Toms River Moves Closer To Surf Club Purchase

TOMS RIVER, NJ — Toms River is getting closer to owning the property that was once Joey Harrison's Surf Club in Ortley Beach, after the signing of two documents on Thursday.

Mayor Maurice Hill signed the memorandum of understanding that says Toms River will assume management of the property once it's acquired. He additionally signed the tripartite — three-party — contract for the purchase of the property.

The $7.3 million purchase is expected to be completed by the end of 2021, officials said.

Toms River’s portion will be offset by, and is dependent upon, Ocean County’s $1.88 million pending purchase of township-owned land located next to Cattus Island Park and the Ocean County College. That land sale to the county was authorized by a 6-1 vote in January and is expected to be finalized this fall.

In August, the Toms River Township Council passed an ordinance to authorize the payment of $685,000 from the Open Space Trust Fund.

That payment is contingent upon the NJ Department of Environmental Protection fulfilling its portion of the remaining balance of $6.615 million, township officials said.

The memorandum of understanding will be followed by a formal management and use agreement that details the terms and conditions of Toms River's use of the property, including the addition of restrooms, extension of the boardwalk, and adding of landscaping and benches.

Negotiations between Toms River and the DEP on those issues are continuing, officials said.

The purchase of Joey Harrison's Surf Club has been years in the making. The club was destroyed by Superstorm Sandy in October 2012 and has sat vacant. The club's owner, Joseph Barcellona Jr., initially planned to rebuild, but later abandoned that plan in favor of selling the property, at Route 35 North and Seventh Avenue.

The Ortley Beach Voters and Taxpayers Association has been advocating for the town's purchase of the property since at least 2015, to preserve open space and create more public beachfront. The group paid $10,000 to a mediator to help with the purchase negotiations.

"It’s been a process but I’m happy to take another step toward completing the purchase of the Surf Club property," Hill said. "It’s important to preserve this beachfront property for our residents and we expect to finish the acquisition in the fall. Open space preservation is and will continue to be a priority."

"I’m incredibly proud that we have made this acquisition happen for the community," said Councilwoman Maria Maruca, who represents Ward 1, which includes Ortley Beach. "I want to thank everyone involved for their efforts, especially the OBVTA. It’s taken many people and several steps but we are almost there, and the end result is one that was important to advocate for and will benefit all the residents for many years to come."

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