one on the Committee or the Township Attorney was willing to answer the questions.
Jack’s inquiry was met with silence.
Those of you who support the current Township Committee have got to wonder about such issues as transparency, following the law, representative government, caring for the environment, and favoritism for developers. The “Name Blame Game” is a perfect touchstone for illustrating those concerns.
MATT CAVENAUGH. “Something’s Coming” from West Side Story 2009 Broadway cast album.
The Warrington: Squatters, drug users and other upstanding citizens have been seen in the building. Note the graffiti. Photo by Concerned Neighbor, 7/1/16. Special to Blogfinger.
By Paul Goldfinger, Editor @Blogfinger
“Jack Ancona, LLC, aka the Warrington Hotel ” intends to go ahead with plans to remodel this former rest home into a high-end boutique hotel overlooking Wesley Lake. Supposedly it will have 16 rooms. The owner of the building, which is next to the site of the former Park View Inn, has received site plan approval from the Township. At the last Committee meeting, the owner was granted approval to “build and locate an innkeeper’s suite in the basement.” Such a structure is prohibited by ordinance, but the Zoning Board of Adjustment has permitted this, and so has the Township. The Township has executed a Developers Agreement with “Jack Ancona LLC” to make sure that the work is done properly. But Developers Agreements are not executed until all other approvals have been recorded.
We will look into those approvals, including concerns about the 3 lots that are included in the Warrington’s plans. The Warrington used to be shown on the tax map as existing on one lot: Block 101, Lot 2.
Meanwhile the building is in poor condition. Sawbucks Construction Co. has been sending one or two workers into the building daily for the last 4-6 weeks, and the neighbors have noted daily hammering. No one seems to know what those workers are doing inside. They wonder if building permits were granted for this work. Such permits should be openly posted at the site.
The Neptune Township Police Dept has been “exceptional” according to a neighbor in responding quickly to calls to deal with incursions at the site. Graffiti has been cleared from the building, and, according to nearby residents, the contractor has taken down shrubbery on the lakeside, and that is supposed to be illegal in a Green Acres location, which Lake Avenue is said to be.
As usual, due to lack of transparency, the neighbors on Seaview Avenue are complaining that they do not have enough information regarding the future of the site. They worry that the hotel, which will not have on-site parking, will worsen an already difficult parking situation. Many people in that vicinity are year-round residents, and they already often have trouble with parking, 12 months of the year. One resident estimates that at least 10% of those who park there are headed to Asbury. They also are worried about the garbage disposal from the hotel. How will that be accomplished?
The owner has told some of them that all guests will park off-site somewhere and then be offered transportation back to the hotel. Has such a shuttle plan been approved? This sounds potentially like an innovative solution, but will it work and satisfy those high end customers, and where will they park those cars? And will those well-to-do guests return after experiencing the OG parking life?
Locals are also worried because the hotel front is on Lake Avenue, a walkway, and they were told that the hotel has been granted an access pathway between the buildings to reach the Lake side of the hotel from Seaview, but that no garbage, deliveries, or other non-personal items can be moved via that passageway—-it would be just for guests and their luggage. We have no details regarding these elements.
It is said that a room in that luxury hotel might cost up to $300.00 per night. Can someone want to stay there when there is inconvenient parking and when there is no alcohol inside? And what about parking for visitors that the guests attract? And how about the Asbury Hotel, a boutique hotel just a few blocks away in A. Park?
More details should be provided to the public. How will this hotel impact the quality of life for that community?
Finally, we have reported on speculation that the Township would like to turn that part of Lake Avenue into a road for cars. There is widespread anticipatory opposition to that idea. See our recent articles about whether Lake Avenue is a road or a street. If it is not, then no road could be built there. It would be illegal.
See our forthcoming piece about the 4 lot subdivision which is the site of the former Park View Inn on Seaview, next door to the Warrington. There are some related issues.
Here is a link to a related article dated March, 2015 on BF:
Steve Valk (photo above) is a contemporary dance dramaturge, visual artist, designer and currently the director of the first Insitute of Social Choreography in Frankfurt Germany. He is an American who visits his family’s Ocean Grove home every summer. He has done that since his childhood in the 1960’s.
Last year he was consulting with the Martha Graham Ballet Company in New York City
I have met with Steve in the past to tap into his long term perspective and interest regarding Ocean Grove and what needs to be done to preserve its future. We had our first meeting for this summer today, but it wasn’t predominantly about the Grove. We will get to that before he leaves.
We got together this morning at Café Volan on Bangs Avenue in Asbury Park. It’s a down-home sort of place where the mood is bohemian and the coffee is excellent. We need a place like that in Ocean Grove. Steve likes to bike around OG and AP, but then he often wears another hat as he goes into New York to meet celebrities such as the creators of the Sopranos and Northern Exposure, among others. Check on the link below to get up to date. You can find other posts by using the Blogfinger search box above and type in Steve’s name.
SIDNEY BECHET with the Gershwins’ “Summertime” from Porgy and Bess
In 2012, a student project from NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts Film School found its way to Ocean Grove where they were looking for a place to film some period interior scenes. This house on Main Avenue was perfect. We asked Marlee Roberts (above left), the producer, if we could screen the finished project in Ocean Grove, and that inquiry eventually led to the First Annual Blogfinger Film Festival in the Grove. We showed only student film shorts, and there was a second edition in 2013. Unfortunately we could not continue due to lack of sufficient interest in town. We coulda been a contender.
Marlee Roberts has continued with her career, and she has appeared in at least four movies and has been involved in a number of film projects.
