|
Post by Al Alven on Jul 21, 2006 11:37:17 GMT -5
Generally, I try to stay very "positive" when discussing the Wildwoods, be it in defending the island against its detractors or in discussing the future of the resort.
However, I also realize that there is a time and a place for pointing out some of the issues that plague the Wildwoods, issues that contribute to the "seedy" reputation it sometimes gets and hold it back from attaining its rightful status as a world-class resort.
Now, some have criticized the look of the new Sam's Pizza restaurant to this point, the many lowbrow t-shirt shops that can be found all along the Boardwalk, and other "eyesores."
But, I want to take a few mintues to complain (once again) about the absolute abomination that is the 3000 block of the Boardwalk.
What a mess, an utter disgrace. I don't know what the real deal is with this monstrocity of a complex, but I do know that something has to be done about it. Many of the businesses on the first level have finally re-opened, which is a start, but it's not nearly enough.
"Eyesore" isn't even strong enough a word to use for this building (and, trust me, it only looks worse from the rear). I remember this place once operating as a condo complex at one time, but how long has it sat completely vacated now?
I believe it was set to re-open at one point, but asbestos problems shut the operation down. I admit, I don't know the entire history of this place and I may not have all of my facts down straight, so I don't want to make any undue accusations.
All I will say is, this complex continues to sit there and rot, and something has to be done about it.
It amazes me -- look at all the redevelopment in the Wildwoods over the last few years. Look at all of the efforts being made to transform the resort into a more "upscale" entity. Look at all the one-of-a-kind, servicable businesses and landmarks that have been sacrified during this process...
... And then, look at abandoned rat-holes like this... a place in one of the most high-profile locations on the island, just allowed to continue to fester and deteriorate.
There is so much potential here, and yet nothing has been done. It's downright ugly to look at during the day, and the area is incredibly dark when you pass by at night... even with the businesses operation below.
Come on, Wildwood! Getting rid of/fixing up this place should be a top priority if you really are serious about improving the image of the town, the island and the Boardwalk in general!!!
|
|
|
Post by FlyinGN on Jul 21, 2006 12:05:21 GMT -5
I agree Al. They *seem* to be slowly renovating it because it definetly looks better then it did a few years ago when the whole block was dark and not one business was open beneath it...
|
|
|
Post by Rob Ascough on Jul 21, 2006 12:34:48 GMT -5
Is this the three-story building that consumes as entire block between Hunt's and Mariner's? If so, I'd like to chime in, primarily because I'd love to know the story behind that thing.
It has sit there for years and it looks worse and worse with each passing season. I remember a few years ago the whole thing was closed but now there are stores beneath it once again. Who owns the place? I always thought it was a cheap motel, not condos. Isn't the city concerned about such an eyesore? It really is pathetic.
|
|
|
Post by Al Alven on Jul 21, 2006 13:09:37 GMT -5
That's the building, Rob.
I think it's situated between Glenwood and Maple Aves., to be more specific. I just can't fathom why it's sat there for so long in the condition it's in.
I don't know who owns it, but surely something could be done. I took a close look at this building yesterday, and thought about some of the improvements that could be done to improve its appearance.
Even if this place isn't going to operate as, say, a condo or a motel or whatever next year, why not give it a fresh coat of paint and maybe even throw on a strip of neon tubing across the top (a la the roofline of the Bolero)?
This would really brighten up the area, at least, and give it a little more of a cheery look. As it is now, it's just sad and depressing... and reeks of neglect.
|
|
|
Post by Crippled_Visions on Jul 21, 2006 13:53:56 GMT -5
This block is really no different than Seaport Village. Seaport has been rotting away for a number of years, and now sits vacent. Hopefully, somethng will be done about both of these properties.
|
|
|
Post by Al Alven on Jul 21, 2006 14:46:14 GMT -5
Good comparison, Crippled.
The only difference between the two, in my opinion, is that the 3000 block is even more “accessible,” and is in a higher-profile area that literally millions of people might pass by in a given year.
I liken Seaport Village a bit more to the back of Sportland Pier, in that it is just sitting there abandoned, but it’s kind of pushed away and out of the main public view. Sure, you can stand at the base of these two piers and look in, but I don’t think they are eyesores quite on the level of this atrocity.
But, whatever. Like you said, let’s hope something gets done with these properties soon.
|
|
|
Post by Doowopper on Jul 21, 2006 16:28:08 GMT -5
If they gave the place a coat of paint as you said, say aqua, it would look 100% better. That place is an eyesore, and it would be so nice if it were fixed up.
I was also getting tired of seeing t-shirt shop after t-shirt shop with profane language, dirty comments, and shirts with our President with Devil horns. Some more neo doo-wop and much more appealing places like Sand Jamm would be perfect. You don't want to loose the Honkey-Tonk never ending carnival feel of the boardwalk but you don't wan't it to look seedy either.
|
|
|
Post by MMM on Jul 21, 2006 20:32:10 GMT -5
I agree, it's pretty bad, though not as bad as it was a few years ago. Jeez, the Satellite gets demolished, but this thing gets to live. There's something very wrong about that...
|
|
|
Post by writhinganacondo on Jul 21, 2006 21:49:29 GMT -5
I agree, it's pretty bad, though not as bad as it was a few years ago. Jeez, the Satellite gets demolished, but this thing gets to live. There's something very wrong about that... According to some tenants the building still leaks (the roof crashed in several years ago) and the new owners aren't any better. Actually virtually every building has roof leaks, so that isn't news! Its also infested with pigeons and thus feral cats in the off season. I don't see how that crumbling building is allowed to operate, but it looks better than being dark like it was for 2 years. The old Glenwood Bowling Lanes is still behind and under that building, the entrances were on the Glenwood Ave. side where that old marquee is and in the middle of the block there was a boardwalk entrance at the rear of the stores.
|
|
|
Post by JerseyDigger29 on Jul 21, 2006 22:28:19 GMT -5
That's the building, Rob. I think it's situated between Glenwood and Maple Aves., to be more specific. I just can't fathom why it's sat there for so long in the condition it's in. I don't know who owns it, but surely something could be done. I took a close look at this building yesterday, and thought about some of the improvements that could be done to improve its appearance. Even if this place isn't going to operate as, say, a condo or a motel or whatever next year, why not give it a fresh coat of paint and maybe even throw on a strip of neon tubing across the top (a la the roofline of the Bolero)? This would really brighten up the area, at least, and give it a little more of a cheery look. As it is now, it's just sad and depressing... and reeks of neglect. IMO Seaport Village Pier is not half as bad - or dangerous - as the block between Glenwood and Maple. If you think the boardwalk view is bad, try walking down the Glenwood ramp and check out the electric connections from the street pole to the building. (It's on the back of the building at the bottom of the ramp, right next to the old Glenwood Bowling Alley). The electrical connections coming into the building are all black, wet and mouldy. God knows the last time they were checked. This block is the worst on the entire boardwalk. Sooner or later it is sure to burn down, it's just that dangerous. I worked for the city of Wildwood as public information officer in the early 90's. At that time, the city was constantly on the owner's back. He owed a huge amount of back taxes and the city was always citing him for violations of this and that - constantly! I can't remember the name of the owner back then and I don't know who owns it now. I believe the apartments upstairs, at least in the early 90's, were occupied by the transient vendors who ran the stores in the block, not tourists, mostly T-shirt people. I think the city took away the CO's for the apts because they were unfit for human habitation, after a very long series of violation notices. When a property that is privately owned becomes a problem, there isn't much the government can do to force the guy to fix it up. All government can do is keep on citing it for the violations and hope the owner will eventually get tired of paying all the fines and sell out. I don't know if the city can take a private owner to court and get an order to fix it up or not. Anyone know? I guess the city can condem the building as being unsafe. For the life of me, I don't know why this hasn't been done. All the boardwalk businesses are apparently getting their yearly mercantile licenses. I wonder why the city is issuing the "mercs" for a building that isn't safe. Look at Sportland Pier. We can all bi**h and moan all day long and nothing will happen unless the owner himself decides to fix it up or decides to sell out. As long as he keeps paying the fines, what can you do? As for the building between Glenwood and Maple, even if someone really good came in - say the Moreys, for instance - and bought it, they would have to completely tear it down to the ground and start over from scratch. The current building, IMO, is a total loss. Unfortuneatly, it will probably end up suffering one of those mysterious "Wildwood fires" that get started when the gas and electricity aren't even turned on... It needs to be scrapped and built over from the beach up. Thom
|
|
|
Post by hulk007 on Jul 21, 2006 23:16:10 GMT -5
I agree. It is an eyesore because of its location. Weren't the stores though open even after the apts. shut down? What was the name of this place?
|
|
|
Post by JerseyDigger29 on Jul 22, 2006 9:20:53 GMT -5
I thought I had taken a picture of the electrical connections in the back of this building a long time ago. When I checked, all I had was a photo of the old Glenwood Avenue Bowling Alley next door to the 3000 building. Unfortuneatly, this picture doesn't do justice to my point about the danger of the 3000 building. It's directly to the left of the bowling alley. (BTW, the bowling alley in it's day was a wonderful place. During the winter, the bowling alley and the two Hunts Theaters on Atlantic Avenue were the only things in town open, besides the Wildwood Rec. Everybody in the county came there to bowl. Doesn't look it from outside now, but it had two floors of lanes and a beautiful winding staircase to the second floor. ). Anyway, the 3000 building next door is in worse shape than the bowling alley in this picture. If I get a chance this week, I'll take a better picture of the 3000 building. Thom
|
|
|
Post by Crippled_Visions on Jul 22, 2006 12:55:12 GMT -5
I thought I had taken a picture of the electrical connections in the back of this building a long time ago. When I checked, all I had was a photo of the old Glenwood Avenue Bowling Alley next door to the 3000 building. Unfortuneatly, this picture doesn't do justice to my point about the danger of the 3000 building. It's directly to the left of the bowling alley. (BTW, the bowling alley in it's day was a wonderful place. During the winter, the bowling alley and the two Hunts Theaters on Atlantic Avenue were the only things in town open, besides the Wildwood Rec. Everybody in the county came there to bowl. Doesn't look it from outside now, but it had two floors of lanes and a beautiful winding staircase to the second floor. ). Anyway, the 3000 building next door is in worse shape than the bowling alley in this picture. If I get a chance this week, I'll take a better picture of the 3000 building. Thom This is why people roll their eyes when you tell them that you are going to Wildwood for a vacation.
|
|
helen
Junior Member
Posts: 62
|
Post by helen on Jul 22, 2006 20:49:21 GMT -5
I always wondered about this place - It is such prime land - but I guess the owner is waiting for someone to come in with a crazy amount of money!
|
|
|
Post by hulk007 on Jul 22, 2006 22:00:04 GMT -5
Wow that is a sad sight.
|
|