No Parking Here

County says no sale to offer from Avalon condo group to buy land
By BRIAN IANIERI Staff Writer, (609) 463-6713
Press of Atlantic City
Published: Thursday, November 16, 2006

AVALON — Cape May County freeholders on Tuesday night rejected a $61,000 bid by the Windward Harbor Condominium Association to purchase county property for additional parking.
The county's asking price was $1.1 million.

There were no other bidders at the Oct. 27 auction because the land — located on the county right of way off Ocean Drive and capable of adding 17 parking spots — cannot be built on.

Windward Harbor on Ocean Drive and Seventh Street burned down in a December 2003 fire.

The 45-unit complex has since been rebuilt. However, when the Avalon Zoning/Planning Board approved its plans in 2005, it asked the association to look for more parking spaces.

The association was not required to find them.

County Administrator Stephen O'Connor said the county's appraiser Metro of Marmora appraised the 4,535–square-foot land at $1.1 million.

Its value included the additional units that could be created by the additional parking, he said.

Because zoning requirements changed since it was built in 1970, Windward Harbor required more parking spots when it was rebuilt 35 years later.

Board Chairman Neil Hensel said the county's appraisal number seemed especially high for an unbuildable piece of property, and he would not expect the condominium to purchase that property at that price.

“We asked them (Windward Harbor) to pursue it to the best of their ability,” Hensel said. “They've done their job of trying.”

The condominium complex, located on a 71,900 square-foot parcel of land, sits off the bay in Avalon's northern end.

The condo association had previously and unsuccessfully sought room for additional parking from nearby property owners.

“Even with county land, Windward Harbor will rely on ... on-street parking,” according to the Planning/Zoning Board's approval, dated February of 2005.

The condominium association is represented by attorney Michael Fusco.

A woman answering the phone at his Ocean City office Wednesday said Fusco does not speak to reporters.

Anthony Taormina, president of Windward Harbor's board of directors, could not be reached Wednesday.

On Dec. 3, 2003, a fast-moving fire struck Windward Harbor.

It took 125 firefighters from 10 fire companies almost five hours to contain the blaze. The fire was so hot it melted parts of nearby fire trucks and houses.

There were no injuries, but the fire destroyed seven of eight buildings that comprise the complex.

The eighth building was demolished in May 2005 to make room for the new construction.

“This is one of those disasters that happens to a town once in a lifetime,” Hensel said.

To e-mail Brian Ianieri at The Press:BIanieri@pressofac.com

Elevator Approved

Spirit willing but knees weak: Sea Isle OKs church elevator

By BRIAN IANIERI Staff Writer, (609) 463-6713
Press of Atlantic City
Published: Wednesday, November 15, 2006

SEA ISLE CITY — For years, pallbearers have navigated the steep steps at St. Joseph's Catholic Church with particular care. But as Americans have grown heavier, the short trip down 12 concrete steps has grown even more precarious.

The quick drop from the church to the sidewalk on Landis Avenue means pallbearers must hold the weight of caskets above their heads, and it has become more difficult as caskets have gotten heavier, the Rev. Stephen Carey said.

Because of that, and because the congregation is growing older — with knee replacements and sore backs unable to climb those stairs — the church sought and received site plan approval at a city Planning Board meeting Monday night to construct an elevator at the quaint 104-year-old church.

“I dread to see the day when a casket goes down the front of that church, because they're very steep and caskets are getting heavier,” resident John Henry said, speaking before the Planning Board and asking the elevator be approved.
Entering or leaving the church means walking up the steps. With a heavy casket, that walk can be difficult.

Carey said even young, strong pallbearers have trouble carrying the casket up the stairs and to the back of the church.

An estimated 65 percent of adults 20 years old or older are either obese or overweight, according to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, but the size of caskets has not increased “Once in a while we have to order an oversized casket,” Radzieta Funeral Home Director John Radzieta said Tuesday.

The church's plans call for the elevator to be 8 feet 5 inches by 5 feet 8 inches — deep and rectangular in order to accommodate coffins and those carrying them.
The elevator had the support of parishioners who attended the Planning Board meeting.

Many were concerned that the steep stairway was keeping the elderly from attending daily Mass.

The church's parishioners include 1,050 families — “good, bad and indifferent” — and includes year-round and seasonal populations, Carey said. More than half are senior citizens.

“I hope I'll have plenty of chances to come to church and use it (the elevator). And not necessarily in a casket, but that is a good feature,” said Jack Gibson, a parishioner and former state assemblyman.

“It's for a necessity. I'm becoming older, and I look forward to riding that elevator,” Ernie Marcacci said.

Michael McHale, a former Sea Isle City mayor who serves on the parish council, said the church hopes to have the elevator built and in use by May