Cottage on the banks of Wesley Lake. Ocean Grove, June, 2015. Paul Goldfinger photograph.
By Paul Goldfinger, editor @Blogfinger
Demographically , Ocean Grove is quite diverse. The income data for the Grove from the 2010 census shows many people with low numbers. On the other hand, we are having a bit of gentrification as individuals from New York City or other cities buy second homes here.
There are many properties that look pretty shabby without meeting the criteria of being “derelict.” However some of those places do have a certain “shabby chic” quality. You don’t need a lot of money to add some character and charm to your home. I’ve always enjoyed looking at Captain Midnight’s place on the Grovarian side of the New Jersey Avenue bridge. To see a photo of the Captain’s place, go to this Blogfinger link:
http://blogfinger.net/2013/09/03/destinations-in-the-grove/
EMILIO DE BENITO: “Granada” from the movie Vicki Christina Barcelona
There has been a remarkable improvement along Lake Avenue in OG in recent years. It used to be an overgrown mess—-scary as a possible hideout for muggers. Now is quite beautiful. There still is an area in need of work near the New Jersey Avenue bridge.
There used to be a horrible overgrown area on the Asbury side of the bridge which would make anybody nervous walking there at night from the Grove. But the folks in Asbury Park have done a wonderful job in fixing that entire area on their side of the pond.
Some of those structures need to go now along the lake, and the rest need gardeners and landscapers. When I look across Wesley Lake from Asbury I need to view something that says come on over; there really are some nice structures that are well groomed and pleasing to the eye in Gods Square Mile.