Blogfinger photo from 2011. 80 Main Avenue, a poster child for derelict buildings, still sits and welcomes visitors to the Grove.
Here is the new Abandoned Property list at the Township’s web site. The list is mandated by an ordinance:
http://neptunetownship.org/departments/abandoned-vacant-property-lists
Maybe this and an improving housing market will move a couple of them along a bit!!!
Editor’s Note: Derelict housing is a vexing and complex problem in Ocean Grove and Neptune Township. The issue has stymied the Township because of all the elements involved including owners’ rights, recalcitrant owners, lenient judges, frustrated politicians, code enforcers, and citizens who worry about their quality of life and the possible harm to their families including fire, falling debris, squatters, vandals, disease, and lowered housing values. The list above consists of vacant and abandoned houses, but we also have many neglected properties in the Grove which are occupied but in bad shape. The latter could be included in a definition of “derelict.”
This is what the OGHOA web site says about the property list linked above by Doug:
“After March 9, the owners of 80 Main (and many other owners or lienholders of derelict buildings throughout Neptune) also will be required to maintain liability insurance on their properties, post a visible notice on the building that provides contact information for someone responsible for the property, and ensure that the property is secured from unauthorized access. Utility companies will also have the right to gain access to these properties to ensure that service has been disconnected. Failure to comply with these provisions could trigger fines of $2,000.00 a day for each separate violation.
“The OGHOA hopes this will have an impact on the derelict building problem in our National Historic District, but only time–and continued pressure on the Township–will tell.”
On the other hand, the OGHOA minutes of Sept. 27, 2014 says, regarding this ordinance, “The new ordinance is not aggressive enough in forcing owners to deal with derelict homes in meaningful ways.”
Creating the list and doing derelict housing tours* is the work of the OGHOA—–helpful, but more potent strategies will be needed.
Here is a link from June, 2014:
The derelict tour*: Planning a walking tour This article discusses a variety of ideas on the subject.
DORIS DAY AND DANNY THOMAS with a song for the effort.
There must be laws against dangerous property, fines to be levied, if fines are not paid, arrests made. Other towns in NJ have dealt with this problem. It has been years and years, taking the course they are now is not doing anything!
This is the conversation, minus the anger in both directions, that occurred on April 28, 2014, between the Township Committee members and Ann Horan, President of the OGHOA (from the Committee minutes.) It gives an idea as to the frustration present regarding the derelict building dilemma but it also shows the poor diplomacy and the failure to understand how our judicial system works on the part of the OGHOA President:
“Ann Horan, 69 Clark Avenue, stated she was stunned that they would suggest a citizen write a letter to another citizen regarding derelict homes. She suggested they talk to the judge and stated Mr. Houghtaling knew what they were going through. She stated she felt it had to go through the courts because their hands were tied.
“Mr. Bishop stated they could not direct the courts.
“Ms. Jahn stated she was a little shocked that she was taking this stand because they could not make people come out and do these things and State laws are what they are. She stated for eight years they’ve done so much and still they’re being told we’re not doing enough. There’s a process and it needs to be followed. They are waiting on us to tell them to take the building down.
“Mr. Bishop stated he was saddened to hear the residents of Ocean Grove state that they felt they were the step child.
“Ms. Horan stated again the process is not working.
“Mayor Brantley stated they were taking all the steps that they could.”
Shadowman,
If you go to the link, then scroll to the bottom, follow the instructions and they will take a look at any address you think should be added. The more people who do that, the better!!
So this list doesn’t even come close to listing all the derelict houses in OG. There are only 8 houses on this list for OG!! True number is at least 20. How do you get a house on this list? I can name two right off the bat near my house that are not here.