Whitfield. Paul Goldfinger photo ©
From Mike on Surf:
“Speaking of “serious conditions affecting the health, safety and welfare of residents.” has anyone heard any updates on the Whitfield Hotel? The last I heard the final meeting was held to confirm that the Whitfield is not of historic significance and that its demolition is approved”
Editor’s Note: Our article about the Whitfield, dated August 30, 2013, drew 37 comments. Here is the link: BF Whitfield article link
It is an excellent review of the Whitfield’s history (if I do say so myself, and I do say so) including the 2013 HPC meeting that found no historic significance to the property. The next step would be to give permission for demolition. They were waiting to see if some nutty person comes along to save the big box. I believe they were going to allow 90 days before a demolition permit could be issued.
Does anyone know where that demo permission stands at this time?
The neighborhood will be better off without the Whitfield. There is a police car in front most every weekend and several residents show up on the Megan’s Law sex offender database.
How is it that a SRO with quite a few residents, (many placed by the county) remain in operation when it failed inspection, months ago? Evidently there are no plans to bring it up to code. Waiting around for a sale to be finalized may take many more months. Isn’t this a matter of public safety not only for the residents, but the surrounding area as well? Aren’t the county and the town taking a big risk by not shutting it down?
Mike: I guess you live on Surf and have a personal interest in what happens here. Why don’t you make some calls to town hall and get some answers, and if you do get some answers, please share them with our readers via a comment on this post. We are an information sharing web site. Thanks, Paul @Blogfinger
I wonder if there is a date after which it can no longer operate as an SRO because it did not pass the required inspections? Or maybe I’m misinformed.
There are no demolition plans scheduled for the Whitfield. Until details/ issues can be worked out regarding sale of property, it will continue to operate as an SRO.
I had the same question, hopefully someone has an update. I recently purchased a condo across the street with the understanding that place was going to be rubble soon (can’t happen soon enough!)
Best I understand it the 90 days passed and no one stepped forward wanting to preserve the Whitfield. I also heard second hand that there were surveyors out in front, so maybe the purchase of the property is moving forward?
I believe that the contractors who built the new condos presently for sale now on Surf want to put 4 single family homes on the site. I just haven’t heard anywhere if this is all moving forward or if there is a date for the closing and then demolition. I thought that the Whitfield had failed it’s state inspections and that the owner didn’t want to put the money in necessary to keep it up to code. If so I expect their time will run out and the owner will have to shut it down?
Anyone hear anything?
Jason: In the tourist hey-day, early in the 20th century, when there was standing room only on the beach of Ocean Grove, there were hotels, inns and boarding houses all over the place. Over the years some burned down or fell down. Others were later converted to condos, a retreat for nuns, or single family houses. Some became flop houses (like the Whitfield.)
At this time there are relatively few hotels in OG.
This town has too many hotels. Who approved having all these hotels anyway? I hope this one is gone ASAP.