Last Tenant In Beachwood Shopping Center Gone, Utilities Being Disconnected

by Patricia A. Miller

Soon. Soon.

Mayor Carmen F. Amato Jr. says the township is moving as quickly as possible to reach the point where the battered Beachwood Shopping Center can be torn down.

“The final details of the condemnation and the sale to the redeveloper are being finalized, hopefully this week,” the mayor said Monday. ”Once that’s done, the redeveloper will begin the demolition. The redeveloper is anxious to start, as are we.”

The check cashing business - the last tenant in the plaza - has left.

“That held us up a little,“ the mayor said. “The service station is privately owned and not part of the Beachwood Mall.”

Owner Priscilla Oughton - whose father James R. Johnson built the shopping center in the 1960s - has granted the township access to the site, Amato said.

“The town and redeveloper couldn’t do anything on site until we received permission from owner to access the property,“ he said. ”We have been working with the redeveloper and utility companies to obtain utility disconnects. Once the utility companies send the disconnect letters, the redeveloper can apply for the demolition permit.”

Natural gas, water, and electrical services at the site have been disconnected. The electrical service was shut off shortly after a fire broke out in the plaza at the height of Superstorm Sandy on Oct. 29, 2012.

“We are also waiting on Verizon and Comcast disconnect letters,“ he said. “We are moving forward and as quickly as possible. The redeveloper is ready to move forward and demo once all the final approvals are in and the property owner has consented to a final purchase price, less costs.“

The redeveloper will front the demolition costs, which will be deducted from the final sale price, Amato said.

A fence has been installed around the old Carvel building, which will be torn down.

“ The old flea market building behind the Carvel is in good condition and will likely remain, as the redeveloper will use this to store equipment.”