This is the boardwalk in August, 2015 in front of the White Whale. No one knew that the piles and sand underneath would be unable to support the new boardwalk. Blogfinger photo. ©
The original cost of the North End boardwalk reconstruction was to be $622,739.00 to Bird Construction. On March 14, the Township committee adopted a resolution (change order #1) which authorized an additional $72,942.58. Note that this project was supposed to be completed in March.
The problem is that flood waters from Sandy ran under the White Whale and washed out the sand and damaged the concrete piers which were supposed to support the new North End boardwalk under the asphalt at that northern location.
So now new piles are needed, and a new increase in cost ($55,000 for change order#2) brings the total cost up to $811,534.20. Some of that funding is being provided by the CMA. The latter change will be voted on at the April 11 Committee meeting
We thank Citizen Reporter R. S. for contributing to this report.
–Paul Goldfinger, Editor @Blogfinger.
DORIS DAY and DANNY THOMAS:
Because the North End Boardwalk bisects and is part of the NERP, I asked the Township Committee a simple question six months ago, before the Boardwalk construction started:
“Is the North End Boardwalk, the proposed new hotel, and the North End Pavilion all on the same elevation, and is that elevation above the new 100 year flood level?”
This information is critical to the project’s development and should be readily available. And so, it was surprising to me that the Committee did not know the answer.
So, I suggested they ask their Engineer who will give them the answer, if they ask.
At last night’s Committee Meeting (April 11) they still did not know the answer.
Joe: I have no idea exactly what you are talking about and I would like the Blogfinger readers to understand what you are saying. So I ask you to tell us the following:
1. Please tell us your real name and tell us what qualifies you to make these pronouncements about who owns the beach.
2. Please explain what the “mean high water line” is. And please tell us exactly what part of the OG beach is owned by the State, by the CMA and/or the Township.
3. Please tell us what kind of “grant” was given that goes out 4 miles into the ocean, and who is the “they” which owns that grant. And tell us what the grant is for. Does it grant ownership to somebody out 4 miles into the ocean? Or does it grant “jurisdiction” to some entity 4 miles out into the ocean?
4. Finally, please put your claims into plain English so that our readers can know exactly what you mean. Tell us who gets to plan what at the beach. Can someone choose to build a road, to subdivide beach property, or to build condominiums? What are the practical implications of what you are telling us?
Thank you, Paul Goldfinger, Editor @Blogfinger
Joe, I will rely on my statement above.
The state only owns land below the mean high water line anywhere in the state. The state doesnt own the whole beach, and in the case of OG, they applied for and received a grant that extends 4 miles out into the ocean from the NJ State tidelands commission many many years go.
I.M.Radar: The article is about the Boardwalk and not the “White Whale,” and the first part of your question may not be part of the public record.
As to the Beach, all of the Beach property is “held in trust” by the State of New Jersey, under the jurisdiction of the DEP, reserved for recreation and conservation, and for uses, roads, parking, and structures that are incidental to the recreational use of the Beach.
The “North End Pavilion” met that criteria and would be “grandfathered in” until it was zoned “mixed-use” by the Township.
Thank you Mr. Bredin. If WAVE purchases North End, CMA collects ground rentals for every taxable “unit.” Correct ? As for the resultant sale income, what level of taxes does CMA pay as a 501c3? Of course, this all assumes CMA owns the land? Do they also own the beach under the White Whale?
I.M.Radar:
From the 2014 ‘tax book’
244 x 118 Ocean Pavilion 4 Boardwalk
Maplewood. Ocean Grove Assoc.Inc.
P.O. Box 215
Special tax Code FO2
P.S. The Township reports WAVE has an agreement to purchase property at the North End.
The building is privately owned (?who) but the land (i.e. The beach) is owned by we the people and is not legally subdivided. Ask Jack about that! PG
Citizen Reporter R.S., would you happen to know who owns the White Whale?
CMA? WAVE? TWP? (I’ve lost track over 16 years.)