Deal Cut For Sale Of Recreation Center

[wildre]

From the 98.7theCoast website. I know the Moreys own the Port Royal wonder if Port Royal, Inc is them?

"Wildwood's city commission is expected to approve the sale of the old recreation center this week. Mayor Ernie Troiano told us today that the buyer of the recreation center will be Port Royal, Inc., and the purchase price is $950,000. The old recreation center sits on Rio Grande Avenue, and is one of the most valuable properties that the city could sell off."

[Al Alven]

Until I hear otherwise, I am going to go ahead and assume (perhaps foolishly) that something other than typical, cookie-cutter condos will be going up in this spot.

Mayor Troiano and the city of Wildwood have done a good job in enforcing strict Doo Wop-style building restrictions on new construction in town this offseason, particularly on Rio Grande Ave.

We shall have to wait and see, though. Frankly, I'm surprised that the property sold for "only" $950,000. I figured the pricetag would have been much, much higher.

[novacancy]

Seriously, sounds like a bargain.

[Al Alven]

Under a million bucks for a prime piece of real estate on the resort's main entrance boulevard?

Hey, again, I will never claim to know much about how these things work, but I am seriously surprised at that figure.

Perhaps something that we generally would not (or cannot) anticipate is in the works here...?

[AnthonyV]

I don't even know where this recreation center actually is in Wildwood...Never even knew they had one! Where exactly is it?

[FlyinGN]

Yea that a heck of a good price for that piece of land

[wildre]

From todays Leader.

Moreys buy rec, may expand Starlux
By MAUREEN L. CAWLEY
Staff Writer
WILDWOOD – The recreation center here was sold to the first and only bidder for $950,000 at 3 p.m. on April 19. Will and Jack Morey, of the Morey Organization, and John and P. Martin Way, of Wildwood Crest, won the bid under the name Port Royal, Inc., a corporation named for another co-owned property, the Port Royal Motor Inn at Palm Avenue and the beach in Wildwood Crest.
In a statement released Tuesday, April 26, Morey Hospitality spokesperson Joanne Rhoads said that the organization is “currently exploring opportunities for a Starlux expansion.”<br>The Morey’s own and operate The Starlux, a DooWop-style boutique motel, which they took a gamble on in 2000, when the island’s much-trumpeted comeback was not yet certain. The organization also owns the parking lot at northeast corner of Atlantic and Rio Grande avenues, where they offer “unique accommodations” in a classic Airstream Trailer.
The addition of the recreation center property, at 243 Rio Grande Ave. will now give the organization sufficient space to undertake a large-scale project with high visibility at the gateway to the island.
The Starlux and its proposed expansion site are just one block west of the 25-story Nouveau Wave Hotel that is proposed to replace the Rio Motel at Rio Grande and Ocean avenues.
Rhoads said that the expansion “will be consistent with the mid-century design of the Starlux, and also with the unique personality of the Wildwoods' beach and Boardwalk.
Mayor Ernie Troiano said he was happy to see that the Moreys and the Ways had won the auction.
“The funny thing is, I tried to get them to buy the property about two years and a lot less money ago, but I guess they have more money and a better idea now,” he said.
Troiano said he expects to be pleased with the outcome of the project.
“They did a great job with the Starlux,” he said, “and you would only suspect that they would follow through with their plan to bring mid-century architecture to life.”<br>A resolution will be passed to accept the bid from Port Royal, Inc. at the Wildwood Commissioner’s meeting on Wednesday, April 27.

Maureen Cawley can be e-mailed at [e-mail] or you can comment on this story by calling 624-8900, ext. 250.

Great news, no condos!!!!

re

[Al Alven]

Thanks for sharing (as always), wildre!

It’s so nice to hear positive news coming out of the Wildwoods once in a while… actually, as the “eternal optimist” I claim to be, I should just go back and eliminate that last thought. But, I’ll leave it there, just to show how the old thought process on these things work.

There have just been so many classic motel demolitions this offseason (and I’m sure they’ll be more), that, well, it has just been a difficult time for us Wildwoods enthusiasts to keep our chins up. But, again, good news stories like this one offer so much hope, and can really reaffirm your faith that preservationalist efforts on the island will win out over the “blandness” of the condos in the end.

The potential Starlux expansion is very exciting, and intriguing. I can’t wait to see what the Moreys – who just can’t get enough credit continuing to preserve our island’s culture – have planned.

Yet another Neo-Doo Wop development in Wildwood proper… I only wish the Moreys could purchase some land and make some more noise in the Crest… but, I don’t want to sound greedy, and I’ll take what I can get at this point.

(One minor mistake from the article that I have to point out, just because: The parking lot where the Starlux-owned and operated Airstream trailers are located is actually at the northwest corner of Atlantic and Rio Grande. The article mentioned that it was on the northeast corner, which is actually where the Starlux itself sits. OK, I’ll stop now.)

[FlyinGN]

Gotta love the Moreys!! Hats off to em!!

[Doowopper]

Thank God for Moreys!