This is the view of the Park View Inn facing Lake Avenue and Wesley Lake before it was demolished. Note how narrow that property is. The Warrington is to the right. The La Pierre condos are on the left. Blogfinger photo. 2016. ©
By Paul Goldfinger, Editor@Blogfinger.
After the Park View Inn was demolished in the summer of 2016, Blogfinger wrote some articles regarding the fate of that property. The Planning Board approved a subdivision that would allow the site to be turned into 4 lots for single family homes. But Blogfinger questioned the legality of that subdivision, because the 2 lots on Lake Avenue would not face any street—Lake Avenue is not a street.
On the other hand, after years of trying to get rid of that derelict property, it was accomplished, and the neighbors were thrilled. They did not question the legality of what occurred next.
Here is a link to our last post on that subject:
Is the Park View Inn subdivision legal?
Now, one of the 4 houses has been built, at #21 Seaview Avenue, and the developer has the other 3 properties, including #18 and #20 Lake Avenue and #23 Seaview Avenue up for sale. The homes will cost over $ 1 million. They will have 5-6 bedrooms and 3-4 bathrooms. They are 2 1/2 to 3 stories high and they will have views of Wesley Lake and the Ocean. The subdivision, which is one block to the beach is called “Seaview by the Lake.”
One house on this subdivision is built (#21 Seaview Ave.) Note how narrow it is with 5 bedrooms. The lot is 25 x 72. (1,800 ft2.) The Warrington foundation is in the foreground. Paul Goldfinger photo Dec. 2017. ©
The marketing by realtors is of interest, because it is revealing the attitude of this developer toward Ocean Grove. And will this sort of promotion become the norm? We have been worried that the community of Ocean Grove will be left behind to collect sand in its shorts as the developers promote the town of OG as basically a gateway to Asbury and other areas, as they turn out very expensive homes as is the norm now in Asbury Park.
The Internet promotion of these 4 homes refers to “landmarks” that are accessible, and this list includes only one in OG—the beach. The rest of the list includes sites in Asbury Park, Belmar, Pt. Pleasant Beach, Long Branch, and Spring Lake beach. There is no mention of Ocean Grove’s historic nature or its fabulous places to visit—not even the Great Auditorium is featured. And there is no mention of the community of Ocean Grove, its life styles, its diversity, or its friendly and neighborly porch culture.
In addition, there is no talk about parking. As with other projects in town, the Township allows defiance of State mandated regulations, so these 4 houses provide no off-street parking—just further congestion at that North End part of town. And who knows what will happen at the Warrington site?
PEGGY LEE AND GEORGE SHEARING “If Dreams Come True.” Live in Miami, from the album Beauty and the Beat
Kevin,
Neptune Township has been out of compliance with a variety of State laws including subdivision regarding O.G for 138 years now.
And, despite Court orders, there is still no political will to change.
The State of New Jersey must now take control of the Neptune Township Planning Board and correct this “culture of corruption.”
The question is, Was this a legal sub-division? The answer is no!
The duty of the Planning Board Attorney is to uphold the laws of the State of New Jersey. This was not done by this Attorney.
His duty was to bring the zoning for OG into conformity with the laws of the State. This has not been done.
His duty is to have his Board bring all non-conforming lots into conformity with the MLUL of the State. Instead, his Board created four non-conforming lots.
The Attorney’s job was to make sure a complete application was submitted to his Board using all required maps and documents. This was not done..
His duty was to have the applicant comply with RSIS within the MLUL.This was not done.
This application was to benefit the OGCMA by an increase in lots and an increase in the number of ground rents. As the owner of the land, the OGCMA was required by law to be a part of this application. They were not.
The Planning Board should not be creating any sub-divisions for the OGCMA until the OGCMA submits a recorded map of their development with the County.
The Planning Board should not be creating or granting any sub-divisions until that Board brings the zoning for OG into compliance with the MLUL.
Because the zoning for OG is not in compliance with the MLUL, nothing for this application, for this illegal sub-division, was done in compliance with the law, and the Attorney for the Planning Board knows it.
Surfer: I think property taxes are a matter open to public scrutiny. But the ground rent situation is a matter between two private parties.
Why won’t the OGHOA release the opinion on ground rents written by a specialty lawyer who was paid with HOA money, derived from the public? Maybe that would help us understand that ground rent situation and shed some light on the dynamics of that strange phenomenon.
What will the OGCMA, Ocean Grove Counting Money Association, collect in “land rent” on these properties and on the 4 between Bath and Surf?
Will it start out at something like $500/year with a clause to increase 10% annually?
Those are the kind of “rents” we have seen levied in recent years for places like Jack Green’s housing project on Cookman and Clark and Green’s condo project on Ocean Pathway.
One can easily find out someone’s taxes, but can we find out their “land rent” from OGCMA?
Perhaps readers who are paying high land rents can share that information with us, as an owner of one of those Green condos (next to the Albatross) did some months ago.
We all recall elation over demolition of the Park View Inn. Years before, many wondered why CMA was still accepting a full-page ad in its annual event book that included it when “closed” along with two other inns on Ocean Pathway– owned at that time by a major delinquent taxpayer in the township.
There are ways to counteract construction of additional condos. Blogfinger identifies two major issues: inordinately high-escalating CMA ground rentals and no parking.
It is difficult to even think OG Homeowners would consider such counteraction–to support their members.
So who will ?
The real estate ad for #18 Lake Avenue says that the “property taxes” would be about $1,900.00 per month and they did not mention CMA ground rent. In fact, the ad (Trulia.com) did not mention the CMA and the leased land. Let the buyer beware. Check the link below:—–Paul @Blogfinger
https://www.trulia.com/property/3175003302-18-Lake-Ave-Ocean-Grove-NJ-07756
If that 4 house subdivision sells for anywhere close to a million per house with claustrophobic lots, Neptune tax rates, no guaranteed parking, and cookie cutter “Victorian” architecture…. I’ll be stunned and then sad to know that OG is at risk of devolving into a monotonous gentrified shore town.