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Post by Robert on Jul 21, 2005 10:52:30 GMT -5
www.jerseyboardwalk.com/wilcondo.htm and www.signmuseum.com/exhibits/walkingtours/wildwood.html and www.architectureweek.com/2001/1024/culture_1-2.html It seems that someone cared about saving the signs, they saved 50 of them. I saw that Steve Izenour died right before the condo boom started, wasn't he one of the ones fighting to preserve the motels? If only Steve knew what has happened. (with the condo boom/mass selling out/demolition that seemed to start after he died in August 2001) This is one thing - He wrote: "Appreciate Wildwood for what is: The 'un-bored walk' of Wildwood, now vibrant with Doo-Wop color." He said the resort's strengths are: "exuberant 50s and 60s motels that need to be protected against developers of uniform faceless hotels attracted by the convention center." He warned against "robbing future generations of a page of architectural history." That is exactly what happened, what he didn't want, developers swooped in and developed uniform faceless buildings (condos) by sacrificing the motels.
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Post by Doowopper on Jul 21, 2005 12:25:31 GMT -5
It really is a shame he died, he kept the movement going strong and I guess it kind of slowed down with his passing. But hey, the DWPL continues to grow, and there is a growing appreciation for Wildwoods uniqeness. It's not to late to save Wildwood. Yes maybe many of the motels from your time are gone, but one never knows what the future holds. The condo market is well over-saturated and the uncertain future of the housing market could place Wildwood on another path for change. Hopefully it will be a good change. We just have to enjoy whats left now and try to make Doo Wop as famous as possible. The more people against the condos the better.
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Post by Robert on Jul 21, 2005 15:03:12 GMT -5
It's just like Hunt's Pier, the custom rides wiped out and generic steel buildings erected, the unique motels being wiped out and replaced with generic condos, the wackiness of Wildwood is vanishing, being replaced with ordinary looking stuff. It's like losing the Whacky Shack for that steel building or losing the Casa Bahama for a condo, that's a good example.
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Post by FlyinGN on Jul 21, 2005 18:43:06 GMT -5
The first article called it "Doo Wap"' many times lolol
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Post by shoregirl on Aug 17, 2005 14:59:54 GMT -5
We have to just hold out - several realtors have already admitted that they "over-saturated" the market on the island. You can plainly see that from all of the "FOR RENT" signs plastered on every block. People thought they were going to make a super-fast profit on their investments and either rent them out or "flip" them as soon as they made settlement on the property. Well, guess what people? It ain't happenin'!!!!! #1 - people are asking toooo much for rentals for a week ($2,000 to 4,000) - people do not want to pay that, and the ones that do are not eating out, and utilizing the bike rentals and the boardwalk as much. #2 - the owners DON'T want their places rented for just 2 to 4 nights - they WANT "FULL" weeks booked. Well toooo bad, alot of families are now just taking long weekend getaways. The owners of these over-priced, crappy fabricated tan & grey dwellings need full week rentals to meet their HIGH 4 figure mortgage payments each month. (Should have thought of that - before they bought)!!! So now realtors have said (quietly) that in the next 2 to 3 years or less - foreclosures and sheriff sales will be very abundant in Wildwood!!!! People will be able to "sky up" on a townhouse or condo for "back taxes" that the owner owes because at this pace - they will not be able to meet their mortgages, and the banks will take them (and they don't want to be stuck with them, either)!!!! So my husband & I are just sitting back, waiting for the bottom to fall out - which it will. My attorneys told me that as an example: a place that is valued at $400,000 - you will be able to get it for $85,000 to $175,000 just on back taxes, within 2 to 3 years if the property owner defaults in their payments!!! I know of several people that have purchased places on the island just last year - they are having a hard time renting them out. There is 1 lady just in my office alone - she hasn't been able to rent out her brand new townhouse once this entire summer!!!!!!!! She is scared to death they will lose it because they now have 2 mortgages!!!! There is NO WAY I would purchase a condo or townhouse at this time - it is way tooooo risky - unless you can buy a place for CASH!!!!!
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Post by Doowopper on Aug 17, 2005 15:11:47 GMT -5
Let's just assume for a second that the rental market in Wildwood for condos does fall apart, and lets assume you get many foreclosures, etc. What do you have? Condos near the beach for cheap. Now if people just buy them for cheap to have then it really won't be much of an improvement from now. What would need to happen is to get people with $, or an organization like Morey's to buy about four of the condos, tear them down, and build a motel. Otherwise there will still be condos everywhere, they will just be cheaper to buy. Now that's not really a bad thing. Who wouldn't want to get a good deal on a home at the shore? It's just where things are being built that needs to be thought out.
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Post by shoregirl on Aug 17, 2005 15:22:12 GMT -5
I agree doo wopper - even if you can purchase a place just for back taxes - you'll still left with a condo or townhouse that is only good IF you want it for your permanent residence. My husband & I plan to retire in about 6 years to Wildwood Crest - but we ONLY want a single home (must have a garage too). I'm hoping Jack Morey and his organization can stop this idiotic craze. We have lost much toooo much already to the wrecking ball.
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Post by MMM on Aug 17, 2005 19:34:39 GMT -5
Jack Morey? He isn't demolishing the Motels... He's part of the DWPL - in the #2 position, IIRC.
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Post by shoregirl on Aug 18, 2005 7:00:37 GMT -5
That's right - the Morey's are wonderful - thank God for people like Jack and his family. My husband would someday love to meet Jack to let him know how much we support and appreciate everything they have done and are doing to keep the Preservation of Wildwood. We stay at the Starlux alot too - we will always continue to support all of his establishments. ;D
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Post by MMM on Aug 18, 2005 23:10:48 GMT -5
I'm sorry - I misread your post about Jack Morey - I thought you wanted him to stop what he's doing, as if he were demolishing Motels. Now I see it correctly - hopefully stop the bad things that are happening due to the actions of others...
Send Jack an e-mail to give him your support, thanks, etc., if you want - I'm sure he'd love to hear from you. The Morey's seem to me to be quite supportive of hearing from us.
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Post by homer on Aug 22, 2005 16:42:51 GMT -5
Unfortunately, Jack and Will Morey can't stop it. They are running a business and doing it well.
But they are up against a mentality on the island that they already "own most of the island."
I used to think so, too. But lately I am struck by how difficult it is for businesses here to do well (13% tax on a motel room?!). Aren't these the places that keep people coming to Wildwood?
In stark contrast: submit your plans for condos--they will be approved (or shelved for a month, then approved.)
A crime, really.
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