Blogfinger

Richard Kimak takes a lunch break. Kimak Builders is a family owned construction business from Wall.

By Paul Goldfinger

Years ago there was a historic hotel at the foot of Ocean Pathway called the Queen. It was a landmark, and Teddy Roosevelt had stayed there. At one time it had been two hotels which were combined into one. It was in poor condition when Mr. Jack Green, a local realtor and contractor, bought the property. Before he had a chance to develop it, it was blown down during a nor’easter — c.  1995.

After that, a single family home was built on the most westerly part of the property, and the remaining part stayed an empty lot.  Most of you probably know that lot on the north side at the end of the Pathway, and you probably wondered why it was still empty.   Mr. Green commissioned the well-known architect Cate Comerford to design a home for his personal use, but eventually he chose to live in a condo which he built on the Pathway.

Now, if you go down there, you will see a 3400-square-foot single family house being erected on the site. The address will be 10 Ocean Avenue, although the long side of the structure will be on the Pathway. The house will be a spectacular building that will take about 14 months to complete. (It took less time to build the Empire State Building.) The original plans by Ms. Comerford will be used.

The new owner, who is from Chicago, will use it part-time. According to the general contractor, Kimak Builders of Wall, the house will have five balconies, a turret, an elevator and two magnificent fireplaces. No composite materials will be used. The exterior will have five types of cedar sidings. The interior details will also be amazing.