This night view is of the OG North End where there will be condominiums and private homes, stores, and a hotel. What ground rent deals have been struck for this. ? Paul Goldfinger photo. Nov. 2021.

By David H. Fox, Ocean Grove historian.  11/17/21:

The Historical Society recently had an inquiry regarding leases and a certain lawsuit.

By chance, I had just finished a paper on Sanders’ Villa, the most palatial house in OG that still overlooks Wesley Lake in reduced form from its Second Empire grandeur with three full floors, a tower, and grounds now occupied by several houses. The problems began in Jan. 1901.

“Suit in ejectment* has been brought by the Ocean Grove Association against Rev. Henry M. Sanders and Dr. Charles W. Sanders, of New York City, to recover possession of eight lots of land fronting on Wesley Lake.

The Messrs. Sanders question the Association’s right to collect payment of the annual rental exacted of property holders under the terms of the ninety-nine years lease. This suit is brought to determine the power of the Association to dispossess tenants who refuse to comply with the terms of their leases.”

The case went on to appeal but was eventually won by the OGCMA. The lease was canceled after the Sanders lost the case, but returned the following year after all expenses had been paid by them.

Ground leases can be problematic. In London, this is often the rule, and property is not sold outright.

Where I live in Flushing, 41 co-op buildings were constructed in the 1950s on leased property. Fortunately, the ground rent was fixed for the 99-year term of the lease and its renewal. A more important provision was that the lease could be purchased for a fixed sum. This was often done in recent years when the sum had become insignificant because of inflation.

Editor’s note:    Wiki  *

Ejectment is a common law term for civil action to recover the possession of or title to land. … Originally, successful ejectment meant recovery of possession of land, for example against a defaulting tenant or a trespasser, who did not have (or no longer had) any right to remain there.

ANNETTE HANSHAW—The CMA won even back then–“Say it Isn’t So.”  Is Annette singing to the Camp Meeting?