Posted on 02/15/2006 9:13:34 AM PST by CharlieL
We in Ocean City, NJ have been fighting since 1998 to preserve a circa 1885 Historic Life-Saving Station from destruction.
The property is located in our City's Historic District and is afforded specific levels of protection from development. The current property owner bought the property knowing those protections were in place, but used his political connections to get approvals to demolish the Life-Saving station and replace it with 6 condo units.
Through various legal battles, we finally had Court affirmation that the developer had to follow our City's ordinances regarding Historic Preservation. Those ordinances define the requirement for maintaining his property and procedures if he still wishes to demolish the Life-Saving station and develop the site.
Last week, City Council approved an ordinance that circumvents our local ordinances, State Land Use laws, unduly influences our local boards and ultimately allows the developer to demolish the Life-Saving station.
I request any assistance that you can give to get the word out regarding this abuse of power and help fight for preservation.
Please contact me for more information on this subject.
Sincerely,
Charlie London, President of Saving Our Station Coalition, a New Jersey Non-Profit Corporation
Click the Source Link to read the article.
They were quite serious and, as far as I know, are still going at it.
It's for the children... and the tax revenues.
If the developer is going to knock it down.. try to see if you can move it to a different spot instead.. yes I know not exactly the same as preserving it where it stands, but better than it being turned into kindling.
The site, which is eligible for inclusion on the State and National Registers of Historic Places, is in our local Historic District. The developer knew it was a Key Property and protected by our ordinances.
According to our ordinances, the developer/owner must place the property for sale at its current value as a historic single family home, not three condo/duplex building lots, for six months before the building can be demolished or moved.
This move by City Council was a deliberate attempt to allow the developer to avoid his obligation to preserve the property and follow the City's ordinances.
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