Source: Don Stine of The Coaster
A landmark groundbreaking for redevelopment along West Lake Avenue in Neptune’s Midtown area was celebrated as an important milestone for the community at a special ceremony on Tuesday.
Mayor Randy Bishop referred to the groundbreaking as “an incredible occasion.”
“This is one of the most momentous and happy days in Neptune Township. We are on our way to making the dream a reality,” he said.
Construction of a two-story office building on the southern side of the street to house various medical services for the Jersey Shore University Medical Center and other independent operations is now underway.
Township, county and state dignitaries attended the groundbreaking with a larger ceremony taking place at the new Midtown Community Elementary School on Route 33 later in the morning.
The project, through efforts of the Midtown Urban Renaissance Corporation and CityWorks Inc., received $20 million in state funding from the New Jersey Economic Development Authority for the project.
Bishop praised MURC as “the backbone of community support.”
More commercial buildings, a park, and a senior citizens residence is planned for the area.
“This is about change and it’s about history. Today does mark a milestone,” said MURC’s vice president, Gail Oliver.
Oliver was one of the original founders of MURC and her family’s home was razed last month to make way for the current redevelopment project. She recalled her happy days living in her family house on what was then Springwood Avenue but she also spoke about her despair and fear when riots occurred in the area in 1970.
“My community and my street were ripped apart,” she said.
Oliver also recalled how she and then Mayor Patricia Monroe sat down for the first time about a decade ago to discuss redevelopment of the area and having the 3.5-block area declared an area in need of redevelopment by the state.
Monroe said the enthusiasm of residents and township officials were important factors in making the redevelopment happen.
“This is a glorious day for Neptune,” she said.
Committeeman Thomas J. Catley said the community now has hope and opportunity in the wake of 40 years of neglect.
“This is the story of a community that embraced change. We did not let redevelopment become a political football,” he said.
Nat Cave, who lives on Myrtle Avenue in the middle of the redevelopment area, said he sees the improvements as very good but a longtime coming,
“It’s time to rebuild the community and establish it once again. It’s a great improvement to revitalize the area,” he said.
Dennis Davis, who lives on the other side of Route 35 at West Lake and Taylor avenues, said he wants to know when redevelopment will cross over the highway to his neighborhood.
He said his neighborhood needs curbs, sidewalks, parking, housing and other improvements,
“It goes from a neighborhood to the hood. The community just ran down and there are a lot of transients. They keep telling me we will be the next project,” he said.
Both men said they favor renaming West Lake Ave. back to Springwood Avenue, noting the street’s rich business and cultural history.
