Toms River Council Approves Purchase of ‘Boatworks’ Property, Demolition in 4-3 Vote

The Boatworks building on Robbins Parkway, Toms River, N.J., Aug. 25, 2022. (Photo: Daniel Nee)

Toms River officials on Wednesday night approved the long-pending purchase of the Boatworks building in the township sector, representing the next step in Mayor Dan Rodrick’s new plans to develop the waterfront as a seaport-themed village as opposed to a larger redevelopment effort.

The Boatworks building, while locally historic, has been vacant for years and damaged beyond repair, necessitating its demolition, officials said. The purchase price of $1.85 million will include the demolition of the building, which itself is worth several hundred thousand dollars the township would have otherwise have to pay, Rodrick said Wednesday.

Located at the end of Robbins Parkway adjacent to Water Street Grill and the boat dock for the River Lady cruising boat, the Boatworks building once housed a wooden boatbuilding facility that was also served by a marine rail crossing. It has not been operational in more than 20 years, and is largely abandoned. Capodagli Group, the North Jersey firm that had planned to redevelop the Toms River waterfront with a residential high-rise, restaurant space, a riverfront promenade and amphitheater, had been under contract to purchase the building, but the firm is currently in the midst of having its redevelopment agreement severed by Rodrick and the township council majority.

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At one point, the Boatworks building was envisioned as being demolished and redeveloped with two restaurants, a banquet hall and a parking deck built on the current surface parking lot that abuts the property to the north. Rodrick and his team were ushered into office on a platform opposing what many in town viewed as overdevelopment of the downtown district, with the cancellation of Capodagli’s agreement with the township already having been introduced this summer. The cancellation of the redevelopment agreement must be reviewed by the planning board before the council takes a final vote on the matter. Rodrick has said Capodagli did not meet deadlines required under the agreement, nullifying it, however Capodagli has sued Toms River, alleging the township intentionally delayed development.

Rodrick has said his plan for the Boatworks property will be an expansion of the riverfront park area, a pier, and a marina-style area which may include docking for boats and 70 jet-ski ports. There may also be room for a seasonal “pop-up” style restaurant or bar, similar to the Red Fox at Island Beach State Park.

Three council members objected to the purchase, citing what they saw as too high a price.

“I don’t think the town should be buying this in any matter, because this is a property we’re taking off the tax rolls,” said Councilman James Quinlisk. ” It’s an environmental concern, and we probably paid at least $600,000 or $700,000 more” than it is worth.

Quinlisk previously signaled nominal support, in theory, for purchasing the Boatworks building, but raised concerns over environmental issues and the proposed price. Rodrick said environmental studies have been completed that did not turn up any significant risks, and the price was in line with an appraisal obtained by the township that valued the land post-demolition, which was of a higher value that would have been more attractive to developers.

Councilman David Ciccozzi also dissented.

“This property has been available since 2012 with no takers – zero,” he said. “Zero takers. We are overpaying for it substantially. We’re buying a piece of property when we don’t know what we’re doing with it.”

Capodagli, opponents said, never submitted an actual plan to develop the property and seemed to have lost interest in doing so. Rodrick countered that Toms River has a history of purchasing dilapidated properties that detract from the waterfront area downtown, and in some cases have been left with abandoned buildings that are still standing versus a more pristine lot.

“When we purchased the hotel downtown, we purchased it and it wasn’t demolished, and I believe it ended up costing us a million dollars since it costs us so much more to do work than a private company,” said Rodrick, referring to the Red Carpet Inn, a derelict motel on the waterfront that was purchased by the township for $3.3 million.

The Red Carpet project was the subject of a $4.8 million bond, with the extra $1.5 million being put toward demolition, remediation and shoring up bulkheads behind the property. The Boatworks complex, Rodrick said, will be demolished by the current owner, who will not have to pay higher-than-market prices for demolition work, as the township would under New Jersey’s Prevailing Wage law, which sets a minimum price for public works projects to promote union labor.

“It will make a beautiful pier and an extension to the park downtown,” the mayor said.

The measure passed in a 4-3 vote, with Quinlisk and Ciccozzi voting against the purchase and Councilman Thomas Nivison abstaining.