By Charles Layton
Neptune Township officials are still trying to track down the owner of the abandoned and seriously run-down house at 69 Webb Avenue. They are starting to wonder if he might have died. (See update in footnote below.)
The legal complications surrounding the house amount to what one official has called a “quagmire.”
The Township first began moving against the purchaser of the house, a man named Charles Jackson, in April of last year, ordering Jackson by mail to paint the house, repair rotted wood and remove debris. Jackson, it turned out, was no longer living in the house, and no one knew his whereabouts.
After one of Blogfinger’s writers, Kathy Arlt, discovered that the house was in foreclosure, the Township issued a new notice of violation, listing additional and more specific problems including broken shutters and a third-floor broken window.
On January 5 the Township confirmed that the house was in foreclosure and identified the mortgage lender as IndyMac, a California savings and loan that became notorious during the recent housing scandals as a major issuer of so-called “liar’s loans.” (IndyMac collapsed in 2008, filed for bankruptcy and was put up for auction and reorganized by new owners.)
To this day, the Township does not know what happened to Jackson. Records show that he bought the home in 2006 and defaulted on his $700,000 loan as early as 2009, if not earlier. Officials are now thinking Jackson may have passed away, but they are not sure.
Meanwhile, though, the Township tax department has determined that a North Jersey law firm is handling matters, probably for the lien holder. Since the first of this year the Township has sent two notices to that firm by certified mail, but has received no answer. Efforts to reach the firm by phone have also failed.
“They seem to specialize in foreclosures and dodging bullets,” one official said.
The house is considered a “key structure” in the Historic District of Ocean Grove, which means it is of special architectural and historical importance. Officials say their goal is to hold someone responsible for repairing the house, to save it from further deterioration and to see that it is preserved.
It is apparent, though, that untangling the legal complications and dodges could take considerable effort. A court document Blogfinger examined online lists an array of plaintiffs and defendants involved in the 69 Webb foreclosure, including Deutsche Bank National Trust Co.; IndyMac; OneWest Bank, FSB; AT&T Capital Leasing; Professional Partners Group, Diamlerchrysler Financial Services Americas LLC; Bank of America; MBNA America Bank, and others. The document does not explain how all those entities are involved.
Editor’s note and update: Thanks to one of our alert readers (“Carol L” — see her note in the comments string) we have now established that Charles Jackson is indeed deceased. He died on January 22, 2007, at age 90, according to an obit in The Record/Herald. The obit describes him as a resident of Ridgewood, NJ. The article says that Jackson “was hired by Time, Inc. in 1939 after graduating from Columbia University, from which he retired 46 years later in 1986. During this period Charles spent half a decade in the U.S. Army, 77th Infantry Division, 305th Artillery Battalion at the rank of Captain, where he participated in four combat assault landings and was awarded the Bronze Star, while stationed in the Pacific during WW II. Charles will be forever remembered as a charming and generous man who loved his children and his entire family.”
69 Webb, view of east side of house. Photo by Charles Layton
It would be so refreshing, Ms. Jahn, if you would actually engage in a dialogue about these issues, rather than just dismissing me. After all, it wasn’t so long ago that you invited me to work on strengthening the demolition by neglect ordinance, although you withdrew your offer a week later.
If the current system was working, neighbors of 24 McClintock wouldn’t have felt it necessary to take a petition to the Township in order to get some action from the Township. 91 Cookman wouldn’t have been allowed to be a blight for more than a decade, despite neighbor’s complaints. And finally, the house currently under investigation, 69 Webb Ave.—how is the current system working to preserve this structure?
This is what the OPRA request I made for the property maintenance violations at this address showed. Violations for rotted wood, lack of paint and an accumulation of trash were issued in April of 2011. In August, however, and despite no work being done, those violations were reported as corrected. On November 1, a citizen registered another complaint about this property, and, in December, when I brought up 69 Webb Avenue at an HPC meeting, a member of the Commission also filed a complaint. The property wasn’t reinspected, though, until January 6, 2012, two days after the first report on this blog, and one day after it was determined that the owner, Charles Jackson, did not live in Jackson, New Jersey (as you’d informed us), was possibly in foreclosure. And now we have reason to believe—thanks to a small amount of online research by a citizen—that Mr. Jackson is dead.
I’m sorry if my suggestions are offensive to you, Ms. Jahn, but I’m not about to stop making them. As you said, there is more than one way to sail a ship. Finding those other ways, however, requires a willingness to examine alternatives.
Same old broken record, Ms. Arlt. Nothing new here, so I’m moving on. Preservation shouldn’t start at the end, but at the beginning. It’s time to change how the game is played. Not everything is about statutes. There’s more than one way to sail a ship.
If you read the ordinance, Mary Beth, you will notice that once Code Enforcement writes the violation, the case is turned over to the HPC. This eliminates the need for a code official to check back on the property to see if repairs have been made, and then to check back a third time before issuing a summons. To me, this looks like it would free up some of code’s time. And, since I can anticipate your reminder that the HPC has no enforcement power, the next paragraph spells out a series of penalties, including municipal court fines and liens.
Kathy, please put another record on your turntable, as that one is broken. Changing the demo by neglect ordinance would still require a certified code inspector to write the summonses, which leads us back to . . . where we are now.
there are only 3 code enforcement inspectors in neptune
Thank you Maurice, you stated what was I was about to, perfectly. Disney clearly does not live in a home that she may find herself running from in the middle of the night because the derelict home next door or behind her is ablaze. Those homes are the only ones that most of us are concerned about right now. The current economy keeps many of us from keeping our houses pristine. That does not mean that we so called “vigilantes” should not sound the alarm when we feel our safety is threatened.
Okay. There are only four code enforcement inspectors for all of Neptune Township. But there are also public works employees traveling the streets of Ocean Grove twice weekly, as well as parking enforcement officers. True, these Neptune employees can’t issue code violations, but they could bring information about perceived problems to the attention of one of the four code enforcement inspectors. Other towns in New Jersey already do this, so why can’t Neptune? Surely Neptune’s employees are just as capable of recognizing poor maintenance as an average Ocean Grove resident…and wouldn’t this policy put into practice the laudable goal of “departments working together” expressed by both you, Ms. Jahn, and now-Mayor Bishop after The Sampler was demolished?
Just to keep this in the realm of suggestion rather than lecture, I won’t even begin to discuss how use of the demolition by neglect ordinance could potentially free up some of those four code enforcement officials’ time.
And Disney, I have to ask: just which houses that have appeared on this blog haven’t looked dilapidated to you? 35 Embury, which was demolished because it was so dilapidated? 91 Cookman? 24 McClintock? The Park View?
Disney, you’ve missed the point entirely. These are not homes that are in need of yearly maintenace, nor are they seasonal residences. They have been unoccupied for years, neglected and issued violations. The McClintock house had been open to the elements for years. There were two foot tall trees growing out of the gutters, literally! The Webb house has been unoccupied for years as well. They are not off visiting relatives or waiting for a summer return! One place had branches growing into the top floor and through the roof. No one is saying go back to the 1890’s, however, these places have no utilities, no smoke detectors and they are open to the elements, critters and squatters. Putting asthetics aside, they are a hazzard to the safety of the community. I’m sorry that is not fantasy.
If 65 Abbott is allowed to exceed the approved height, anybody can simply ignore Neptune Township’s lawful decisions. Anarchy will have arrived. If “super lawyer” prevails on this, what can’t be built in Ocean Grove?
Anonymous 1 – If that is the case I have no sympathy for the owners. As much as I think the way historic preservation is conceived and administered here, I do not favor violating the original Certificate of Appropriateness and then presenting the authorities with new facts on the ground to appeal for a variance. This is just as large a breach of trust as an unjustified stop work order, if that is what is happening. And it’s not the way to solve disagreement with local building restrictions.
A1: this happens all the time in Ocean Grove, along with demolitions and work without permits, particularly from Friday to Sunday nights. There is a school of thought that some homeowners or contractors would rather ask for forgiveness than permission, and they challenge the HPC and Zoning to make them tear down construction. (We run into a number of cases at the Township where an out-of-town owner buys a property in the Grove without understanding the requirements of repairing or renovating a home in the historic district or even whether their home is a key or supporting structure. Sadly, the realtor or seller is not required to divulge that information to the buyer. The buyer then relies on a contractor to make their desired or needed repairs or changes, and that usually includes obtaining the permits. Until about two years ago, the permits (and violations) were issued in the contractors’ names only, and the owners were often kept out of the loop of what was going on with the work on their home. Now, both the owner and the contractor are notified.
Lulu, if you go to the Neptune Township website at http://www.neptunetownship.org and click on Departments, choose Board of Adjustment and you should be able to access the board’s meeting dates and agenda. (I’m not sure when this application will be heard.) You can also call the Township at 732-988-5200 and choose Board of Adjustment from the automated menu so you can get the right date.
Oh, and did I mention that we have four code inspectors handling not only the historic district, but the rest of the Township, too? Four inspectors to inspect and issue certificates of inspection for apartments being turned over to new renters. Four to inspect and issue all certificates of occupancy for home sales. Four to inspect and approve or fail all new construction and electrical, and plumbing work for residences and commercial facilities. We would love to hire some more, but unfortunately, they’re not in the budget, now or in the foreseeable future. That hasn’t stopped us from going after derelict properties in the Grove, though I’m sure the usual suspects will lecture us on how things aren’t done the way they would like. ::sigh::
Anonymous…What is the major safety hazard on a house that requires paint and some shutters? Just because a house is in foreclosure does not mean it is abandoned. For all anyone knows, the daughter may be visiting in the summer until the bank finalizes the foreclosure. At which point, the property will be resold. If this is not the case and the structure is vacant, then look to the structure itself. If the windows are not broken and there are no gaping holes, it becomes pretty much like 6/10s of the houses in OG! A little worn down and a little rough around the edges. It will either at some point be fixed or demolished. Do I want to see it demolished? No. But the same standards you seek to impose on them will also, at some point, be applicable to you. Be careful what you wish for.
As for “vacant structures” what are you kidding? Most seasonal owners leave in September and don’t return until late June. There are at least 5 “vacant structures” on my block alone. Again, a matter of perspective. Did all of YOUR neighbors come to shovel four feet of snow last year (TWICE) or were you jumping over snow banks on the sidewalks like I was? Their paint has been peeling into my garden for years. As long as the porch is not falling down, we deal with it. I worry about maintaining my home in this economy. I can only imagine what it is like for others.
I think the rebuilds are beautiful also. My point is that there is a lot of attention being given to supposed “derelict’ structures. Some are not “derelict” at all. Some of this “finger pointing” is just as detrimental to the fabric of our community as the condition of the homes.
You asked “how does the fantasy of Disney World compare in any way whatsoever with Ocean Grove?” Because they are BOTH FANTASIES! This is not 1890. We live and deal with real problems in a modern time and continue to try to find modern day solutions.
Disney: re.”….the ZBA where you can all stand and voice your opinions.”
where and how do I find the zba to voice my objections? I mean, opinions?
Blogmaster: keep up the great work.
Charles, let me get this straight. 65 Abbott owners had approval for a house that complied with height guidelines etc. They start to build and exceed the height. Now they apply for an exemption to exceed the height. Looks as if they intended to exceed the height requirements from the get go.
To Disney: First of all, the main focus here is about long term ‘abandoned’ and vacant structures which have become hazards to the community and hurt property values. There is a vast difference between keeping up with yearly maintenance and absolute neglect.
The town I grew up in, just a few miles north of here, was a non-historic community, with very, very strict zoning regulations. You had to jump through a myriad of hoops just to add dormers to the second floor! A third story addition was out of the question entirely. If you wished to change the color of your house paint, you had to get your neighbors to sign off on it by going door to door collecting signatures! One negative and forget about it. There was a complete mix of housing styles, but 2 1/2 stories was the max. Ocean Grove supposedly has similar restrictions, but with a good presentation evidently, you can get what you want.
As far as replacement or re-builds, I can point out the fairly new ‘Victorians’ on Ocean Pathway that blend in beautifully with the historic homes, hardly Disney in appearance at all.
By the way, how does the fantasy of Disney World compare in any way whatsoever with Ocean Grove?
In case some of you are puzzled about this running dispute over a house on Abbott, the property in question, I am told, is at 65 Abbott and a stop-work order was issued because it violated height guidelines. I am also told that the owners are making application to the HPC and the Zoning Board for approval of the taller height.
After a little investigation, the house on Abbott never went to the ZBA so if it was approved on it’s plans, it was certified ” in house” as being correct hence my assumption that it was correctly drawn. If there is a stop work order in place, I am sure it will cross someone else’s desk for review and correction, maybe even the ZBA where you can all stand and voice your opinions. In the meantime, continue to drive by all of the houses in OG and cite the “derelict” properties and the properties you THINK are derelict. I am sure your vigilance will be appreciated by the seniors on fixed incomes, the neighbor who just lost his job, the person with a disability or medical condition who doesn’t have pots of money to fall back on to maintain their structure to your elevated standards. Your sense of compassion and understanding in this Christian-based community is truly exemplary. Do you kick sick dogs and hit small children as well? I hope some of you are not my neighbor. That’s not why I came here. Me, I’m going to Disney World. I’ll take a contrived and sanitized view over the world and respect my neighbors who attempt to maintain their homes and will try to continue to help those who can’t. By the way…..you can always ask the committee to send World Changers in to help with some of the homes that need repair. They solely exist to help these situations….oh, that’s right…their work would have to be approved by the HPC as being historically correct. Like that would ever happen. Just my two cents….any more of that and it will be worth a plugged nickel!
Yes, the Abbott house under construction is big relative to the height of the surrounding houses.
It would be good to know exactly why the stop work order was issued. Is the frame in compliance with the original Certificate of Appropriateness? If so, then why was the order issued? The HPC has no legal basis to shut down an approved project, especially if the owner acted on their approval to begin construction. If that is the case, I can only suggest that the owner get a lawyer and challenge the order. If they did in fact exceed their approvals, then they need to face justified consequences.
As for the issues about preservation this raises, my view is that restrictions should be limited to the key structures and other architecturally significant buildings in Ocean Grove. Why not have larger homes, higher ratables, and fewer uneconomical structures like bungaloes and white elephants. We need to have a more sensible approach to preservation here. The HPC’s jurisdiction should be limited to influencing color, materials, and preserving the few unique properties that deserve a higher level of protection. We would all benefit
A lot of neighbors will be waiting to see what will happen with this one.
Sorry Disney, the house going up on Abbott apparently does not meet all zoning standards and codes (hence the stop work order). As for the out-sized structures that Charles notes, the Neptune Zoning Board routinely engages in arguably arbitrary and capricious spot zoning. They lack consistent standards for granting variances.
The new houses on Ocean Pathway, by developer Hans Kretschman, required variances from the Zoning Board, because 3.5 stories violated the zoning code in that area. In spite of strenuous objections from quite a few Ocean Grovers, the Zoning Board granted those variances in August. One of the opponents’ arguments against those unusually controversial variances was that the variances wouldn’t be seen as exceptions but rather as a precedent for future such out-sized structures. It appears from the above comment that those predictions have already come true.
Isn’t 3.5 stories within the zoning for OG? The new houses on Ocean Pathway are 3.5 stories.
The town lost control long, long ago. You can now see a mish-mosh of styles and non-conforming styles to the Victorian historical nature. The problem at the bottom of this all is greed of developers!
Abbott house: How in the world did plans get approved for a home a full story taller than surrounding structures? This is something I’ve raised before. Shouldn’t new construction comply with current zoning and elevation guidelines? We are not talking about a few inches of flare or partially lost views, which I feel are still important; this is measured in feet and yards!
The house on Abbott is 3.5 stories. A stop work order has been issued by Neptune until compliance is made. It is way too big for the lot and neighborhood.
Well, I guess beauty is truly in the eyes of the beholder and having a discussion with individuals who tout Disney, a contrived and sanitized view of the world through a multi-billion dollar “amusement park,” is fruitless. But to those who feel the need to peek in the windows and take photos of 69 Webb, remember trespassing is still a crime – even at Disneyland.
I think it’s important to note two things here.
1. All the violations that Neptune Township issues are covered by the BOCA (Building Officials and Code Administrators) Property Maintenance Code. This is a uniform code that an overwhelming number of cities and town across the country have adopted. The conditions cited at 69 Webb Avenue would generate the same violations just about anywhere in New Jersey.
2. If Neptune Township would adopt a policy of municipal inspection and monitoring of property maintenance problems, rather than relying solely on citizen complaints, there would be no need to label people concerned about historic preservation and property values “harassers.”
The interesting thing is when the Tsunami comes, the Gannon house will be the only one left standing…hehe.
Just look at the pictures that have been posted on this blog for 69 Webb (recent and a few weeks ago). This place is clearly slipping fast. Call me a “harasser” but I think we should prevent another 24 McClintock from occurring. That means citing them now.
The “lynch mob” are just folks who think everyone has a responsibility for keeping their house up. Is that an unreasonable expectation?
Just an observation…Disneyland is the happiest place on earth, just like Ocean Grove! I think the house being built on Abbott, which is definitely NOT 4 stories, but 2.5 and meets all zoning and codes, is looking beautiful and will be stunning when completed. Certainly MUCH better than the blue cube with the bow window which it replaced. As for the neighbors’ loss of light and open air, there is no entitlement to that and there is no real loss. Just ask Mr. Steen. I do believe his former neighbors made a similar argument in court and they lost, hence the beautiful home now on Main known as Seabiscuit, which had the driveway and curb cut put in immediately before the ordinance preventing same was enacted. It’s all a matter of perspective and timing. As for the poor dead man whose former home is vacant, until it truly becomes a health, safety or fire hazard, the people on this blog who have affectionately become known by other Grovers as the “lynch mob” will have to move on and find someone who is actually alive, to harass. I’m sure there will be no difficulty coming up with the next complaint!
Maurice has a good point. But I would go further to ask why anyone would spend hundreds of thousands of dollars to buy any house and then not maintain it. It is a well recognized rule of thumb that a house, over time, requires a 2% property, plant, and equipment (PPE) reinvestment. That is in every accounting textbook and means that an owner will need to reinvest about 2% of the value of the house each year in maintance (new roof, siding, painting, furnace repair, etc.). Thus, for a $400K house, one needs, on average over time, to spend $8K per year. In 10 years that would be $80K. An old historic house in an historic district would have a higher PPE reinvestment rate than the 2% level.
If you can’t afford this, don’t buy a house!
What I fail to understand is why anyone who buys a structure built before 1910 in a historic area would question the fact that it needs ‘special care’ and is more than likely subject to more expensive, specific guidelines. Have they never seen a show like This Old House and what those people have to go through with historic buildings? I just don’t get it.
The question “what’s a key structure” comes up a lot on this site. Since the HPC holds these “key” structures to special standards of preservation, we asked the HPC last April to define this term. Here is what the HPC told us:
The HPC’s guidelines state that key structures “include those dwellings originally constructed between the 1880s and 1910.” However, the HPC considers all structures built in Ocean Grove between 1869, the year our town was founded, and 1910 to be key.
To slightly complicate the issue, Neptune Township’s Master Plan contains a list, originally compiled by the group that applied for Ocean Grove’s designation as a state and national historic site, of what the group understood to be representative historic buildings in Ocean Grove. This list was included in their successful application, and it then became part of Neptune’s Master Plan. However, not all key structures, as defined by the HPC Guidelines, are on that Master Plan list.
Currently, when making decisions on applications before the Board, the HPC refers to the Master Plan list to determine whether a building has been designated as key. Historically speaking, however, all structures built in Ocean Grove between 1869 and 1910 are key structures.
The years between 1869 and 1910 are, architecturally, Ocean Grove’s period of greatest significance. Structures built during this time give Ocean Grove its unique sense of place and its historic character, and their preservation is central to the HPC’s mission.
Disneyland works for me (relative to the current situation of >25% of the housing stock being in very bad condition).
In a perfect world we would all be able to hire Norm Abrhams as our contractor. I still prefer the Disneyland Victorians over the bi-levels.
Oh and the old 1900’s houses one reader mentions, if you look closely you will see their quirkiness rather than the standard windows and doors from Home Depot.
Case in point to those who think Ocean Grove is remaining true to its architectural heritage is my grandmother’s former home on Main Ave., which now includes a sleek Euro style kitchen rather than those “old” glass front pantry cabinets…or the monstrosity on the ocean with a swimming pool on top…or the four story they are building on Abbott that denies the small homes around it any light or sense of privacy…or the small cottages that have been blow out and built up to resemble a gawky teenager…and the list goes on.
In my opinion, what the new “Victorian” homes are creating is Disneyland, not the quaint Victorian town with quirky houses of all shapes and sizes that Ocean Grove was intended to be.
The list of properties are listed on pages 41 to 43 of the 2000 MASTER PLAN’s Historic Preservation Element. Identified are those in Ocean Grove AND ” in other parts of Neptune Township.”
@Mr. Blogfinger.
I think this is great. Keep up the site!
A list of “key structures” was included in the last Master Plan, dated 2002. There may be a copy at the library.
The question remains….how do we find out if our house is a designated structure of interest?
Attn Ken…I never had any doubt about whether or not the bi-levels were built LEGALLY. I was just simply stating my opinion that they are eyesores in a town where most of the homes have some element of old-time charm.
Ogrover, you are right. Looks as if the attorneys and realtors are not doing due diligence for the sale. Maybe they just want a quick sale and advising the buyer of these potential problems would have them look elsewhere.
Thank you Anonymous for staying the course. We need more like you in this town.
I bought my home ten years ago, not knowing it was a “key structure.” Yes, it’s a ton of work, and costs a ton of money. And not easy to work with HPC and zoning, unfortunately. My family loves our house, we love the town, so we are working patiently to fix up our house, which was a true eyesore when we bought it.
Attn M, you need to know that the bi-levels, the brick apartment house on Pilgrim Pathway, the ” Motel with courtyard” on Central Ave, the multi-storied apartment complex on Whitefield, etc…were all built LEGALLY prior to Ocean Grove’s designation as an Historic District.
That status is due to the efforts of Mr.Ted Bell and other concerned OG residents. The Neptune Township Committee then passed the Historic District Ordinance which authorized a Board of Architectural Review (the BAR then, now renamed the HPC) tasked with keeping an eye out for the remaining stock of existing structures and whatever new building would take place.
A question or two or three … Isn’t there a list of ‘key structures’? Are people buying these places without knowing that they have this designation and that they may need additional ‘care’ and expense? Are people buying these places with no knowledge of the zoning, HPC regulations and guidelines? Just wondering.
The sentiment expressed by Frank and Mary Lou, while seemingly reasonable at one level, is concerning to me. A house such as 69 Webb may not be as bad off as 24 McClintock (also featured as problematic in this Blog), but it is moving on the same downward dynamic. I do not believe that we should watch a house progressively deteriorate over the years until it is beyond repair before we act. This is exactly the time that we should intervene with the owners of 69 Webb (and other houses like it) and get them to fix it up. Someone should have intervened years ago with the McClintock house.
And, as Frank describes, there are a number of other houses in OG that are in poor condition, some of which are also on a clear downward dynamic. While there are a variety of reasons why someone cannot maintain their home, the point is that if you can’t keep it up over time, you are really being unfair to both yourself and your neighbors. Please move to a more sutainable situation (e.g., an apartment or family).
[Please note that here I am talking about truly run down homes on the downswing where owners can’t maintain them, not ones that are simply not “pristine.”]
Very well said Frank. I would love nothing more than to replace the siding on my house. New shutters and windows would be great as well. If anyone cares to donate to “the MaryLou home-fund,” I will be more than happy to get started on the renovation. 🙂
the “Mc” in “McMansion” is used to connote cheesey newness that caters to noveau riche folks. The “Mansion” refers to extravagent size relative to typical houses in a community. With the one exception noted above by Bythesea, I do not think the new construction in OG over the past 10 years is described by either part of the term used by SP. I think most all the new stuff looks great and we would benefit from more of it, not less.
Just my two cents.
I made a point to walk past this home this morning. Although sure it could use a scraping & painting (mostly on sides – not front so much) it is not as horrible as some make it out to be and does not from outside appear to be a danger to either itself or neighboring houses. Cannot comment on inside nor can anyone else as seems no one has been inside for a while. Prior to the boom OG experienced in past decade this home would not even have been noticed as being run down or an eyesore. Frankly one out of every dozen or so homes were in same or worse shape. Not to say that was a good thing, however we maybe have swung a bit too much to the other extreme. Which is I think what both Shelley Paterson and RL were trying to say. Not everyone especially in these tough economic times can afford to maintain their homes in pristine manicured show off condition. Fine for those who can and do but please some understanding and compassion for those who cannot afford to abide by such standards.
Shelly, would you consider the Tali Essen Morgan house on Abbott Ave to be a “McMansion”? It was built in the early 1900’s and is beautiful. It is on a double lot and goes on forever. Many of the older houses were very large and served as boarding houses. Walk around OG and look at some of the other turn of the century “McMansions”.
I agree with Bythesea. The new, historically accurate homes are hardly mansions. They are more in line with keeping the integrity of Ocean Grove’s charm as opposed to certain bi-levels that were built in the 60’s or 70’s. Why they were allowed to be built in this town, I’ll never know.
SP, I will take a “MacMansion” over a dilapidated, run down house that is beyond repair (e.g., 24 McClintock). Obviously, it would be better to preserve an old house, but some are beyond saving. Other than the Gannon’s humongous house, the new homes that have been or are being built are within the zoning, look historically accurate, and are hardly mansions. Check out Jack Green’s new houses on Cookman as a good example.
Keeping things historically accurate/preserved should not be used as an excuse by folks to tolerate run down, poorly maintained houses. As a property owner, I want all the homes in this town in very good repair and appearance. That will maximize our property values. New homes are fine by my reckoning as long as they look like they could have been originals.
I’m sure I am not alone in my thoughts.
Every additional structure in Ocean Grove that falls into disrepair affects the market value of my house. NOTHING is more my personal “business” than that. All the efforts the Township makes to correct this situation are greatly appreciated.
RL. If you actually live in Ocean Grove, which seems dubious based on your comment, then you would have at least a small amount of concern about houses being maintained. Why?, because run down, unused houses are an eyesore, negatively impact property values, and, at some point can become a fire hazard. Thus, your statement that it is none of our business seems like you miss the point.
Editor’s note: RL thinks that posting items which he says are “none of our business” meets the definition of “rumor.”
Merriam-Webster defines “rumor”: “a statement or report current without known authority for its truth.” Which part of our report on 69 Webb meets the definition of “rumor?”
If we are posting items which are untrue, we want to know about it. PG
This is none of our business. This is another example that proves to me that Blogfinger is really nothing more than a rumor mill.
The mortgage Mr. Jackson took out to purchase this property included payment of the property taxes on a quarterly basis. Since the mortgage has been paid consistently, the taxes have also been consistently paid.
One of the challenges we run into when trying to locate out-of-town owners is that they list the address where any Township correspondence should be sent to the property in Ocean Grove, rather than to the owners’ primary residence. If the taxes are paid and the home’s exterior is up to code, there’s no problem. If the taxes are paid but the exterior is in serious disrepair, we then have to backtrace to the owner’s primary residence or to the bankruptcy or estate administrators in order to send them the code violations and give them the date by which they need to be corrected, and begin the process of prosecuting the owner, bankruptcy trustee or executor of the estate.
Ok, where are the tax bills sent and who is paying the taxes? Wouldn’t one start there? I know nothing about nothing, however. Another random thought…what about good old eminent domain?
Better an eyesore than the McMansions that now seem to be the rage in Ocean Grove. Is there no end to the ruining of Ocean Grove as an historical site?
…in other words, it seems this old-fashioned house was used for a new-fashioned swindle. Anyone want to take a bet that Ms Fallon proves equally difficult to locate as are the estate’s “lawyers”?
Just wondering….if Charles Jackson was 90 years old when the mortgage was taken out on the house, and it was already owned by his daughter, Victoria Fallon…doesn’t it appear that the house was just used as collateral to obtain a huge loan?
From 1960 to 1966, we lived acrossed from 69 Webb Ave. It was owned by the Butlers, very english folks. it was operated as a summer rooming house. Every afternoon, at 4 P.M., they served an English tea. They were an elderly couple but enjoyable neighbors….
Jan Reece
Ormond Beach, FL.
The Township doesn’t repair buildings; we simply secure them if they are open to the elements and then prosecute the owners to make necessary repairs. I believe we’ll see litigation in the next few weeks to force repairs.
Kudsos to Carol L! Why a PAID Neptune employee couldn’t of figured this out on their own is beyond me.
Carol — Excellent work! I passed your findings on to Township Attorney Gene Anthony, Code and Inspections chief Bill Doolittle, and Committeewoman Mary Beth Jahn.
And if this guy is really dead that actually makes things a little more difficult if someone were looking to purchase the home. We dont know what the owner’s estate is like, could be extensive and if you have to notify it could drag this out
Okay, a little web-sleuthing here. Charles Jackson registered a mortgage with Indymac on 8/4/2006 (search for the property (block 53, lot 952) at monmouth co. open records at
http://oprs.co.monmouth.nj.us/OPRS/
He purchased it from John and Victoria Fallon.
His address at that time was 162 Lincoln Ave, Ridgewood NJ
An obit for a 90 year old Charles Probyn Jackson of Ridgewood who died January, 2007 is posted here:
http://www.legacy.com/obituaries
/northjersey/obituary.aspx?n=charles-probyn-jackson&pid=86138254&fhid=2321
Two daughters are listed in the obit, including one Victoria Fallon of Ridgewood – note, she was the previous owner of the Webb Ave. house.
A tax lien sale for Charles Jackson (trust), 162 Lincoln Ave, Ridgewood, owner Charles Jackson, was advertised for October 2010:
http://oprs.co.monmouth.nj.us/OPRS/index.aspx
So, it does really look like Mr. Jackson has passed away, and ownership of the Ridgewood house passed to a trust — probably the Webb Ave house as well.
When I checked at the beginning of the month, the taxes were current.
If no one is paying taxes, then the town can seize the house and do a tax sale. Is anyone paying the taxes? If not, let’s start the proceedings. Or, are we going to screw around for 4 years like we usually do?
Not only the house needs repairs, but the holly tree needs to go as well as the one tree on the right side from street view facing the house.
It’s a beautiful house and a real eyesore. It’s a shame that this appears to be fallout from the so-called housing bubble. In other words, lack of discretion on higher levels of banking are beginning to be felt by local citizens. I’m not an attorney, but it’s too bad that there isn’t some kind of clause that permits townships to take over when homes reach a certain point of deterioration, not just foreclosures.
I think it’s time to use some of the money the Township Committee has set aside as a “demolition fund” to make repairs on this house. Living or dead, Mr. Jackson isn’t going to do anything, and I doubt a law firm that doesn’t respond to letters or phone calls is going to do much more. And all those banks? Well, they’ll do even less.
We’re 99.9% positive that there are no deceased persons inside this home, but steps are being taken to gain access to the interior to confirm that last 0.01%.
Um .. uh … Has anyone been inside? I mean to check? Sorry, but it was my first thought.