Toms River to pay contractor $212K to take down Surf Club wreckage

TOMS RIVER - A Totowa contractor has received a $212,800 contract from Toms River to demolish the remaining structures at the site of Joey Harrison's Surf Club, as the township moves closer to acquiring the Ortley Beach property.

Two Brothers Contracting Inc. was awarded the contract at a special township council meeting. A section of the structure of the former nightclub, along with about 30 pilings underneath the building, still remain on the site.

Mayor Maurice B. "Mo" Hill Jr. said he believes the township will complete the acquisition of the Surf Club property by the end of December.

He said the price for the demolition came back "lower than we thought," and that the township has enough money to complete demolition of the structure.

The township is expected to pay about $8 million to purchase the former nightclub, which is located on the oceanfront in Ortley, along with two adjacent properties, including a 100-space parking lot.

Substantial damage:Toms River mayor to FEMA: Give homeowners more time to flood-proof homes

Nuisance flooding:New Jersey's coastal 'nuisance' flooding is going to keep getting worse: experts

The money will be a part of the approximately $8 million that will be used to purchase the Surf Club site in Ortley Beach, and two adjacent properties, including a parking lot. The state is expected to pay the large majority of the cost — $6.6 million — which will come from Blue Acres funds used by New Jersey to purchase land in the flood plain.

Council members agreed in August to use $685,000 in open space funds to help buy the property.

Earlier this year, Toms River agreed to sell two parcels of land to Ocean County for $1.88 million, to raise the money necessary to complete the purchase. The township has not yet closed on the sale with the county, but Hill said the closing is very close. 

The lands Toms River is selling to the county to acquire the Surf Club include about 82 acres that will be added to the 427-acre Cattus Island county park, and about 86 acres adjacent to Ocean County College.

Flood insurance:On the 9th anniversary of superstorm Sandy, a plan to reform flood insurance

What — if anything — is built on the oceanfront land will depend on what is approved by the state Department of Environmental Protection. The Surf Club beach will serve as an extension of the township's public beach in Ortley Beach.

The township plans to extend the boardwalk to the Surf Club property.

The Surf Club and the adjacent parcels were valued at $9.44 million by the township before superstorm Sandy struck, according to tax records provided by Lawrence E. Bathgate II, the attorney representing Joseph Sr. and Dolores Barcellona. The Barcellonas own the Surf Club and adjacent properties.

Bathgate noted that under the Blue Acre program, the valuation date for purchases is set at Oct. 28, 2012 — the day before Sandy struck the Jersey Shore. Sandy caused unprecedented damage in Ortley Beach, damaging or destroying the large majority of properties in the small barrier island community.

The Surf Club, which Joseph Barcellona Sr. purchased in 1973, was destroyed. A neighboring condominium building was also destroyed. Watch the demolition of the main part of the building in the video above.

Bathgate said the Barcellonas would receive $7.3 million for the properties under the deal with the township. 

The Ortley Beach Voters and Taxpayers Association has been advocating for the purchase of the Surf Club even before Sandy hit the Shore. Last year the group agreed to spend up to $10,000 to hire a mediator to help the township and the Barcellonas reach an agreement on the sale.

Flooded but repaired during the December 1992 nor'easter, the surf club had survived dozens of storms until superstorm Sandy destroyed it.

Jean Mikle covers Toms River and several other Ocean County towns, and has been writing about local government and politics at the Jersey Shore for nearly 36 years. A finalist for the 2010 Pulitzer Prize in public service, she's also passionate about the Shore's storied music scene. Contact her: @jeanmikle, 732-643-4050, jmikle@gannettnj.com.