Tinton Falls CECOM Building to Be Demolished
 Coaster Photo: The CECOM building in Tinton Falls is scheduled to be demolished by the end of the year. |
By GARRETT STASSE Tinton Falls scored a major legal victory on Tuesday when a judge cleared legal obstacles to redeveloping the former CECOM property. The borough stands to net about $2.5 million and be allowed to approve a 151-unit age-restricted housing development on the Wayside Road property. The green eyesore of an office building is scheduled to be demolished by the end of the year. Jerry Dasti, the lawyer representing the borough for the last couple of years, said the money comes in three forms: about $1.3 million in impact fees from PRC, the developer; $535,000 to help pay affordable housing obligations, and $600,000 the borough doesnt have to repay in a property tax appeal. This is a very fair and appropriate settlement, he said. PRC successfully appealed the borough assessment before the Monmouth County Tax Board last year. The board ruled the borough overcharged by $200,000 and ordered it repaid. Dasti said the same amount would have to have been reduced this year and next, but the agreement, signed by Superior Court Judge Louis Locascio on Tuesday, eliminates the penalty and allows the boroughs original assessment to stand. The settlement also allows the Newman family, which had sued to have 15 acres it owns next to CECOM included in the ordinance that established the redevelopment zone. The settlement lets the family build 34 units on five acres and deed half to the borough for uses not yet established, Dasti said. Were close to the finish line, he said. The case has been going on since 2004 when council adopted the ordinance. In all, four suits were involved. All that remains is for the board to reaffirm the original site plan approvals and some other technical matters. PRC has agreed to pay up to $50,000 to get that done. Once done, PRC has 60 days to begin demolishing the office building, which has been empty for about 15 years and the site of vandalism. The building has asbestos, the removal of which will likely slow the demolition. But it has a steel superstructure, which could be sold for scrap on the rising metals market. This is a pretty massive project. Itll take a while to take the building down, Dasti said. Council members were happy with the results. Councilman Brendan Tobin thanked Dasti for his efforts because they resolved a long-running legal tangle. Councilman Gary Baldwin said, Were going to have a lovely development over there and were going to eliminate an eyesore. Dasti did not say when housing construction might begin or be completed.
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