This is Tilly, the poster boy for funny business in Asbury Park. But who will be responsible for funny business on the OG side of the divide ??
By Paul Goldfinger, Editor and Jack Bredin, Reporter and Researcher.
Joan is the Chair of the OGHOA’s North End Committee. She is constantly vigilant, as she patiently attends each meeting, seeking news from the Township Committee on this endless topic.
At every Committee meeting, even thought the North End situation resembles the “Legend of Sleepy Hallow,” and even though the North End is never on the agenda, she goes to the microphone during the public portion each time and asks a few similar questions . This time she began with, “Is there any progress on the WAVE/CMA negotiation?”
Those two private parties have been trying to come to an agreement on ground rents for the proposed 165 residential units in Block 1 at the North End. There is a lot of money at stake because the CMA had embarked on a mission of charging large ground rents for new units.
Her queries are directed at the Township Attorney Gene Anthony who indicated that there is no agreement yet. These two entities have to sign a contract on this before the North End planning process moves ahead.
So Joan, who only gets 5 minutes, chugged along and asked “Do you now have a re-development attorney?” It seems that Gene Anthony, who is qualified to do that work, will be stepping aside, as the newly hired lawyer, to be paid with public funds, moves in. The new lawyer is from the firm of Maraziti Falcon in Short Hills.
We don’t have that attorney’s name yet, but Joan was already informed by Gene Anthony that the consultant lawyer will not be available to the public at Committee meetings. So much for transparency.
LITTLE RICHARD Comments on progress at the North End:
A few townhouses or single family homes and a nice park sounds like a more manageable compromise. Personally, I do not think a major project as proposed will ever be built. Too many density and environmental issues to ignore, and the parties will disagree and disagree about any solution. Also, there is the matter of graft and corruption. Does anyone think a redevelopment like this can ever be built without a ton of bribes and favors?
Sure Neptune is getting tax money from it. Just because nothing is built there doesn’t mean it’s tax free. If you own an empty lot you still have to pay taxes on it.
Rob,
I agree, if they really wanted to help their events, services and tent dwellers, they would build a parking garage. But acres of vacant ocean front property is worth a bundle, so I think they have $’s in their eyes.
Probably the best compromise outcome they/we can get is to allow a dozen 3 story Victorian, townhouse- style condos on the East and South and have parking in the middle for a hundred cars. But getting $10-20 a day three months out of the year isn’t going to make them the millions they are looking for!
The best answer for the town is for it to have some nice 2 1/2 story Victorian houses and a linear park running along the lake. Hey I can dream!
Meanwhile, Neptune is not getting tax money from it, CMA is not getting rents, we are not getting parking on acres of vacant land. and the place is an eyesore that the CMA doesn’t even try to keep up!
It seems the most obvious solution that solves not only the parking problem but OGCMA’s ‘want’ of a welcoming town would be to build a parking garage at north end. It could generate quite a bit of money as Asbury has done with their parking lots but unfortunately it will not be the vast riches they envision with these condos they want to build.