Milestone: 20th Motel Demolished in Seaside Heights, Hovnanian Project to Get Underway

The demolition of the former Offshore Motel, March 2024. (Photo: Mike Loundy)

Seaside Heights, for years derided for its aging motels that were once associated with crime and nefarious behavior, is in the midst of a historic renaissance. Boardwalk businesses are increasingly mixed between the classic and the luxurious, and the borough will soon play host for one of the nation’s premier developers to replace the twentieth such motel to be eliminated in favor of modern residential and mixed-use buildings, all featuring modern coastal architecture.

The latest motel to be demolished is the Offshore Motel, a long-troubled property located at 108 Boulevard near Dupont Avenue, that was first subject to having its license to operate revoked 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.

A 24-unit townhome community proposed in Seaside Heights by builder K. Hovnanian. View from Lincoln Avenue. (Courtesy: Mike Loundy)

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The demolition of the former Offshore Motel, March 2024. (Photo: Mike Loundy)

The demolition of the former Offshore Motel, March 2024. (Photo: Mike Loundy)

No more. The building was demolished over the course of several days last week and will be replaced by a state-of-the-art townhome community to be constructed by K. Hovnanian Companies.

Both the borough’s planning board and governing body – which had designated the property as an official area in need of redevelopment under New Jersey’s land use laws – approved the project late last year. The new property will be a a 24-unit townhome community built by Hovnanian, whose representatives have said they intend to market the homes as a cohesive, year-round community with room for seasonal units as well.

The photos embedded in this article provide a glimpse into the look of the future community, tentatively named “The Views at Seaside.” The buildings combine coastal colors with a classic northeast island look punctuated with gables, decorative light poles, neat hedges and outdoor balconies in the rear of each unit.

“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,” said Carl Erler, an attorney representing K. Hovnanian who appeared before the planning board at the time of approval in December.

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.

A 24-unit townhome community proposed in Seaside Heights by builder K. Hovnanian. View from the corner of Lincoln Avenue and the Boulevard. (Courtesy: Mike Loundy)

A 24-unit townhome community proposed in Seaside Heights by builder K. Hovnanian. View from the Boulevard. (Courtesy: Mike Loundy)

Loundy, upon demolition of the motel, said “the word seems to be out” on Seaside Heights’ revival.

“Loundy, the owner and broker of Seaside Realty, who is spearheading the project, said that those involved are pleased to be underway with an exciting partnership by the what will be the one of the borough’s most prominent investors.

Offshore Motel, Seaside Heights, N.J., Sept. 2023. (Photo: Shorebeat)

“By the end of this year, we should be underway by redeveloping our 20th motel site into various types of new development including condos, single family homes and mixed use commercial buildings,” he said. “We are looking forward to these and the many other exciting new projects underway in the Seaside Heights area. The word seems to be out that Seaside Heights with our beautiful beaches ranked one of the top 10 in New Jersey, along with our new boardwalk, new amusement pier and updated water park – this is the hot place to be at the Jersey Shore.”