By Paul Goldfinger, Editor at Blogfinger.net. Census data above from 2010.
Re-post from June 2011. This is a good time to put this up again, because we can look forward to census numbers for 2020. When our article came out following documentation of a population drop in the Grove as measured by the 2010 census, it led to a fascinating discussion of diversity in the Grove in the article below.
Read the comments to see how the conversation was going 9 years ago. I think you will find it interesting, and it will provide the basis of ongoing discussion reflecting the last 10 years.
June 21, 2011. Ocean Grove, New Jersey Blogfinger.net
Eileen and I have lived in Ocean Grove for ten years, and the demographics in this little town seem to change like the shifting sands down at the beach. We have noticed obvious differences such as the number of houses which have gone from wrecks to beautiful restorations. We have seen more small children, more teenagers, more young families, more BMW’s, more sophisticated city types, more blacks, more Jews and a Chinese family which has a house near ours. Even the shops have shown a more sophisticated tendency. Just walk into some of the new ones like the Emporium, April Cornell, and All You Need is Cake. This year the Great Auditorium will welcome Tony Bennett and Paul Anka among other stars.
On Blogfinger we have tried to highlight the lively lifestyle and the diversity which is blossoming before our eyes here in the Grove. We have interviewed authors, artists, tourists, composers, journalists, Emmy winners, soldiers, stage directors, actors, playwrights, novelists, historians, students, and even two Grovers who are on the staff at the Museum of Modern Art.
In 2000, the census told us a lot about the demographics in Ocean Grove. Of the 3,903 housing units, 1,331 (57%) were renter-occupied. There were many other parameters that were measured. The 2010 census data has been slow in coming, but a small piece of it has been released, and that shows a drop in the population from 4,256 to 3,342—a 21.48% decline.
At first glance, this might suggest trouble—-but does it? When we bought our house in 2001, it was a two family which had been converted to that from the original one family, we think sometime after 1950. We did some surgery on the place and brought it back to an official one family—thus one tiny component of population reduction.
From talking to some realtors, we know that many of the houses which had been rental properties are now being used as second homes by folks that love to come here for escapes from cities and who use their homes year round. They don’t get counted in the census, while renters do. The census counts you at the place where you live most of the time. The 2010 data should show fewer rental units. We’ll see.
One thing which is clear is that despite the apparent population drop, this town gets better and better as a unique place to call home. Gentrification you say? Perhaps—to some extent. But some up-scaling is good for a town, and it seems to me that there is sufficient diversity here, due to a variety of factors, that the old fashioned qualities of the Grove will not be extinguished.
Tell us how you see the trends in the Grove and tell us why you think the census population count has dropped.
REBECCA LUKER “On My Way to You.”
Oh boy! Many touchstones in this discussion. In 1985 we bought in OG to provide an irresistible attraction for grandchildren. (It worked! 24 yr old boy and 22 yr old girl have visited from Chicago EVERY summer since birth). Investment was not a factor (Asbury offered bigger, cheaper homes 3 blocks from the beach); the community feeling of a nice place for children was. OG went so downhill that by 1990 I could not refinance my 20% down mortgage. NJ closed Marlboro and instead of relocating the patients back to their hometowns, dumped them on Shore towns. Complaints now about the few remaining places housing “undesirables” are nimby and in need of a history lesson on how bad it was and what a tremendous effort by residents, Neptune officials, our State Senate and House of representatives, local and County law enforcement was mounted to save Ocean Grove. Where are the Veterans who fought the wars supposed to go since the VA does not take care of those so damaged they cannot make their way in this world? Oh, right, not in my quaint seaside town.
BTW, who is “diversity” meant to satisfy? Minorities or you? Read the Wednesday NYTIMES article: “Many Blacks Leave New York For South. Generally, if they can afford it, people prefer to live with those like themselves.
Frank. You are correct. I don’t recall. I assumed that 2010 would have similar information. The 2000 report is full of economic data. When the 2010 results come out, we will post it.
Paul : The 2010 U.S. Census questionare did not ask a single question about income. Assuming you completed yours perhaps you forget this fact.
To me it is quite evident that this town has indeed become a wealthier town then we were in 2000. The spread between poorer and richer residents has widened and richer outnumber poorer residents.
Not that I noticed one way or the other but per 2010 census why yes indeed there are 15 more blacks in Ocean Grove as compared to in 2000. This is still less then 6% of our population.
You are correct that not everyone wants or appreciates diversity or can accept others who were there before they were and are different from, not as classy as them, nor as rich as them, or as blessed as them. I refer to Blue Lightenings comments. Classic nimby response.
In addition to the items captured by the census, such as home ownership and rentals, I would like to consider beach attendance. I have lived full-time in OG for 5 years and spent weekends here for 10 years, and I have seen a huge change in the number and diversity of people sitting on the beach and strolling the boardwalk. The OG beach is now a wonderful mixture of races, ethnicities, languages, ages, and shapes and sizes. People watching has become a real delight. The diversity is striking. I guess everyone can enjoy a beach and set aside any personal differences in order to do so.
Frank: The census does gather economic data including family and household income. You should wait until the 2010 data is released before you decide that we are a wealthy town. You may be surprised.
If you want to talk about racial diversity in Ocean Grove, you must have noticed that there are more black people here now than in 2000. Sure you can’t rent or buy in OG if you can’t afford it, but that applies to people of all races. People decide where to live based on more than just financial criteria. Some people like to live in places where their paraticular ethnic or racial group is in the majority. Diversity isn’t for everyone.
On Martha’s Vineyard, in Oak Bluffs, is a black summer community populated by upscale black folks. (rent the documentary “A Place of Our Own”) They favor that place because it is almost entirely black. Most of them could probably afford to live in Ocean Grove, but they choose their summer place in Oak Bluffs precisely because it is not diverse.
It would be fine if we were more racially diverse in Ocean Grove, but we don’t need to fret about it. Ocean Grove is loved by many of its residents because it is diverse in many ways.
Paul : Thank you for your clarification of your definition of diversity which does not include racial diversity which you say is another story. My and I feel many others definition of a towns diversity does include racial diversity or in the case of Ocean Grove lack thereof. You say that we are socioeconomically diverse. To a degree I agree that we are a socially diverse town. However I must disagree that we are an economically diverse town. Ocean Grove has become quite an affluent town over last 10 years. Witness the influx of 2nd/seasonal usage home buyers, the expensive renovations going on, the big increase in real estate prices, the pricier shoppes and restaurants, etc., etc. While we are not as affluent as the mega mansion or country club crowd nonetheless the average income here in OG is far greater then the national or state average. We have become a town for and about richer folks. Although the 2010 census did not ask income it to me is quite clear OG has become a far more affluent town then it was in 2000 and thus less economically diverse. I am not saying this is good or bad. It just is what it is. Beyond this Paul I am not looking for percentages that would satisfy me nor do I have suggestions. What is just is and it would be unnatural and impossible to attempt to change the facts but to say we are truly diverse is naive and untrue.
Frank: My comment was making the point that the socioeconomic diversity here was sufficient to avoid the kind of homogeneous gentrification which has occurred in other places. Since we will never attract the mega-mansion crowd, or those who need a three car garage or a lot of land, or those who are must live among the rich and pretentious or have a country club down the block, the town is pre-destined to be populated by a variety of people. If diversity, as used in my editorial, means people of all ages, all occupations, all incomes, all religions, all political viewpoints, and all sexual orientations, then Ocean Grove is a diverse place already.
As for the racial breakdown, that is another story which we have not stressed, but it is readily apparent from looking at the census data and just looking around town, that we do not have much racial diversity here. However, judging from the Grovers that I know, I believe that people of all races who might want to live here and who can afford to do so would be welcome.
Beyond that, Frank, do you have some suggestions? Do you have some specific percentages in mind that would satisfy you?
I moved here in 1991 from my parents’ home in Oakhurst. It was my first apartment and my realtor warned me “Don’t take out your garbage after dark.” I was 19 and didn’t mind running the “gauntlet” in front of Kevin’s to get my paper or brushing past the interesting characters who spent their days perched on the windowsill of the Post Office and Freedmans. Ocean Pathway was an eyesore with numerous boarding homes bursting at the seams. I recall one moonlit walk with a friend that ended abruptly when we heard gunshots. Last time I did that!
In 1996 I moved back to OG after my divorce, with a toddler in tow. OG was still cheap in those days, and I liked that there were a lot of parks—made up for no yard lol. It was still a little rough, but the sense of community was what I wanted. My son, now 18, grew up in a town where his friends are within walking/yelling distance and his first job was at Nagles (he now works at Clancy’s). I bank at Provident, all my flowers and wreaths are from OG Flower Shop, and the scones at the Bake Shoppe are to die for. On weekends I rarely leave town, and, in fact, I start a 2 wk vacation from work this week and will be spending a lot of it…on my porch:-)
But enough of my love letter to OG – the change in the census? Two things that I think have been stated – the closure of those godforssaken boarding homes, and the fact that many rentals are now second homes for out-of-towners. I also think that has led to a rise in the break-ins — so many homes are vacant during the winter months. Just my 2 cents.
And speaking of rentals – I rent. Often “renters” are dismissed as not truly being “Grovers” but I tell you what – I will go toe-to-toe with anyone when it comes to commitment (10 yrs OGCP), devotion and love for this wacky little slice of Heaven any day:-)
Sufficient diversity ?? How can you say this when less then 6% of our population is black and less then 5% is hispanic ??
Wow, I’ve never won anything!!! 15 NY Ave. I’ll put it on my bike, wait someone stole that last year….
DJ You gave me an idea: any one who becomes a full time resident of OG and signs up for the Blogfinger site will get a free gift: an OG car magnet . Tell me where you live, and I will deliver one to you. (blogfinger@verizon.net) Paul
DJ: Not so fast! We are comparing the countable population of 2000 to that of 2010. So we need to know how many countable people lived in your house in 2000. Then we can compare that to how many countable people lived in your house in 2010. It sounds like the answer for 2010 is zero. So we cannot award you any buttons until you give us more numbers. Congratulations on becoming year-rounders in the Grove. You have definitely increased the population by two in 2011 compared to 2010.
We have owned and became full-timers (Do we get a button?) this spring. I think our house had a basement apartment before we bought it; now it is just one dwelling, so I guess we were a contributor to the population decrease. But now we would be counted here and are contributing to an increase!
I’ve had a second home in OG since 2003 & love the place.
But the town has got to do something about the giant boarding houses that team with burned out transients. I’m all for people getting a second chance at life and everything, but it doesn’t have to be at a quaint beachfront town.
Call it gentrification. Call it anything you please. There simply has to be a way to change that demographic. Trouble is, some of those giant boarding houses are too run down to be B&Bs, and too large & chopped up to be single family homes. Short of razing them, I can’t figure out what should be done with them. Ideas?
To Apple…”We are part-time residents of OG and have been for 7 years. We believe that OG, although it is a very special place to be and has had some signs of gentrification, still has many issues going forward” In reading your post, you don’t say whether or not you rent or own, although you reference such things as high taxes, insurance, political issues ,etc. One of your last sentences states “With long time residents leaving, can we expect to attract the young folks necessary and fiscally able to contend with these issues”….I think the answer is yes, particularly if people choose this location as a permanent residence as opposed to a “vacation home.” Having grown up in North Jersey, in a political atmosphere that was much more precocious than anything here, I can say that I have now owned in OG for 9 years and have resided here full-time for 5 of those years (soon to be 6). My taxes are lower than where I left, (my insurance is slightly higher but I choose to carry flood insurance just in case…) and I am fortunate enough to live 4 blocks from the beach. I gave up my driveway and I got a grass strip! We have made a commitment, not just to Ocean Grove but to our town of NEPTUNE, to live and work here and had to start our businesses from scratch when we moved to this area and gave up our security blanket. We have a child in the school system and, like many others who have made the commitment to be here full time, have tried to become active in the Neptune community in many ways (even if that means sometimes being a part of the bureaucracy). Success of any community takes dedication and commitment on behalf of its residents/constituents. Do you shop here? Do you eat here? Where are you spending the money you earn? Are you promoting local growth or are you spending time at the mall? There has been positive development all over Asbury, Bradley and Neptune, Ocean Grove included. It has been a wonderful experience and I look forward to the continued positive changes that have been made in the shore area. Lastly, like my Dad always taught me (and I learned the lesson well…) Real Estate will always be real estate. There is only one Atlantic Ocean and we are sitting on it. While the economy drives the demand, a house will always sell at a given price point. Priced accordingly, all real estate sells given the market trend. The reality is, those who can afford to buy today in the “down” market and make the appropriate investments, will be rewarded 15 years from now.
I moved to Ocean Grove in 1993 at the height of the boarding house phase, when the Grand Atlantic and Main Avenue atrocities were still operating, you couldn’t walk down Main Avenue without being aggressively panhandled at least three times, and you could buy a large single-family home for about $80,000 or my seven-unit apartment building for $169,000. As the boarding houses closed and the housing boom began, the population dropped but the quality of life increased. By the time I was ready to buy, a house I had looked at in 1998 for $115,000 was now $425,000, and I was priced out of the Grove.
Yes, there are more summer residents now, and yes, the year-round population has dropped, but the Grove is a vastly different place now than it was in 1993 or in 2000, and in a good way.
We are part-time residents of OG and have been for 7 years. We believe that OG, although it is a very special place to be and has had some signs of gentrification, still has many issues going forward. How many people with the amount of money it takes to restore/renovate a home here are willing to become mired in the bureaucracy that prevails? Then we add to the mixture limited parking, hotels/apartments that serve as transient housing (i.e.: the Whitfield Hotel), minor crime, exceedingly high taxes and insurance and a sometimes difficult political climate etc. With long-time residents leaving, can we expect to attract the young folks necessary and fiscally able to contend with these issues? From a Real Estate prospective has it reached its peak? Are the high costs of owning or renting a home in OG the cause of the population decline?