By Kenny Walter
Staff Writer
LONG BRANCH- In what has become a common occurrence at Long Branch workshop meetings, a developer is proposing a redevelopment project along the beachfront.
During the Feb. 23 Workshop meeting, representatives of Blackridge presented plans for a vacant property on 345 Ocean Blvd. in the Beachfront South redevelopment zone. This project, if approved, would become 40 apartment style units with 81 underground parking spaces and nine additional spaces above ground.
The developer originally presented plans for the property in September, and attorney John Giunco said, while there were slight changes to the plan, they are ready to move forward.
“There isn’t a big change in the building itself since our original presentation,” he said. “We made some changes in the elements around it.
“We kind of think that we are ready to move onwards.”
Project architect Jim Monteforte explained some of the changes to the proposal.
“We fine-tuned it, we altered the landscape plan so everything kind of flows out of the ground,” he said. “The front courtyard area was reconfigured.”
Giunco said the applicant is on the verge of obtaining a Coastal Area Facilities Review Act permit from the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, a necessary step before the application can move forward.
According to Monteforte, the building will be built using a combination of wood and metallic materials.
“As you go by the building, the building will actually change colors,” he said. “As you see all the terraces and trellises going on, it gives you kind of a ‘beachy’ feel.”
In the past two years, several developers have presented apartment, townhouse and condominium proposals for the Long Branch beachfront.
Black Ridge is currently conditionally recognized as the project’s redeveloper, and in order for the project to move forward, the City Council must permanently designate the group as redevelopers.
