The North End. March 25, 2021. Paul Goldfinger
The North End east of the boardwalk. Paul Goldfinger photo. 3/25/21
From the Blogfinger Department of Advanced Speculation:
Paul Goldfinger, MD, Editor Blogfinger.net March 25, 2021. Ocean Grove, NJ.
a. The first spade in the ground is a long way off, because other issues may develop.
b. The HPC will be looking at the plan next month. But last year, the HPC disapproved of the plan. Blogfinger reported this:
“None of the biggies who are pushing this project along have shown due respect for the HPC. The HPC doesn’t like the plan and says it is not historical and won’t be good for the Grove in a variety of ways.”
We wrote an article last summer called: “It’s Time to Dump the OGNED North End Project.” See link below.
c. The OGNED Commander in Chief William Gannon is not a developer; he is a lawyer. Can he really handle this huge project? Or is he trying to put the finishing touches on a completely approved development package to sell to a high power Trump-like company? Are there games waiting to be played out and such games will take time.
d. The huge construction which is planned to be built on top of an underground garage would be a physical challenge. All the buildings will be attached to the parking garage. It will be one big heavy monolithic structure.
There is no bedrock under the sand at the North End. Massive expensive cement and steel pilings would be needed, but we have heard no details about that.
This phony “Zone in Need of Redevelopment” was approved by Neptune Township. It is a public project under the Township’s supervision. So why haven’t they enlightened the citizens of Ocean Grove about concerns such as the garage and the pilings issues?
The plan which former mayor Rizzo (who is leaving town soon) approved called for a ground level garage. And the Planning Board approved the only legal plan which called for underground parking. Will an investigation emerge from all this chaos?
e. Why hasn’t the HOA hired a top land-use lawyer to review this entire situation on behalf of the public interest? It’s because they like the plan! The Groaners, from the start, have supported this awful design and they have never changed their mind.
Why hasn’t the Township brought in a high powered attorney to conduct an investigation? Hmmmmm!
f. What happened to the unpaid taxes on the property? Were they paid, and who paid them?
g. The DEP answers to the NJ Legislature. Can we trust their decision for CAFRA? CAFRA is a Federal program which is entrusted to the NJDEP. Did they do their job well? Why did it take them one year to approve the OGNED request.
h. Will the HPC stand by their negative conclusions from last year or will they fold like a cheap camera in April, 2021? If they are pressured to lie, it would be more honorable if they resigned instead. The HPC answers to Neptune Township.
i. Will the CMA defend their support of this plan which will cast an ugly shadow over their beloved Ocean Grove?
AMY WINEHOUSE from her album Lioness: Hidden Treasures