Tag Archives: NJ

Waste News

Demolition of historic Bellevue Hotel begins in Ocean City – NBC40.net

OCEAN CITY – Demolition crews, officials, and residents of Ocean City are hoping that in a few weeks, the historic site of the Bellevue hotel will be transformed, from unsafe building, to an open lot.

It was a process that began in August, when a neighboring business owner noticed that the building looked swollen on one side.

It turned out, water had pooled on the roof, weakening the building and sealing its fate.

“The building has been deemed unsafe, it’s been tagged, nobody’s allowed in the building, nobody’s allowed against the building because of structural damage,” said William Jackson, who is supervising the demolition.

Demolition officials we spoke with said the whole process should take around four weeks, longer than a usual demolition because of the building’s close proximity to power lines, other buildings, and people.

Local residents, even those who have been in Ocean City all their lives, say it’s time for The Bellevue to go.

“It’s a shame it had to come down. It’s in such disrepair, it has to come down. But they just let it go too long before they took care of it” said Julius Green, a lifelong Ocean City resident.

The Ocean City Council will vote tonight to approve $165,000, the cost of the demolition contract. Officials say the Bellevue’s owner was notified, but hasn’t contributed to demolition costs.

“Through his representatives he demonstrated they could not take that on themselves, and so the city can take it down and place a lien on the property,” said Ocean City Business Administrator Michael Dattilo.

No matter what the vote is tonight, Dattilo says the building is coming down either way, and he’s confident the council will approve the funds.

via Demolition of historic Bellevue Hotel begins in Ocean City – NBC40.net.

Waste News

Beginning of the end for Sears building | Courier-Post | courierpostonline.com

A Camden landmark has started its disappearing act. Although actual demolition of the Sears Building isn’t expected until later this year, workers have begun removing parts of the long-vacant structure on the Admiral Wilson Boulevard.

A crew on Friday used heavy machinery to carefully remove a 1,000-pound slab that for decades carried the former’s store name above its main entrance. The building, constructed in 1927, was South Jersey’s first free-standing department store. But it’s now in the path of a redevelopment project overseen by Campbell Soup Co. which has its world headquarters nearby.

“We’re actually removing the front façade as we look at ways to commemorate the building’s role in Camden’s history,” Anthony Sanzio, a Campbell Soup spokesman, said Friday. “We are removing pieces and preserving them.”

Campbell Soup has not yet determined exactly how the pieces will be used, Sanzio said. A decision has not yet been made about the fate of the building’s imposing columns, he said.

via Beginning of the end for Sears building | Courier-Post | courierpostonline.com.

Policy/Regulations/Government, Structure Reuse

Kevin Riordan: Woodbury seeks to boost its profile and build its brand – Philly.com

Workers finish up inside the new County Seat Diner in Woodbury. "Woodbury was a historic town center. That was the identity that was stolen from it," consultant Cindy Williams says. (APRIL SAUL / Staff Photographer)

Workers finish up inside the new County Seat Diner in Woodbury. “Woodbury was a historic town center. That was the identity that was stolen from it,” consultant Cindy Williams says. (APRIL SAUL / Staff Photographer)

Woodbury was trying to revitalize its downtown when I was a young reporter there in 1980, and this likable little city hasn’t stopped trying since.

So I’m tempted to suggest “Woodbury: The Work’s Never Done” as a new slogan for the Gloucester County seat.

Fortunately, civic leaders have a better idea. They’re asking citizens, businesspeople, and others to help them come up with the best way to “brand” Woodbury.

The timing looks auspicious: New dining spots are opening; $26,000 has been raised to install a handsome clock at the former train station on Railroad Avenue; and the vacant G.G. Green building on Broad Street is being saved from demolition.

via Kevin Riordan: Woodbury seeks to boost its profile and build its brand – Philly.com.