Concept plan for the North End. At no time have detailed architectural drawings been submitted. Where are they, Mayor? . Click to enlarge. Note that Lake Avenue is referred to as a “Waterfront Promenade” That is a walkway, right?
Paul Goldfinger, Editor @Blogfinger
According to the Sept.1 Coaster, Neptune Township Mayor Kevin McMillan spoke at an HOA meeting on August 27 regarding the failure of the North End project to progress. He is quoted in the Coaster as saying, “One of the developers has passed away. One major issue is the ground rent situation and its implication to this project.”
He also said, according to the Coaster, that the ground rent concern has impacted the ability for Ocean Grove home owners and developers to obtain mortgages. And that the Neptune Township Attorney Gene Anthony will write an opinion paper on the ground rent issue.
It is our understanding from a local source that no one has been denied a mortgage in town over ground rent concerns. There is one instance involving the sale of the Carriage Inn on Heck Avenue where a substantial rent increase occurred, but the sale went through anyhow. No one has heard of a home sale being held up over ground rents—if you know of such a case, please comment below.
The Mayor’s explanation regarding the holdup for the North End project seems to be pretty flimsy. This project has been held up since 2007, so surely he has more to say on this subject. As usual, the whole story is never told, and the Mayor is just patronizing us over this issue either because he doesn’t want to reveal the whole truth or he himself is ignorant of the facts. Transparency is not a strong suit coming from the Neptune Township government.
We invite Mayor McMillan to make a meaningful statement to the citizens of Ocean Grove regarding the North End. If he does send a statement to us at Blogfinger, we will print every word of it, and then we will get the reactions from the citizens. Maybe the King can break away from whatever he is doing tonight and send us a nice letter (Blogfinger @Verizon.net)
RICHARD HARRIS from Camelot (1982 original London cast album)
From Jack Bredin: The North End Redevelopment Plan (NERP) is so convoluted that I believe this particular version of the plan will never be developed. But you can be sure that some other plan is in the works.
And so, at this point in time I believe the Mayor may or may not now exactly what is going on. In fact, I don’t think WAVE or the Township Attorney knows what is going on. But the Mayor certainly knows more than what was reported in the Coaster.
And Blogfinger is correct. From the beginning, the entire Committee has remained silent in reporting to the public regarding the progress of this project.