Seaside Heights Approves Buy of ‘Half Motel, Half House’ Property, Demolition Coming Soon

The property at 229 Franklin Avenue, Seaside Heights, N.J., July 2022. (Photo: Daniel Nee)

Seaside Heights borough council members voted in favor of authorizing a capital project to purchase a unique – and troubled – property on Franklin Avenue that will later be demolished in favor of new construction.

Tapping funds provided to the borough by the state Department of Community Affairs for the purpose of acquiring blighted properties, the council voted to move forward with the $1,150,000 purchase of the building at 229 Franklin Avenue. The property contains both a single-family home as well as a motel which coexist on a single residential lot.

The motel has been the site of frequent police activity for years, eventually leading the borough to revoke its mercantile license to operate. The motel’s owner ultimately agreed to have the borough acquire the property, which will be re-sold to a party who wishes to build a residential property that is expected to conform to the zone.

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“It’s a project that will be fully funded by the Division of Local Government Services,” said Borough Administrator Christopher Vaz.

The property at 229 Franklin Avenue, Seaside Heights, N.J., July 2022. (Photo: Daniel Nee)

The property at 229 Franklin Avenue, Seaside Heights, N.J., July 2022. (Photo: Daniel Nee)

After the purchase is complete, the borough will solicit bids for demolition services. The motel and home on the site will be razed, leaving a clean lot for development. While the property will be sold to a private party, Vaz said it is not likely the borough will formally designate the parcel as an area in need of redevelopment, since it is being acquired without the use of eminent domain and will be developed in line with existing zoning ordinances.

The demolition will not be funded by local taxpayers, either. The work will be covered under a separate state grant the borough received that is specifically intended to be used to demolish blighted buildings.