By Paul Goldfinger, Editor @Blogfinger
It is our understanding that some of Ocean Grove’s most prominent families may be behind WAVE, the secretive entity that has become the sole Redeveloper of the North End Redevelopment Plan. The Neptune Township Committee, represented by Randy Bishop, continues to promise to reveal the names, but so far they have revealed nothing. This lack of transparency by the Committee, since 2008, is suspicious, outrageous and a cause for alarm.
Mayor Mary Beth Jahn, at the last Committee meeting, refused to answer a direct question from a citizen as to the identities of WAVE. The OGHOA said that they were given the names, so why haven’t they divulged what they know? It seems that our elected representatives and our citizen representatives have forgotten whom they work for.
Last week we asked for the names of those who comprise WAVE via an Open Public Records Act request. We received a copy of a “Memorandum of Understanding” between the Ocean Grove Camp Meeting Association and the Wesley Atlantic Village Enterprises (WAVE). This document dated April 28, 2015, was signed by J.P. Gradone (COO CMA) and Dale Whilden (President) on behalf of the CMA. William Gannon III and J.P. Gradone signed on behalf of WAVE. It is unclear why Gradone signed for WAVE.
The memorandum was evidently prepared by Jennifer S. Krimko, Esq. of Ansell Grimm and Aaron, PC of Ocean, NJ. We also have a letter from Ms. Krimko to Gene Anthony, Attorney for Neptune Township. That letter is dated June 5, 2015.
From these documents, we have learned the following:
- WAVE consists of two members: Gannon Development, LLC and Vertigo Group, LLC, each owning 50% of WAVE.
—–Gannon Development, LLC is comprised of two members: William P. Gannon III (50%) and Paul R. Gannon (50%.)
—–Vertigo Group, LLC owns the other 50% of WAVE and is comprised of four members: Louis J Carr Family Partnership; DFI Group, LLC; Hayes Holdings, LLC and Aria Investment, LLC.
- The attorney Krimko says in her letter, “I will forward you a list of the percentages of ownership and the names of the individuals and/or entities that own 10% or more, when I receive it from the accountant. It should be shortly (sic).
—–So the opaque evasiveness continues and it is enough to give anybody vertigo. Is the WAVE accountant named “Swifty?” Surely those names could have been released by now.
3. Neptune Township will not be, as recently announced, a co-redeveloper. Instead, WAVE will be the sole redeveloper
—–The memorandum claims that a “Developers Agreement” was executed in January, 2007 between WAVE and the CMA. So, they say, all that remains now is to amend that agreement according to changes currently being considered. (We have recently heard about some of those such as possibly changing the hotel into condos.)
But here’s a problem: The real “Redevelopers Agreement” which is required to be signed according to redevelopment law would be between the redeveloper and Neptune Township—signed by the Mayor and the Township Clerk.
Such a document has, to our knowledge, never been ratified and is an agreement different from the one described above between the CMA and WAVE.
Those two private parties seem to be acting as if Neptune Township is not part of any of this, but Neptune must not only be part of the discussion, but it must be in charge. Designating an area as being in need of redevelopment is a public matter—a zoning agreement where the governing body (Neptune Township in this case) is in control.
And as for choosing a redeveloper, Neptune Township went ahead and passed a resolution in 2008 naming the CMA and WAVE as co-developers; no change in that can be done without another Township resolution.
And since the original NERP was enshrined into Neptune Law in 2008, those provisions in the ordinance (eg including zoning changes, hotel, condos, garage etc.) cannot be substantially changed without going through the whole process again.
No “amendments” or agreements between CMA and WAVE can do that. They can talk among themselves until they are blue in the face or actually experience vertigo, but the Township must be in charge and may not merely nod its head in agreement.
4. WAVE is working on a promised “Developers Agreement”, but until it is done, the Memorandum will take its place.
Editor’s Note: “Redevelopment agreement” means a contract between a municipality and a redeveloper for any work or undertaking for the clearance, development and redevelopment, and the construction or rehabilitation of any commercial, industrial or public structures or improvements, landfill closure, remediation, or redevelopment, including, but not limited to, on-site and off-site infrastructure improvements, or rehabilitation ……”
It is this kind of agreement that is missing in the Ocean Grove scenario. (from NJ Redevelopment law )
Thus the main problem here is that a major step in the process has been, so far, bypassed. The Neptune Township Committee must publically explain why this step is missing and who are the people behind WAVE?
Finally there is the desire on the part of WAVE and the CMA to continue making changes in the original 2008 plan. Here is a quote from that plan, written by TM Planners:
“Any proposed changes in permitted uses, the land use plan, residential density, building height or the core design concepts in this plan shall require notice and public hearings in a manner similar to the adoption of the original plan.”
JESSI ALEXANDER ” So Wrong”
What’s behind the curtain??
The lack of transparency regarding the North End redevelopment should concern all Ocean Grove residents. A resident must jump through hoops to petition the HPC to authorize repairs which duplicate existing dry-rotted gingerbread while the entire North End can be redeveloped without public disclosures and input. To borrow from Shakespeare, “Something’s rotten in the state of the Grove.”
Tom. You never know who else might be looking at this situation subsequently. Blogfinger’s main purpose is to provide information that our Committee and our Homeowners Assoc. should be offering. Blogfinger has been reporting on this story on and off since 2010. So this is not new for us. We have been consistent in our concerns about this redevelopment plan.
There could be official inquiries into this matter, and there could be further law suit(s). Maybe the local media, besides us, will take an interest.
But meanwhile, the citizens need to be informed and need to make their concerns heard.
–Paul @Blogfinger
Holy shell companies Batman!!! Im sure the plethora of multi-layered LLCs is all very routine in the world of high finances such as our very own NERP but wow – what a scoop Blogfinger has here. Surely anyone who was worried that the known primaries didn’t have OGs best interests in mind will find comfort in knowing that a company named Vertigo will be balancing out the equation.
Currently, our only defenses against possible greed and corruption at the expense of OGs best interests are the CMA, Neptune Township, and luckily – Blogfinger! Keep up the good fight Paul!
The North End involves 6 lots.
Pursuant to a “memorandum of understanding” between WAVE and the OGCMA, dated April 28, 2015, WAVE will purchase Block (1) only (Hotel and Condo property.)
The OGCMA should not give up this valuable Ocean Front property. and, what happens to the rest?
And, if the Township wants to play the part of the villain who ties up the widow (OGCMA) and puts her on the railroad tracks (area in need of redevelopment) to get her to get her to sign over the deed to the ranch (block 1) then the least they could do is put on a top hat and a cape and twirl their moustache while the OGCMA waves goodbye to its Valuable property. Someone has to look into what’s going on in OG.