By JOANNE L. PAPAIANNI
The start of the Boston Way Village demolition and rebuilding is still in the middle of ongoing negotiations in Asbury Park.
Asbury Park Housing Authority Chairman of the Board Gregory Hopson pledged that the city will not be taken advantage of as it has been in the past.
“It’s no longer business as usual in Asbury Park: take, take, take and not give anything back,” he said.
Residents of Boston Way Village have moved or been placed in alternate housing while the new townhouse style units are built.
Hopson said although the project is delayed, he expects demolition to begin no later than June, but is hoping the final details will be settled and the project can begin in April.
“We are going back and forth, but we are not going to let Asbury Park be taken advantage of,” Hopson said.
At an emergency meeting Feb. 27, the housing authority decided to table the issue until Alpert/Metro’s funds toward the demolition are in place.
The demolition is estimated at approximately $700,000 with both parties evenly splitting the cost.
Hopson said the authority learned that Alpert/Metro had used its dedicated funds for other budget concerns, thus causing the vote on the project to be tabled.
“We are still going back and forth,” Hopson said.
Minutes from the Feb. 27 meeting state, ”The Chairman of the Board, Gregory Hopson and the other board members led a spirited two hour questioning of the developers, and ultimately decided that the board had not received sufficient answers to their questions to give the resolution further consideration at the meeting.
“Housing Authority Executive Director Tyrone Garrett offered the developers several options in an attempt to break the impasse, however all of the entreaties were rejected.”
Hopson also said once construction on the project begins, local laborers will be hired whenever possible.
