Seaside Park Motel May be Demolished, Become Part of ‘Green’ Parking Initiative

The former Desert Palm Motel, Seaside Park, N.J., May 2023. (Photo: Shorebeat)

A Seaside Park motel that was condemned by the borough last winter will likely be demolished, and its future may be part of an environmentally-friendly parking initiative with state funding.

The Desert Palm Inn, long considered a trouble spot for local law enforcement and the recipient of myriad code and safety violations, was taken by eminent domain in a process that began last year and was finalized over the winter. Though the borough now owns the property outright, the amount the borough must pay its former owner is being contested through litigation that has not yet been settled. Under New Jersey state law, a condemned property falls under public ownership immediately after a vote of the local governing body, with an amount set by a third party appraiser. It is customary for property owners to then turn to the courts to argue the value should be higher.

On Thursday night, the Seaside Park borough council voted unanimously to award a contract to T&M Associates, an engineering firm, to develop contract drawings and bidding estimates for the demolition of the 51-unit motel complex, located at 1505 North Ocean Avenue. T&M would also provide oversight of the demolition once a contractor is hired. The contract with T&M provides for $71,800 in funding.

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The former Desert Palm Motel, Seaside Park, N.J., May 2023. (Photo: Shorebeat)

The future of the property, once it is demolished, is still unclear, though Mayor John Peterson said Thursday that it could potentially become part of a green energy and parking initiative that the state has pledged to fund in town.

“After we get the project specs back, decisions will be made,” said Peterson.

Seaside Park has been awarded a $250,000 grant from the state that would fund a green energy and parking program in town. Though there are no plans solidified since a site has not yet been chosen, the project would consist of numerous parking stalls equipped with electric vehicle charging stations, and canopies with solar panels on the rooftop to generate clean energy. A similar parking canopy concept was erected at Brick Township High School last year.

Peterson said the former Park Central apartment complex, which itself was recently demolished after coming under borough ownership, was rejected by the state for the parking initiative due to its elevation and concerns over flooding. The Desert Palm property, or another oceanfront lot owned by the borough on N Street, are both now under consideration.

The former Desert Palm Motel, Seaside Park, N.J., May 2023. (Photo: Shorebeat)

The idea received some pushback from residents who said they wanted to see both properties back on the tax rolls instead of used for parking.

“I think it’s time we move forward and try to get some money back on these properties we’ve been buying,” said resident Shirley Kreszl. “Why can’t we sell it to a builder who wants to put up a beautiful home?”

“Do we know how many electric vehicles are in town now?” asked resident Beth Anderson. “I don’t understand why we would use oceanfront property for a parking lot. It just doesn’t make sense.”

The charging stations would primarily be aimed at visitors to the town, Councilman Marty Wilk, Jr.

While it is all but assured that the motel will be demolished, its future is “still up for discussion right now,” said Borough Attorney Steven Zabarsky. No decisions have been made regarding the future location – or the ultimate participation of the borough – for the parking initiative.

The borough council entered a closed session meeting following Thursday night’s regular council meeting to discuss the matter, among other legal items that cannot be divulged in public.