Carousel at Seaside Heights–Exit 82. Did someone say carousel? Send in the clowns. Paul Goldfinger photo
Seaside Heights. By Paul Goldfinger. ©
The property is worth millions, but the price tag, the items that the town of Seaside Heights will get for the land include: a carousel which is being phased out, a parking lot along the boardwalk—half the size of the beach being sold, and 67 acres of undeveloped wetlands worth $4,100 per acre. This sounds outrageous.
It is amazing that this story hasn’t prompted a major investigation by the State and the County.
It is reminiscent of 1986 in Ocean Grove when the CMA wanted to sell land by Fletcher Lake, along the beach, to build a condo high rise. That proposal was beaten back by the people. We wrote about that story earlier this year.
In Ocean Grove we also have been sensitized by the shenanigans related to the possible re-development of our North End.
The Seaside Heights proposal is being challenged by a lawsuit brought by the American Littoral Society, Inc. and by the New Jersey Conservation Foundation. Where are the citizens of Seaside Heights and where is the Governor who saw to it that they received funding after Sandy to rebuild the beachfront?
What sort of backroom deal allowed this to happen?
The people of Ocean Grove should keep an eye on this story, and if you hear anything, please share with us. See the comment below which contains a link to more details.—-Paul Goldfinger, Editor @Blogfinger
PAPA BUE’S VIKING JAZZBAND:
Frank S.
As I said in this post, we got our information about this story from the Coaster. We used their terminology regarding the carousel.
You should read that Coaster piece yourself—the paper is currently on sale at fine stores everywhere. Then you might consider sending a letter to their Editor.
Thank you for sharing your opinion on Blogfinger.
I respectfully disagree with your opinion .
You wrongly dismiss Carousel as just ” a carousel being phased out ” . It is historic being nearly 100 years old and one of the last hand carved carousels remaining. It is quite valuable( last sale of an intact historic carousel was for nearly 2 million dollars) . Besides long being a Jersey Shore icon, it also is emotional & spiritual as it was first SSH attraction to open after both Sandy & the fire . When it was going to be sold/auctioned off a couple of years ago there was much concern and outcry about that possibility . That SSH decided not to let this happen and to save it is great. Shame Asbury Park did not care about & save Palace Amusements/Tillie .
Parking lot will generate revenue for SSH forever . As would taxes from condominiums or businesses that might go there . SSH is not in position to or interested in developing land it is trading . A developer can take on such a project but SSH itself can’t .
While I agree that the way this deal has been handled might be wrong I think end result is a win for SSH & Jersey Shore & historic preservation .
This proposal to ‘sell’ part of the Beach (public open space) to developers in Seaside Heights, flies in the face of the NJ Green Acre Program for the Preservation and Conservation of ‘Public Open Space’.
There is a similar proposal in the ‘ Ocean Grove North End Redevelopment Plan’.
Only in our case, we get nothing.
This is what happens when ‘Crooks’ are elected to the State Legislature, and they put pressure on DEP employees to sell land that is not permitted to be sold.
Blogfinger is correct, there should be an investigation by the office of the State Attorney General.
Tom Costantino of Ocean Grove sends us a link from the APP about this “beach swap.” It provides more details, but also says that many citizens are in opposition, as is the Sierra Club. On the other hand, the business community believes the deal will be good for the town.
http://www.app.com/story/news/local/ocean-county/sandy-recovery/2016/06/30/seaside-beach-swap-plan-approved/86557826/