The lot at 26 Atlantic remains empty. Next to it, Heinz Weck's new yellow and white house is almost complete. To its right, 32 Atlantic has a new roof and other repairs are underway. Behind these, facing Surf Avenue, is the fast-rising new condo development. Photo by Charles Layton
By Yvette Blackman, Contributing Writer @blogfinger
Surf and Atlantic avenues are like almost any other block in Ocean Grove where new homes are going up. For months since the fire last March, residents have been navigating past the inevitable construction trailer or waste container jutting into the narrow streets.
The wind-driven fire destroyed or severely damaged seven homes and an old hotel which was being converted to condos. More than two dozen people were displaced, including renters who had no insurance. Some renters never returned to Surf and Atlantic. Some homeowners — those with roots in the community, some for whom these were second homes — have moved on. Four are in various stages of rebuilding; two are selling.
Here’s a glimpse of where things stand with the properties that suffered the greatest damage:
— At 27 Surf, where the fire started in the basement of the old hotel, the nine-unit condo building is rising fast. Gone is the cottage at No. 25, its tiny footprint swallowed up in the new construction. A chain link fence forms a protective sentry around the four-story building, most of which is framed and covered with sheets of plywood. A row of front windows at the top remains exposed to the elements.
— The empty lot at 31 Surf has a James J. Pentz, Realtors sign that went up October 12. To date, no formal offers have been submitted on the 30-foot-by-64-foot lot, the only south-facing lot for sale just two blocks from the beach, according to realtor Karen Pentz.
— New windows have been installed and framing is under way at 33 Surf, a single-family home wrapped in plywood and Tyvek insulation.
— The two-family house at 32 Atlantic has a new roof, and plywood covers the front windows. The back of the home is wrapped in Tyvek.
— A century 21 “Lot For Sale” sign is posted on the vacant lot at 30 Atlantic. No offers have been submitted since the sign went up about a month after the fire.
— At 28 Atlantic, the two-story yellow house with white trim, owned by Heinz Weck, appears near complete. The interior was fully lit late one night this week, and a ceiling fan was whirring in what appeared to be an empty living room. The front yard is filled with dirt and sand.
— The lot at 26 Atlantic looks like a well-worn path, coated in mud, a few leaves and very little else.
— No. 24 1/2 Atlantic, which a fire marshal’s report said sustained moderate damage, is boarded up with mold growing on the siding.
A condo development rising to NEW heights sans parking, btw.
Askw, to whom on the Township Comittee did you bring these issues before you posted here? This is the first I’ve heard of your issues. While the OG Sewer Authority is a separate, independent entity, and there’s not much we can do about the sales tax or the insurance situation, I can look into the permit issue. Why don’t you email me at mcdlancer@aol.com with your name, address of your rebuild lot, and contact info and I’ll get cracking on what the hell happened?
I’m a victim of this fire. After being assured that the demolition permit fee was being waived we were informed that we would need an Engineer’s report stating that the house was unsalvageable at a cost of $750. This after the bldg. inspector stated that it was. We received no abatement in our real estate taxes. The sewers, which have been capped since the fire, are being charged at the regular rate, since “disconnecting” would incur an even greater cost. As for rebuilding in the footprint, we were not allowed this privilege. We were required to pay $3,575 for a permit to rebuild. We must pay a 7% sales tax on all plumbing and electrical fixtures as well as kitchen fixtures. Our Insurance carrier has canceled the existing policy since OG is a bad risk. Our new insurance cost has nearly doubled. And on and on. How has the government helped us?
Appleation, quite a few of the owners who rebuilt did get support as promised WITHIN THE LAW. There was some misconception — and I am not sure from where it emanated, as I have replayed my comments made as mayor at the Thanksgiving service after the first fire — that both HPC and Zoning approvals would not be required. I was extremely careful with my comments in the aftermath of both fires; I have not and will not make promises that state statutes prevent me from fulfilling. That was never promised and it was never done. However, if residents wanted to rebuild and their architect or planner drew up plans for a new house using the HPC guidelines and kept the usage the same as the original building (replacing a house with a house or condos with condos that are within the footprint of the original building), the Zoning Officer was able to approve that without going to the Board of Adjustment and we could put a rebuild that goes through HPC tech review in compliance with the guidelines, we can get that application onto the next HPC agenda and get it signed off, so the owner can begin to pull building permits. That is the support the Township may legally offer. I do not know what other assistance you expected to be offered by the municipality. So glücklich, wie ich allen Neubau und Wiedergeburt der Häuser von beiden entsetzlichen Feuersbrünsten in der Ozean-Waldung sehen soll, sehend dass mein langjähriger Freund Herr Wecht’ s-neues Haus ist ist eine spezielle Quelle der Freude fast fertig.
This is not done just for Ocean Grove: if a resident in any part of Neptune experiences a catastrophic incident like a fire, we will do our best to move their paperwork through the system as quickly as possible, as long as they are simply replacing what was destroyed. If zoning variances are required, then they have to go through the usual route of making application to the Board of Adjustment.
I am sad for you, Appleation, that you cannot feel empathy or joy for anyone whose house is being rebuilt and they can begin to pick up the pieces of their lives. Many people lost priceless family mementos that can never be replaced. I agree that homeowner’s and renter’s insurance does not cover every cost incurred in a total rebuild; the Township cannot cover the difference between the insurance payout and the actual cost of rebuilding. What we can do is expedite applications that have passed administrative review to help families create a new normal in their newly-rebuilt homes.
I don’t see any joy as a result of this fire. Rebuilding is a arduous task and a hardship financially. It is emotionally draining for all involved, whether rebuilding or leaving after years in OG. Those who have been involved in any way have had no support, as promised, by the TWP. Everyone believes that insurance takes care of everything. It doesn’t. By the way, there were victims who were not as fortunate as Mr. Weck.
Babelfish translates Mary Beth’s comments as:
“As happy, as I all new building and rebirth of the houses of both terrible conflagrations in the ocean woodland to see am, seeing that my friend of many years Mr. Wecht’s new house am a special source of the joy nearly finished.”
I’m thinking “Ocean Woodland” is “Ocean Grove.”
per Google translate:
As happy as I am to see all new construction and re-birth of the houses of two horrific fires in Ocean Grove, seeing that my long time friend Mr. Wecht’s new house, a special source of joy is almost finished.
????
Ya, sicherlich!
(Aber, Ozean-Waldung?)
So glücklich, wie ich allen Neubau und Wiedergeburt der Häuser von beiden entsetzlichen Feuersbrünsten in der Ozean-Waldung sehen soll, sehend dass mein langjähriger Freund Herr Wecht’s neues Haus ist eine spezielle Quelle der Freude fast fertig.