Waterfront eminent domain list slashed from 50 to 7 properties
Move paves way for lot-by-lot redevelopment
Waterfront redeveloper Asbury Partners yesterday released an updated list of properties they may acquire through eminent domain, reducing the number from about 50 to seven.
“We feel this is positive for the city and the properites in the waterfront redevelopment area,” said Brian Cheripka, vice president of land for Asbury Partners. He declined to comment on the reasoning as to why certain properties were taken off the list and others were not.
Under the current plan, Asbury Partners is permitted to take about 50 properties in the waterfront redevelopment zone through eminent domain, allowing them to take ownership of and then develop full city blocks, as the waterfront redevelopment agreement [WRA] between Asbury Partners and the city dictates.
An arbitrator last year said the redeveloper must update the list of properties they wish to seek through eminent domain. The deadline for the developer to provide the list to the city was yesterday. Asbury Partners reduced it from about 50 properties to seven. For the changes to go into effect, the city must amend the WRA through an ordinance, on which the council will likely vote in August.
This change paves the way for an amendment to the WRA, city redevelopment and planning officer Don Sammet said. Currently, anyone wishing to develop a property is required to develop the entire city block where that property sits, meaning an individual homeowner is usually unable to make any changes to his or her home, aside from maintenance.
The proposed amendment to the WRA would allow property owners and developers alike to make additions or build new structures on individual lots, Sammet said. Sammet is currently drafting amendments, which will likely be put before the council for a vote in August.
The seven-property list includes some notable lots, including the former Salvation Army building; Asbury Lanes at 209 Fourth Ave.; and the home of Angie Hampilos [shown above].
Hampilos was the subject of a documentary, called “Greetings from Asbury Park,” about eminent domain. Her house is located at 406 Sewell Ave.
The Salvation Army building is located across from Sunset Park, west of Kingsley Street, at 210 Fifth Ave., 200 Fifth Ave. and 1221 Webb St.
A small house at the corner of Kingsley Street and First Avenue, on the same block as Porta, is also still eligible to be taken by eminent domain.
Other addresses still on the list include 218 Fourth Ave., 213 Fourth Ave. and 209 Seventh Ave.
Forty to 45 properties were taken off the list, meaning they are no longer eligible for eminent domain. Some of the notable properties include the following:
• The former Adriatic restaurant, which was recently purchased by Johnny Mac’s owner John McGillion. McGillion has said he plans to turn it into a bar.
• The block bound by Webb Street, Kingsley Street and Sixth and Seventh avenues.
• The Kingsley Arms apartment building at the corner of Kingsley Street and Deal Lake Drive.
• The Miramar Apartments on Webb Street, between Deal Lake Drive and Eighth Avenue.
• An apartment building at 215 First Avenue.
• The large apartment building just west of Porta.
Click here for a photo album of all these structures on the Sun’s Facebook page.
