An attorney representing the prominent New Jersey development company K. Hovnanian shared details on a proposed townhome community that is slated to replace a troubled motel along the Boulevard in Seaside Heights.
The latest information on the redevelopment plan for the site came as the borough’s planning board met to make a recommendation as to whether the company’s proposal met the specifications of the borough council’s plan for the Offshore Motel property, located at 108 Boulevard near Dupont Avenue. Earlier this year, the site of the motel was formally declared an area in need of redevelopment, with potential condemnation as an option if the current owner of the property, Shree Mahadevji LLC, does not sell the property.
In September, it was announced that the borough had, indeed, reached an agreement with the owner indicating his license to operate the motel would be surrendered by Sept. 30 and that the building would be demolished by the end of the year. As of this week, the building is still standing. Mayor Anthony Vaz said the settlement is not currently a condemnation matter and does not involve such litigation. The pending sale of the property is “voluntary and is currently under contract pending various approvals,” he said.
The board approved Hovnanian’s plan to acquire the site and construct a 24-unit high-end townhome community.
“It determined the properties did qualify for properties in need of redevelopment,” board attorney Steven A. Zabarsky said prior to the unanimous vote endorsing the plan. “What’s before us now is the plan for the redevelopment of this area … and whether we want to recommend this plan to be adopted for this site.”
Offshore Motel, Seaside Heights, N.J., Sept. 2023. (Photo: Shorebeat)
Carl Erler, an attorney representing K. Hovnanian, appeared at the meeting and shared some of the first details of the plan beyond the number of units under consideration to the built there.
“It is, essentially, 24 townhomes,” said Erler. “Their feasible configuration would have a homeowners’ association overseeing the community, the roads within the areas between the townhomes would be overseen by the homeowners’ association, and each of the townhome owners will own their own lot for their homes.”
Erler said each home would have a tandem parking area under their units and rooftop access, and features that would make the community vibrant and appealing to residents.
“We’re striving to have more of a year-round buyer if we can,” said Erler. “We’re not typically a seasonal home developer, if you will.”
He said there may be some “small miscellaneous open space areas,” however that would be determined as the company goes through its engineering and design process.
Each unit would measure between 2,200 and 2,500 square feet.
Offshore Motel, Seaside Heights. (Photo: Daniel Nee)
“They will also have rooftop decks, but they will be exclusively for the unit owner’s use,” Erler explained.
The Offshore Motel was first identified in a complaint that would have revoked its license to operate in 2021 following the murder of a woman by an acquaintance who has since been sentenced to 35 years in state prison. The motel had also been in the news after a man was hospitalized after jumping from a window there, and had drawn countless nuisance complaints over the years.
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