Seaside Heights Awards Contract for Demolition of ‘House-Motel’ Property

The property at 229 Franklin Avenue, Seaside Heights, N.J., Aug. 2023. (Photo: Shorebeat)

The Seaside Heights borough council on Wednesday awarded a contract to an excavating company to tear down two derelict buildings occupying a single lot on Franklin Avenue.

The governing body unanimously awarded a $55,000 contract to AB Kurre Contracting, of Freehold, to demolish a single-family home and multifamily motel-style building constructed in its backyard. The buildings at 229 Franklin Avenue had long been the bane of the surrounding neighborhood, generating frequent calls to police. They had also fallen into extreme disrepair.

The property at 229 Franklin Avenue, Seaside Heights, N.J., Aug. 2023. (Photo: Shorebeat)

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Tenants had been living in the deteriorating property, which was considered a safety hazard, when the borough purchased the property last fall for $1.1 million utilizing state grant funding with the intent of demolishing the structures and re-selling the parcel to a private owner. The final tenants were removed in the spring.

The bid by AB Kurre was the lowest received by the borough.

“The next low bid was $118,000,” said Borough Administrator Christopher Vaz, who will now notify the company that they can begin work. Officials are not waiting – given the safety issues posed by the buildings and concerns from neighbors over their condition, they hope to have the buildings down quickly.

The property at 229 Franklin Avenue, Seaside Heights, N.J., Aug. 2023. (Photo: Shorebeat)

The property at 229 Franklin Avenue, Seaside Heights, N.J., Aug. 2023. (Photo: Shorebeat)

“We’re hoping it’s next week – the sooner the better,” said Vaz. “Buildings with plywood on the windows don’t look good for the neighborhood.”

The council has already adopted a redevelopment plan for the site which will see the construction of three modern townhomes. Vaz said the council, at its next meeting, will likely vote to solicit bids for the sale and redevelopment of the property.