Blogfinger

By Charles Layton

The derelict home at 91 Cookman went to closing on Thursday, and the buyer, local developer Jack Green, says he intends to begin renovations as soon as possible.

Green said on Friday that an associate of Cate Comerford, who will be his architect, has already done some measurements, and the next step is to get started drawing up plans. “The minute the plans are done we’re going to submit them to the HPC and start the process,” Green said.

He said he intends to get the yard cleaned up around the house right away.

91 Cookman -- soon to be saved

The sale of this notoriously dilapidated house, and Green’s intention to rehab it, constitute a rare victory for those in Ocean Grove and in the Neptune Township government who have been seeking ways to save neglected historic houses.

The house had been owned by Carole Weisz, a New York City teacher who inherited it from her parents but lacked the means to maintain and restore it. The house has been deteriorating for a decade, and Weisz had been cited by the Township for numerous maintenance violations.

Green reportedly paid $182,000 for the house and will spend perhaps around $300,000 more to restore it. Although the inside floor plan will be changed considerably, Green has said he wants to duplicate the original look of the exterior as much as possible, including copying the original gingerbread decoration.

The architect, Comerford, has extensive experience in restoring historic homes. Her work, between 2005 and 2010, has won 10 Beersheba Awards from the Historical Society of Ocean Grove for historic preservation. She and Green have often worked together on projects in Ocean Grove.

According to Weisz, the house dates back at least to 1891. It is considered a “key structure” in the Historic District of Ocean Grove, which means it is listed in Neptune’s Master Plan as having special historical and architectural significance.

Anita Meeks, who lives directly behind 91 Cookman and has been concerned about it for years, said Friday that she was “very excited” about the sale and the coming renovation. “I’m really happy, and I think everybody else in the neighborhood is happy, too.”