#80 Main Avenue, at New York Ave. March, 2016. Photo by Prosper Bellizia, Blogfinger staff. ©
By Paul Goldfinger, Editor @Blogfinger
Reports began to appear on Blogfinger in 2011 regarding the horrible condition of #80 Main Avenue in Ocean Grove, N.J. The historic house used to be home to a doctor’s office, but after that occupant left, the building began to disintegrate. The Township fined the owners, but to no avail. The original asking price was $680,000 as of September 2012, prior to the current renovation.
Neighbors reported rodents and vagrants hurrying in and out of the place. In 2012 there were reports that rehab would begin soon, but it didn’t happen. Eventually the owners gave up and lowered the price drastically, reducing it to $399,000 in June, 2014. The property appeared on the new derelict housing list.
It was beginning to look like the house would have to be demolished. Then, a developer showed up, bought the place, and started work. We don’t have the final selling price or the name of the current owner.
First the roof was fixed and the siding removed; and then the inside was gutted. Work continued, and lately we began to get reports that a spectacular rehab had been completed.
Sure enough, #80 Main Avenue has been resurrected. It is for sale for $649,000 by Jack Green Realty. The price has been lowered twice recently from September when it was $699,000.
#80 Main Ave. Blogfinger photo. 11/19/16. ©
Peeking through the front window. Blogfinger photo ©. 11/19/16
BILLIE HOLIDAY “Baby, Won’t You Please Come Home”
Also very happy to have witnessed this reconstruction on MainAve.
The Home Owner Association deserves some credit here for this and the broader reduction in derelict homes. I think the Derelict Homes Committee worked with Neptune Township to have a law passed levying fines to owners or perhaps modified an existing law to raise the fines.
And in the past few years the number of these homes dropped precipitously as a result. But I’m not certain and I am curious if others know more or have other theories.
Anyone who has watched 80 Main should be thrilled at the beautiful renovation.The architecture and the colors are truly Victorian and it is apparent that a lot of thought went into the many details. Now people are going to try to judge people on how they decorate inside? If you want to live in a house with big old lamps and a comfy red antique sofa, go for it. Good luck when you try to sell it to that young professional couple who love Ocean Grove but don’t even want their parent’s precious collectibles.
Frank. As you know, the HPC has no interest in interiors. When we lived on Heck many years ago (beach block) a guy bought a crummy section 8 house behind us and made a beautiful Victorian on the outside and Hovnanian on the inside. We loved the outside and hated the inside.
It sold for over $800,000 and caused the rest of our taxes to go up.
My brother owned a lovely vintage Victorian big old house in Rutherford on a wide street. They fixed it up in period style and then had an awful time selling it. Young families want modern.
Shelley, many homes are updated with the current time period and function. Where are the “bears” inside the home?
Editor’s note: Bears no resemblance is correct usage. But bare breasted——that’s another story. –PG
Agree with Shelley . While historic looking on outside many OG renovated homes on interior do not retain olde world victorian charm . Instead are cold sterile moderne with track/recessed lighting, stainless steel appliances, new granite/marble island kitchens, bathrooms with jacuzzi , large wall mounted television, etc. , etc. Certainly these homes look Grovish on outside but inside they could be anywhere .
Too bad the inside bears no resemblance to the outside
Beautifully done – so glad that it wasn’t demolished as so many suggested it should be. It was fun to watch it be reborn. Modern Victorian reproductions are ok, but they just don’t have the class of the originals.
This is a fine renovation. Can someone explain why the former mayor’s house at 34 McClintock is almost falling down and in shambles. Many requests have been made to Neptune Twp. authorities but the house remains unsafe and inhabiting only rodents and 4-legged animals. Why?