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Post by Captain Phil on Sept 27, 2006 13:46:28 GMT -5
Driving down Ocean ave Monday, I couldnt help but notice that for the first time in about 6 years there was not one Demolition Sale sign hanging from a motel railing.
One year ago I was helping my girlfriends parents get their sale ready. And helping there friends next door at the High Lili with theres. I remember driving back to my house and seeing a bunch more along Atlantic, Ocean and Surf ave's I remember Ralph and Joann talking with the High Lili owners Amilio and Lisa, if they had made the right decicion about the time of getting out. "If we stayed another year could we have gotten more?" They always had wonderd that, untill now.
I think its over guys. With the way the market is now, and developers not offering motel owners the kind of money that you cant imagin, I think every motel that has survived, be here for a long time.
I hope im right.
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Post by Al Alven on Sept 27, 2006 14:05:12 GMT -5
I hope you’re right as well, obviously, Phil. And, I’m fairly confident that you are.
While we can’t say with any absolute certainty that every motel left will survive for the foreseeable future, I think that the majority of the remaining lot can be safely upgraded from the “severely endangered” list.
The changes that occurred over the past two offseasons were incredibly dramatic. I don’t think that point can be emphasized enough. A “cool down” period is very important now. The market does seem to have slowed, but it is now time for the island to catch its collective breath and analyze what has happened, where we are, and where we’re going.
For all of the changes, Wildwood still manages to maintain a lot of its original charm. By a recent (admittedly informal) count, I jotted down a list of more than 200 “Doo Wop” buildings, structures and businesses that remain (or certainly have the capacity to be) very serviceable entities.
By late September in each of the past two years, we had at least heard rumors of the impending demise of dozens of motels and such. This year, the only property confirmed to be going is the Hawaiian Rumble. I still wouldn’t be surprise to see at least a few others added to the “demo” list, but things are looking much calmer on that front for this winter.
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Post by organator on Sept 27, 2006 14:25:03 GMT -5
Binns and Bonito?
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Post by Captain Phil on Sept 27, 2006 14:32:17 GMT -5
I have heard that as well, however if those owners had sold last year they would have made double what they will now. That goes for the rest of the island as well. I think you will see many motels stay because its not the same money. Put it this way. The High Lili sold last year for 4.8mil. This year they would be lucky to get half that. We talked to the developer whos is building the Kona Kai condos. He told us he wouldnt even offer half what he gave the inlaws bc now the condos wont sell for what they did the past few years.
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Post by Captain Phil on Sept 27, 2006 14:34:50 GMT -5
For the price developers are offering now, it makes more sense to run it as a motel, bc if you sell it, you have to go find something else. My girlfriends parents were able to retire on what they got. If they had waited untill now...forget about that.
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Post by Al Alven on Sept 27, 2006 14:41:03 GMT -5
Great example, Phil.
It sure is looking more and more like the owners who waited until last year to sell (Kona Kai, Hi Lili, 24th Street, Thunderbird and many others) made out the best. Of course, many of the ones who sold the year before probably didn’t do so bad either.
I would imagine that some motels and properties continue to sit on potential goldmines. We’ll have to wait and see what happens, but if some of these highrises finally get approved, I can’t imagine owners of motels such as the often-mentioned Binns and Bonito, or the Lu Fran on Ocean Ave., for instance, not making out very well.
For small motels like, say, the Beach Colony in the Crest, however, this is likely no longer the case.
But, I digress…
By all accounts, the Binns and Bonito are going nowhere for now. I just got off the phone with the manager (or whoever is working the desk at the Binns) and was told that both motels will be in operation in 2007. In fact, I believe the Binns is open year-round, there are no plans to close the doors (temporarily or permanently) any time soon.
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Post by thelastresort on Sept 27, 2006 14:46:26 GMT -5
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Post by Al Alven on Sept 27, 2006 16:13:08 GMT -5
By all accounts, the Binns and Bonito are going nowhere for now. I just got off the phone with the manager (or whoever is working the desk at the Binns) and was told that both motels will be in operation in 2007. In fact, I believe the Binns is open year-round, there are no plans to close the doors (temporarily or permanently) any time soon. Hooray!! The day is saved!!!! I'm so excited I just can't hide it I'm about to lose control And I think I like it(you know, I am kidding, of course) Just reportin' the facts, my friend. ;D (lastresort, we all know you love the Binns, Bonito, Lu Fran, Eden Roc, Oceanic and Days Inn, and the memory of the Grand... but we promise not to tease you about it.)
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Post by hulk007 on Sept 27, 2006 16:21:39 GMT -5
What's the deal with the Buccaneer? I would guess that's coming down.
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Post by thelastresort on Sept 27, 2006 16:26:39 GMT -5
Thanks Al! Ok, I suppose once and for all, here are my personal preferences, biases, etc. I'm willing to give the Lu Fran a pardon, contingent on the Starfire staying, but everything north of the Starfire up to the convention center should go. If the Starfire goes, everything on Oceanic north of Bennett up to the convention center should go, in my opinion. Most everything on Oceanic beginning with the Winward going south should stay, as well as the oceanfront properties beginning with the Adventurer. Naturally, this does not include the Grand and Pier 6600. Put up the 25 story Four Seasons there, please. The places on both sides of Atlantic going south beginning with the Starlux and Sea Shell (Rio Grande) should stay, sans the Eden Roc. Naturally, one can cherry pick a few exceptions, such as the Jolly Roger, etc. Re the Binns and Bonita, I don't really know the places except to pass by, but I defer to the forum and it sounds like they should go. Everything else, do as you will with them, I don't really have an opinion one way or the other. This does not mean tear them down, by all means, keep them if they are clean and well kept. I just am not knowledgeable about them enough to render an opinion.
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Post by JerseyDigger29 on Sept 28, 2006 0:13:50 GMT -5
I don't know whether the Binns and Bonito are coming down. All I know is that the high-rise that was going to replace them was denied by the ZB THREE TIMES. So unless the developer wants to come up with a smaller proposal for the site, what else is going to go there. As for the lack of demo signs: I agree Captain Phil. I have been spending my daily circular trip around the Island every day since Labor Day on pins and needles waiting to see some frightening sign of demolitions. From Diamond Beach to Anglesea - so far - I haven't seen one single demo sign or bulldozer that isn't there already for a current project. What I have noticed, however, is that there seems to be some signs of new or impending construction: 1 - The Doo Wop museum, bandshell, and Neon Garden is in progress and as of today's Wildwood council meeting, was announced is to be completed about Februrary. Another delay, but at least it's progressing. 2 - Phase 1 of the boardwalk renovation that was supposed to begin soon was postponed because the lone bidder came in too expensive. Bids are now to be sent out again with a downsizing of phase 1 - Instead of four blocks either side of Cedar Avenue, they will now start with the tunnel under the boardwalk at Schellenger Avenue and a 1 block renovation from Cedar to Schellenger Avenue. The downsizing is due to the needs of certain potential contractors, not the desire of the city. Start date depends on a contractor winning the new bid. 3 - The repaving of the concrete tramways from Cresse to Rio Grande Avenue which has been on hold for about two years because of contractor problems will hopefully be done by a new contractor. The Mayor said he is tired of seeing the project just sit there floundering and wants to get it done quickly. 4 - Maxwell Field community center will begin sometime soon. 5 - As announced in another thread, - by Wildre, I think - the planned boardwalk entranceway project at Rio Grande is being delayed and will be changed slightly and rebid. The city engineer announced today that instead of the original wooden entrance to the boardwalk, the project will now be rebid for concrete, which is supposed to be less expensive. (I have to recheck my notes). Well, these are some of the things I've noticed: construction instead of demolition. However, I'm still waiting for the other shoe to drop. Thom P.S. Oh, BTW, I forgot the Grand. Ker-boom!!!!!! ;D TheWildwoodsReporter.comthom@thewildwoodsreporter.com
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Post by Rob Ascough on Sept 28, 2006 8:56:02 GMT -5
Here's hoping that the condo boom is over and I can return to Wildwood next summer without dreading what I see... or don't see. The fact that I knew I'd be seeing fewer and fewer motels each summer did put a slight damper on my enthusiasm for our annual Wildwood pilgrimage.
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Post by wildre on Sept 28, 2006 12:24:12 GMT -5
Al, oh how I hope you are right. This Fall I feel things have settled down compared to the last 2 post seasons. Not nearly the number of cement trucks, backed end loaders, etc. roaming the streets. While construction continues it's not every block,or so it seemed to me There are still plenty of things that are suppose to come down, HR, Grand, Lillian Vernon, the last 2 have plans filed that we've heard about. Assume it's condoville for the HR site but haven't heard for sure?
re
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Post by klinker on Sept 28, 2006 22:18:54 GMT -5
Ahhhhh, the Hi-Lili. We had stayed there for years in the late 60's and 70's when Helen and Loy owned the place and then started alternating between there and the Kona-Kai. We returned there after a long absence in 2001 and to our surprise the furniture was the same as it was in the 70's but H and L had just sold it to a couple (I cant remember the guys name but his wife was Lisa) who were in the process of sprucing it up. I believe she said that he was in that line of work. The next year when we went back Emilio and Lisa had bought it from them. Emilio and Lisa said they had a place up in North Wildwood that they had just sold to buy the Hi-Lili. If they sold for 4.8 mil, what do you suppose their purchase price was back in 2002? Does anyone know what motel they used to have in N. Wildwood? Now the big question is can I get a good recommendation on another nice smaller family oriented place to stay in that area of the Crest? The Hi-Lili was nice because we could get our two little guys in for a nap and sit by the pool and only be a few feet away from our room to check on them. It would be great to find a place as cozy as that again.
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Post by JerseyDigger29 on Sept 28, 2006 22:19:31 GMT -5
Al, oh how I hope you are right. This Fall I feel things have settled down compared to the last 2 post seasons. Not nearly the number of cement trucks, backed end loaders, etc. roaming the streets. While construction continues it's not every block,or so it seemed to me There are still plenty of things that are suppose to come down, HR, Grand, Lillian Vernon, the last 2 have plans filed that we've heard about. Assume it's condoville for the HR site but haven't heard for sure? re Marie, no big deal, but when you said the Lillian Vernon, did you mean the Doris Vernon on Pine Avenue which is to be replaced by the Taffy Walk? Thom
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