By Paul Goldfinger, Editor @ Blogfinger.net
We know that Sprout Co. is looking to buy the Laingdon Hotel on Ocean Avenue presumably to turn it into a drug and alcohol rehabilitation facility of some sort; the details have not been spelled out. The person who owns the property has said nothing publicly about his plans, but that is par for the course when it comes to developers in the Grove, including those who live here. We understand that the sale is contingent on getting zoning approval, but we do not know that for sure.
Even though the Zoning Board of Adjustment has yet to hear the application, Blogfinger has been hearing from quite a few Grovers on the subject. For the week of January 2, we had over 5,000 visits, and this topic has garnered the most interest. You should all read the article below and the 30 comments that have appeared so far. Clearly this will be a hot topic. Please continue to comment at that location but you can also comment under this editorial.
Even though Sprout hasn’t offered any details, we can already see that there are a variety of ways to think about the matter. To begin with, Jack Bredin has been focusing on the zoning issues because there is no provision in our zoning ordinances for a drug rehab facility, and even if Sprout wins an approval of a rehab facility at the ZBA, there may be an opportunity to take an appeal to the Township Committee or file directly to the Superior Court.
Some Grovers object to the idea for fear that such a facility could promote crime in the town and adverely affect quality of life here.
Still other Grovers are worried about our historic designations, while another group sees more parking and congestion issues at one of the most sensitive locations in town.
Homeowners worry about a precedent that could give rise to a variety of use-variances to cause mini-Sprouts to germinate around town in the numerous multifamily buildings in the Grove that would be susceptible to conversion to all sorts of enterprises besides condos, such as “community shelters,” as in Mary’s Place where the owners were able to put together two single family lots to create a ten bedroom spa-like enterprise for cancer patients.
Some are afraid that the Laingdon case will be a pivot point that would begin to change the nature of the town and send it spinning downhill.
So, because there are so many ways to look at this fascinating situation, we decided to do a general opinion poll that presents a general question regarding drug rehab facilities in OG.
And don’t forget that although a large number of Grovers will object to the idea, there is an argument to be made for encouraging such a project.
Once we get a feel for public opinion in general on this topic we can begin to drill down to look at more specific viewpoints from the residents of this very unique Jersey Shore town where some Grovers now see a threat to its future.
Is the past prologue, or is it the present in this case? This might be a good time to choose”unsure” in the poll. As more discussion occurs, some of you might change your minds. We could repeat the poll later.
Dennis has a good point. The cries of the anti-condo crowd (which I am part of, I strongly prefer single-family houses!) will quiet down considerably if the few alternatives for these old b&bs are to turn them into rehabs, and/or housing for the newly sober.
Is it true that it has become uneconomical/unprofitable to operate a hotel like the Laingdon Hotel in Ocean Grove? If so, the “Laingdon” case is just the beginning. I suspect other OG hotel owners are going to watch how this plays out.
The HOA played a big part in helping reverse the same concerns and problems back in the 80s. Converting to condos as was done on Ocean Pathway and elsewhere may be the only answer in keeping the community together.
Thank you for the news about the proposed rehab spot. We hope it doesn’t come to pass. When we first knew the Grove it was full of vagrants and former mental patients and it was a mess.
Everybody thought we were crazy to buy a place there and we used to laugh and say we turned the Grove around by moving there!
Serenity Inn has been parading as a Halfway House for recovering alcoholics/ addicts for as long as I’ve lived in OG. It’s a complete joke. Real halfway houses strictly enforce a no drug & alcohol policy – break the rules, you are kicked out. The owner should be held accountable for their tenant’s bad behavior.
So – drug addicts (recovering?) as well as people with mental & behavioral problems will be living on Ocean Ave?
I cannot afford to live on Ocean Ave & neither can half the residents of Ocean Grove. There’s definitely something wrong with this picture!
It’s a slippery slope back to the 80’s & will impact property values negatively to say nothing of our quality of life.
My heart sinks thinking of this actually being a reality. We moved here a few years ago, so excited to start a family and having the peace of mind of our children walking carefree in our town…until drug addicts move Oceanfront.
I’m with Dave. I may have to look for a new home out of town, while the thought of that breaks my heart, on so many levels. My future family dreams in Ocean Grove will sadly end & this town’s magic and pure beauty will lessen, while this will only be the beginning for the town to truly crumble.
We already have a “drug rehabilitation/halfway house” facility at 32 Embury Ave, aka The Serenity Inn. Anyone who would like to see the future of the beautiful Laingdon, should just take a look at that property.
There are constant calls to the police from the neighbors about vulgar and loud behavior, as well as frequent EMT requests from the residents. Drug dealing is obvious. There is another property for sale on the corner of Embury and Beach Avenue that could possibly go the same way–it is already set up for this type of use. We don’t want to see Ocean Grove return to the bad old 1980s when this use of old hotels for people with serious mental or drug problems was rampant.
Editor’s note: This commenter makes an unfair comparison between what goes on at the Serenity Inn and what is planned for the Laingdon. But we allowed the comment since there are those who are fearful of drug rehab facilities in general and who would lump them all together, and we need to recognize the concerns of our neighbors and deal with them by providing facts.
We don’t know much about the Serenity Inn, but it is not a “drug rehab” facility. Perhaps the commenter is being sarcastic. —Paul @Blogfinger
Dave, I agree, but this time the Township has gone too far. Whoever gave the ‘wink and nod’ for this outrageous application to go forward is in violation of even the ‘Mafia’s code of Ethic’s’
It’s time for the CMA to also give a ‘Thumbs Down’ on this application.
I completely agree with by the sea. Our town should be promoting overall wellness for ALL residents who can contribute to our community by being home owners. This property should be turned into a single family home and be done with it.
The Sprout website reflects that its clients are not only drug and alcohol addicts, but they also serve patients with both mental and behavioral problems. I will be listing my home and moving from town if this goes through. Life is too short to have a prolonged fight over this or to worry about exposing my children, family and friends to such elements while trying to enjoy some beach time. Just want a nice place for the family to spend time together, and it is easier to move to avoid this situation than to worry every time my child wants to walk along the boardwalk.
Is it really necessary to go the rehab facility route on a beachfront property? Is real estate really that undesirable in Ocean Grove that this is the only buyer for that property? The rehab business is today’s hot healthcare growth industry but who knows for how long? How about making the owner try to find a conforming buyer before approving this.
A facility like this is not what anyone wants. To those few who think this would not damage the town….well, you must have not have lived here in the late 1980’s. The last thing we need is a bunch of drug addicts living in walking distance to Asbury Park. Will crime go up….you bet.
The thing that amazes me is that this appears to be the highest economic use of a beach front property. If you look at other towns on the shore, beach front properties go for millions and sell quickly.
I hope the leaders of the town and the zoning board disallow this travesty. WE DO NOT WANT DRUG ADDICTS LIVING IN OUR TOWN.