Blogfinger

Wesley Lake looking towards the North End of Ocean Grove. Paul Goldfinger photograph. April 1, 2015.

By Paul Goldfinger, MD, 11/21/24:

I did a review of Blogfinger articles having “North End Redevelopment” in the title, and they number over 300. Blogfinger has been addressing this topic as well as parking concerns for over  15 years.  We have heard it all   and wrote many more posts over 300 and we received very little support from the OG public or from  OG organizations, especially the Home Groaners.

Now we learn that a new group has formed to address North End Redevelopment concerns as the project is currently  teetering at the edge of  passage  by the Township.  They are raising money for  lawyer, an architect and a planner.  The Coaster’s 11/14 edition has a report on this.

And there is talk that parking permit  planning will  resurface again after being defeated the last time.

Blogfinger wishes them all well.  We hope that the entire North End Redevelopment plan be litigated once again to restore the original 2007 zoning.  And as for parking permits, we have always been behind that, but our latest modification  is to agree that permits  only be activated between May and October.  And as for the “Better Parking Alliance,” did they totally give up?

Now to give you an idea of how we at Blogfinger have stuck our necks out  in the past, here is a post from nearly 10 years ago:

By Paul Goldfinger, Editor @Blogfinger. 4//1/15:

The process of redeveloping the North End of Ocean Grove has been starting and stopping since the current plan (NERP) was approved with changed zoning in 2008, and a redeveloper (WAVE) was selected. The next step was to be a signed redevelopment agreement between the redeveloper and Neptune Township.

The last time negotiations re-started was before Sandy in 2012. After that, the process got sidetracked, and there was talk that the Camp Meeting wanted to change the plan to eliminate the underground garage. We have no independent confirmation of that, and the last word from the CMA, per Mr. Gradone, COO, is that they will proceed with the original plan. Mr. Gradone said in 2014 that the project was presently on the “front burner.”

Now there is speculation that the efforts to re-negotiate and sign a redevelopment agreement may soon be underway again. It should be noted that such an agreement must be based on the original 2008 plan. Although small changes could be made, any fundamental change such as substituting single family homes instead of condos, could require trashing the plan and starting the process over, including public meetings.

Because of the huge public interest in Ocean Grove regarding the North End project, it would be helpful if Mayor Jahn would report on the North End Redevelopment Plan’s progress at each Committee meeting. The public should be kept informed regarding this issue.

It is important that all Grovers read the October 12, 2012 editorial on Blogfinger which is linked under Jack Bredin’s comment (click “comments”below.)   That piece is very informative as are the 39 comments including some provocative ones by our (now) Mayor Mary Beth Jahn.

BILL WITHERS  (in honor of our new mayor who, we hope, will shine some light on  the process and update her 2012 Blogfinger remarks:)