Blogfinger

OG street scene (Heck Avenue) by OG artist Jack Bredin. This is what the North End should look like.

By Paul Goldfinger,  Editor,  Blogfinger.net. November 3, 2022

It took just a few minutes on Oct. 25, 2022 for the HPC. (Historic Preservation Commission) to unanimously  “memorialize” its recent decision to deny OGNED the coveted  Certificate of Appropriateness for the North End Redevelopment Plan.

At first glance, this would suggest some courage on the part of the HPC, and it is courageous for them to put a design roadblock in the way of the project which has been supported by all the players in town including the Home Groaners, Township Committee, Neptune Planning Board, OG Camp Meeting Association,  influential lawyer Krimko and influential OG architect Carlidge.

But the truth is that this project should never have been classified as a Zone in Need of Redevelopment, a designation that is supposed to be about bringing poor and crime-ridden neighbohoods back to life.

There could have been single family zoning (the default  zone)  at the North End which would have provided our town with a residential area consistent with what the rest of our town looks like.  Such a place would  have been a welcome addition to the Grove back in 2008.  Instead, thanks to these influential money-makers, we have been left for 15 years with a sloppy and disgraceful empty lot.

When that project was promoted by the Neptune Committee and by the Neptune Planning Board, despite the ignored Master Plan, it was clear that historic mandates, wonderful town, and quality of life considerations were to be cast aside.

Unfortunately, the Home Groaners pushed in the wrong direction, and the largest demographic in town, the homeowners and renters,  just grabbed their beach blankets and looked the other way.

We were surprised that the DEP approved this plan, and now there is a delay, but it will only be a delay.

Eventually OGNED, that secretive organization, will get to build some sort of monolith which will be ugly, will promote congestion, aggravate parking, and alter the quality of life in the Grove, especially near the project.   It will cut down on views, light, and air.

And it will consolidate opinions of Ocean Grove as a nice, mostly residential town, but  one  lacking in character.   What we have is a stew with CMA religious aggressiveness, low brow events, historic houses, a downtown without a theme, events that close our streets, unkempt parks, and especially it is now known as a thoroughfare that provides access to Asbury Park, a town that knows who it is.

And it also is now becoming  a town with plentiful short term rental opportunities;   a phenomenon which also will affect our quality of life.,

People come here because we are close to New York, we are peaceful and quiet, and we are delightful as a family oriented town to walk and bike in.

But we also are a town where the residents and renters, ie those who live here and pay taxes, are denied recognition—as people say, we are a “cash cow” for the Neptuners and for the merchants. (The Chamber of Commercials)–and does anybody know what they do with the money they collect by exploiting our town while doing nothing for it?

The “historic  town” designation for the Grove, will be compromised further, and all our work in restoring our homes as authentic “Victorians” will be diluted.  Neptune and OG players could care less about our “historic town” theme.

So this is what the HPC says about the OGNED North End Plan, according to the Coaster:  “The commission remained concerned that this design does not have enough charm, exuberance, visual pleasure or a wow factor to fit even the Seaside Vernacular style”.

But, “charm, exuberance, visual pleasure or a WOW factor” will never be found in anything OGNED can achieve by tweaking their plan.

The HPC also said, “..This redevelopment provides the rare opportunity to build a truly iconic building in Ocean Grove. It  [would] be the most viewed building here.”

The only solution is to junk the whole concept and start over with new developers working with original zoning.

What do the architect and the lawyer think about all this?   They are hopelessly narrow minded,  so you can read the Coaster to hear what they say.   Just note that lawyer Krimko threatens  “all legal remedies.”  The quote is from the Coaster.  

It is our understanding that the next step would not be the courts, but rather an appeal to the Board of Adjustment.

As Mercurio  said, “A pox on all their houses.”  Of course we don’t wish them a disease, rather we say the heck with all those groups who failed our town.

There may be a stumbling block now, but the big hurdles have been breached thanks to citizen inertia to save our town.

And while we are temporarily focused on this abomination, there are other issues, old and new, in OG with battles that still could be won including term limits at the Mother Ship.

JOHN COLTRANE:   “You’re a Weaver of Dreams.”