Seaside Heights cuts ties with Boulevard property developer
Although many locals may say the empty lot on Boulevard is an improvement over the steel skeleton that stood there for years, the stalled redevelopment is not sitting well with town leaders.
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From fist pumping to demolition, the nights of clubbing on the Boulevard in Seaside Heights are long gone, and as the town tries to reinvent itself, it’s now cutting ties with one of the most ambitious redevelopment projects.
Although many locals may say the empty lot on the 400 block of Boulevard is a vast improvement over the steel skeleton that stood there for years, unfinished and abandoned until 2021, the stalled redevelopment is not sitting well with town leaders.
Last week, borough council passed this five-page resolution, ending the agreement, after the developer allegedly missed deadlines and failed to produce financial backers, hitting the pause button on what has been an aggressive period of new projects all over town.
“I believe in the next three to five years we’re going to see a strong Boulevard,” said Mayor Tony Vaz.
After Superstorm Sandy reshaped the coastline in 2012, Seaside Heights looked to shed its party image, and the efforts did not go unnoticed.
Rita and Brian O’Connor visit often from Toms River.
“Everything looks so good, and the boardwalk feels so much safer than when we first started coming here,” said Rita O’Connor.
“Is it 100%? No, but I think it’s heading in the right direction,” said Brian O’Connor.
Due to the high likelihood of this matter ending up in a court of law, Mayor Vaz is not commenting specifically about the resolution. However, he is pointing to other redevelopment projects in town as success stories, including right across the street at the site of former Club Karma.
“It took 18 months to 24 months. It’s a beautiful structure. They’re going to have retail underneath it. It’s a vision we like,” said Mayor Vaz.
Seaside Heights Borough Council will officially cancel the sale of the land through an ordinance at this month’s meeting on the 17th. The land will next have to go out for bid again.
