110 Heck Avenue, Ocean Grove, NJ. Beersheba Award winner. A successful restoration. PG photo
The question was: “Are you confident that Ocean Grove’s historic heritage will be preserved in the future?”
267 people participated. 37% said “yes,” 58% said “no”, and 5% said “unsure.”
The first person (of 19) who commented seemed to sum up the situation. He said, “How can anyone vote yes, when we see houses being torn down, the flare being violated, and many houses in serious need of renovation? This town is on the edge of a knife and it is really uncertain which way it will fall.”
Historic preservation in Ocean Grove is not about taking care of the narrative. The Historical Society of OG does a great job at that. This issue is mostly about the town’s physical self as a replica of a Victorian community. Many dedicated people are involved in the process, but the process is inherently complex and difficult.
Whether you believe that the effort is adequate or not, this poll result tells us that many residents are worried. Finger pointing is not a good answer. Perhaps the mayor should appoint an expert commission to look at the situation and suggest some new solutions. The status quo isn’t enough.
Paul Goldfinger, editor @Blogfinger
The flare is a unique feature of our historic community. Yet when the issue was last before the Board of Adjustment re: Ocean Pathway, the Camp Meeting Association signed off and the Homeowners Association was silent.
Can’t think of two groups with more of an intense vested interest.
Best case: building/house is restored to ORIGINAL specifications as defined by the ORIGINAL structure
Acceptable case: building/house is retored to a nice victorian looking appearance that pays homage to the ORIGINAL spirit and intent
Common practice: building/house is neglected and includes non-victorian elements/repairs
Maybe its just me, but if someone is willing to spend $600-900k to rebuild/restore a house, I think the town needs to show a small amount of flexibility. In my own thinking, a quality restoration that is victorian in theme trumps blind following of the original intent. This town has so many run down houses that I would be staisfied if these houses were restored to a nice victorian appearance even if ORIGINAL intent is violated. Let’s not stand in the way of renovations unless they are really out of line. [BTW, I am not a builder]
Having said this, the flare needs to be preserved at all costs.
One issue that gives me pause is what Kathy raised. There is a HPC which appears to have no real authority in some cases. An issue that they feel is important can be dismissed by another board as long as your lawyer or architect can make a great presentation and wow them. I’m not saying we should return to the days of fully authentic siding materials since there are better options which ‘maintain the look’. However, things like the flare and height limits can and should be preserved. Just because someone violated the flare 50 or 100 years ago doesn’t mean it should be allowed now. Or does it? I really don’t know. I do feel that rebuilds and renovations can and should bring structures into compliance rather add to the original violation.
In 2009, shortly before The Sampler Inn was demolished, these quotes appeared in “The Coaster”:
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Deputy Mayor Mary Beth Jahn said she believes all township departments should work together to preserve historic buildings. “We need to be working together on an allied front before it gets to the point that buildings need to be demolished,” she said.
Committeeman Randy Bishop, who owns a bed and breakfast in Ocean Grove, said he agrees and that the township is working toward those goals. “The Sampler Inn shows why agencies and departments in town need to work together. It is all very positive and lends itself to staying on top of the situation,” he said.
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And yet, in 2012, nothing has been done to accomplish this. The HPC is ignored by the Zoning Board and Code Enforcement. It’s no wonder the poll produced the results it did.
This house is beautiful. Kudos to the owners– I love your house!
My comment would be that it’s not altogether bad that many Ocean Grovers are worried about us losing our historic heritage. It means that they care. I don’t know about you, but I am encouraged when local people and local organizations get in a lather about problems with the Master Plan, problems with derelict houses, invasions of the flare and all of that. It’s healthy. If people didn’t pay such serious attention to such issues, that’s when our historic heritage would slip away for sure, because there are economic forces in the world which, given no resistance, would turn our town into a drab shadow of itself.