We have received the following information from a citizen reporter who wishes to be anonymous:
“FYI Re:ZB13/17-conditional use &. bulk variances application scheduled to be heard on April 2, 2014. The owner of 22 Lake Avenue (The Warrington) is proposing to add a new use to the property….add a 20 room historic hotel, a conditional use within the HD-O historic district.
“The applicant has applied for variances for which Zoning Board of Adjustment approval is required. Some of which are: construct a fourth story deck In the flared open space Area, on OGCMA Property; to reconstruct a stairway leading to the front porch in the flared open space area, on OGCMA Property; to reconstruct 10′ wide concrete walkways in the flared open space area, on OGCMA Property; proposing construction to the non-conforming front porch that encroaches over the front property line into OGCMA property…where necessary.
“Other variances are also required for construction. Neptune’s zoning official denied the permit application #3970, 06/04/2013 necessitating filing for a variance to the Board of Adjustment.”
Editor’s Note: Many of you will recall that the Warrington was a rest home which housed about 15 clients who rested there when it was closed by the state in 2012. It was closed because of a long laundry list of deplorable conditions inside. Those who live near there consider it to be an eye sore and a risk to the neighborhood. Blogfinger posted a number of articles about this situation. The quote below is from one such BF piece dated August 2012: —-PG
“All 15 boarders at the Warrington Rest Home in Ocean Grove have been relocated to permanent housing in other state-licensed facilities. Tammori Petty, a spokesperson for the Department of Community Affairs, said Wednesday that this resolves the state’s concerns about the property. The DCA closed the run-down boarding home on June 13 due to what it termed “serious conditions affecting the health, safety and welfare of residents.”
With the State out of the picture, it remains unclear what will become of this now-empty and deteriorating building, which faces Wesley Lake at 22 Lake Avenue, directly behind the Park View Inn. It had been licensed to provide room and board for veterans and physically challenged people. According to tax records, it is owned by Jack Ancona LLC of Long Branch. We have been unable to contact this individual for comment.”
This project seems about as plausible as the Duke of Earl finding a woman in Ocean Grove:
GENE CHANDLER AND THE DUKAYS
The meeting for the variances of the Warrington is April 2. The residents cannot wait. Many have dug deep and have much to say.
Tomas: This is from Ken: “The Board. of Adjustment will decide on variances requested for the WARRINGTON for denials by Neptune’s Zoning Officer, G. Waterman. It meets on the first Wednesday of the month, next is APR 02 at 7:30 pm
“Next step would be an application to the HPC which holds its regular agenda meetings on the 2nd Tue. of each month, the next Apr 8.
I am unaware of the WARRINGTON scheduled on any HPC Tuesday agenda yet.
Hope this clears things up for you.”
Tomas: If you go, please take notes and send an email to me reporting on what happened. Blogfinger@Verizon.net
We encourage all citizens who attend public meetings to report to Blogfinger. We can use your name or not, and don’t worry about the writing—we will re-write as needed. We need citizen reporters to help us gather Ocean Grove information. Thanks, Paul
I personally did not receive a letter as yet , but when I do, I will post it. I lived near this horrible building and all the problems for years. The owners DID NOTHING AND MADE OUR LIFE A LIVING HELL.
Please do tell us the time and place. I am not right near this horrible building, but I would like to come to offer support to your efforts.
WARRINGTON MEETING: I was just notified that some residents received notice for the variance meeting on
April 2nd for the Warrington. I was told that most of the residents if they get such letter will be attending the meeting.
As to date no one was notified within the 200 ft. of the Warrington about any Zoning board meeting on April 2nd. Without following state statue. As a know it, residents have to be notified……or no meeting can take place.
Gosh… Ogrover is right and so are you. If I had a wish,it would be that Ocean Grove belonged to OG and not Neptune. And Gosh, more residents see the light—-more then you know.
HEY OGROVER YOU SEE THE LIGHT I wish a lot more people would see the light and band together and let Neptune know we’re not going to take any more nonsense from the Township. We need voices in the township
Why anyone would think that the owner of this horror show should be rewarded with variances in any way is beyond my ken. Just because he owns it? Come on! This blight on the community, this place of substandard treatment bordering on unlivable, for our less fortunate veterans was allowed to stay in operation for far to long as it is.
Will the town’s attitude be the old stand-by, better than what was there come into play? It’s frontage is on Lake Avenue with NO direct access to on-street parking, even if spaces were openly available, which they aren’t. It sits next to another derelict building with no realistic, substantive future that would be asking for on street parking as well.
What’s the overall plan for the area, again? Cram as much density into the least accessible area in the town? I guess so. I always understood that these places were supposed to be replaced with single family homes. Oh well.
At least it’s getting a new lakefront retaining wall at tax payer expense.
First of all the neighbors that live within a 200 ft. perimeter haven’t been notified, so there is no going before the Zoning Board in April without following state statue.
Second of all, this owner is a slum lord who had more then 42 violations while housing some poor less fortunate people. Neptune had been notified many times about what was going on there, and it took years before the State came in to confront the owner.
Once a rest home can’t conform to local and state standards of fire and safety, the building is to be taken down. Why isn’t Neptune doing their job? One guess is revenue. When are the people going to wake up in town? Look at 27 Surf. There they built on the property line and nothing is done about it.
Now the Township wants to re-assess us. We are already the highest tax paying town in the country per square foot.
About the north end, it’s in a blighted area plus it has the Park View mess, the Warrington, and the LaPierre which absorb over 55 parking spaces. Then throw in all the people that park here from A.P. that won’t pay for parking plus the six home owners who are trying to survive with parking—- the town will not work with us for parking.
Memory Lane: If Mr Ancona owns several upscale hotels in N.Y., what happend to the Warrington—- all the cited conditions that led to the state closing it down. No human being should EVER …….have to live under such conditions.
The issue of parking really must be addressed and not ignored as it seems to have been in the past. Look at 27 Surf. Ave. Not only did they infiltrate the “flare”, they went taller,and wider then the original structure (with variances). They built a behemouth that will surely add a minimum of 9 additional cars to the already crammed, narrow street.
Last thing we need is more hotels with no parking. Also, even if it’s a nice hotel today, it may become a broken down mess in the future and then we’d be right back where we were a year or two ago. Let’s tear down this monstrosity and build some high-value single family homes. (Former) hotels have been the single worst thing that ever happened to OG. Let’s get rid of them all.
It would be great if someone who is a close-proximity neighbor went to the zoning board and expressed concern about the parking implications, as well as to remind folks of how truly terrible the place was for the neighborhood/town in its immediately prior use. Someone from the CMA should express concern about the flare encroachment.
Simon—-Tthere is no place to park in the Grove now since many of the home owners, not just visitors to Asbury Park, have 3 4 and sometimes 5 cars per home …Everyone knows there is a parking problem and they do not seem to care.
Why should a hotel make a difference? It originally was a hotel. Its design is historic, and if they are willing to rehab this building, then why object due to parking?
Where are guests going to park is a BIG… question. And how will they get their luggage and enter the building. Regarding the parking, Asbury visitors have been parking on Spray and Seaview Ave and anywhere else so not to pay the meters. That leaves the residents no place to park.
This would be a great development, but there is so much uncertainty over this area. The whole North End needs a cohesive plan. The bulkhead/walkway at the Lake, the stalled Development plan, the Boardwalk Asphalt strip. Godspeed to anyone that wants to take the leap at improving this area.
Other than being old is there anything about this structure that is historic? Any unique architectural features that need to be protected? Of course, flair incursions should be avoided. And yes, parking should be addressed. On the oft (slim?) chance the Park View gets fixed up, and any additional parking needed for the North End project, just where would anyone ever park in that area?
I also thought these places were supposed to be replaced by single family.
I like the concept, but where are they going to put 20 cars?
Let’s all think outside the box here and hope that such a project has a chance to succeed. A hotel in its past life, why not again?
Have you seen the plans? I think it would be a great addition to the lake front. Look at what was built on Ocean Pathway that intruded on the flare. Look at the Majestic that was expanded to the sidewalk on Olin.
Mr. Ancona owns several upscale hotels in NYC …Why not?