The Coaster
Tuesday, March 28, 2023
No Result
View All Result
  • Browse News by Town
    • Allenhurst
    • Asbury Park
    • Avon
    • Bradley Beach
    • Deal
    • Interlaken
    • Loch Arbour
    • Long Branch
    • Neptune
    • Neptune City
    • Ocean Grove
    • Ocean Township
    • Tinton Falls
  • About Us
  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
Subscribe / Renew
  • Browse News by Town
    • Allenhurst
    • Asbury Park
    • Avon
    • Bradley Beach
    • Deal
    • Interlaken
    • Loch Arbour
    • Long Branch
    • Neptune
    • Neptune City
    • Ocean Grove
    • Ocean Township
    • Tinton Falls
  • About Us
  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
No Result
View All Result
The Coaster
No Result
View All Result
Home Asbury Park

Holy Spirit Church Saved from Wrecking Ball

by Ed Salvas
August 8, 2022
in Asbury Park
Demolition of Holy Spirit Church Sought
1.4k
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare via EmailShare on Twitter

By ED SALVAS

There was applause from the audience in the Asbury Park Council Chambers Monday when the Planning Board voted to deny an application to tear down Holy Spirit Church and replace the century old church with private homes.

The 4 to 2 vote came on a motion to deny the application of JLD Development Group which proposed replacing the church with four private homes on Second Avenue and two on Bond Street.

The two dissenting votes were cast by Planning Board Chairman Barbara Krzak and board member Eric Galipo. Both Krzak and Galipo said their votes were based on the city zoning ordinance which Galipo said was an “unfortunate reality.” Krzak said it takes an application like this for the city to possibly create an ordinance to preserve historic properties.

Those voting in favor of the motion to deny were Mayor John Moor, Jim Henry, Jennifer Souder and Daniel Sciannameo.

Attorney Thomas DeSeno, an outspoken opponent of the development plan, had made an effort in court earlier Monday to block the meeting, saying there had been insufficient notice of the meeting, which was carried over from last week. But the meeting was allowed to proceed.

JLD Development Group attorney Matthew Posada introduced Joseph Grabas, a member of the Monmouth Country Historical Commission, who said he was an expert with 44 years experience in the land title search business and had appeared more than a dozen times as an expert witness. Grabas said he studied the history of Asbury Park, including the writings of founder James Bradley, and found no recorded restrictions on the use of the property, other than those involving set-backs.

Grabas said Bradley acquired the property from Ocean Township in 1871 and was a businessman wanting to improve his property, and was never more than one of seven members of a commission that governed Asbury Park.

Much of the meeting was taken up with comments from the public. Anthony Silva of Neptune,  a graduate of Holy Spirit School, said if the board voted to approve the proposal, they  “would be giving away something that makes this town special.”

He was followed by Robin Mennie, a business owner in the city who has been circulating a petition to save the church, said she has faith “the church will stand.”

Kay Harris, president of the Asbury Park Historical Society, read a statement suggesting the developers “consider a completely different property in Asbury Park to develop and allow another church to acquire the church building as is or go back to the drawing board to reconsider your vision while preserving the building.

At that point, Isaac Freidel, Pastor of the Shore Christian Church and the Dream Center of Asbury Park, said his organization had made an offer to purchase the property so it can survive as a church. Robert McAllan of Wall Township. said he was a graduate of Holy Spirit school and called the Planning Board’s opportunity their “Pennsylvania Station Moment,” recalling the New York decision to tear down the historic station. He has lived and worked in Asbury Park and is a former member of the city Board of Adjustment and knows how it feels to regret some of the decisions that were made.

Longtime resident Rita Marano pointed to pictures on the wall of the Council Chambers and noted they were mostly pictures of things torn down. “Bradley built several churches,. This is not only about zoning. It’s about the history of Asbury Park.”

The entire three-hour meeting was recorded by APTV and can be seen on FiOS Channel 28, Optimum channel 77 and also on Roku, Apple TV  and at  www.AsburyParkTV.com.

Related Posts

Husband Indicted for Killing Wife, Leaving Body on Roadside in Ocean

Asbury Park Woman Indicted For Toddler’s Fatal Overdose

March 28, 2023
Beach Cinema Still for Sale

Gopal Secures $250,000 Funding For Covenant House in City

March 27, 2023
Work Continues to Manage Canada Geese at Wesley Lake

Work Continues to Manage Canada Geese at Wesley Lake

March 22, 2023
3-City Music and Arts Festival Includes Asbury Park

3-City Music and Arts Festival Includes Asbury Park

March 20, 2023
Demolition of Holy Spirit Church Sought

Holy Spirit Church Lawsuit Scheduled For Court March 17

March 14, 2023
Fishing Club Show at Berkeley Hotel

Fishing Club Show at Berkeley Hotel

March 8, 2023

Trending This Week

Stabbing Incident at Asbury Park High School

Burglary Arrest in Ocean Township

March 22, 2023
Asbury Hotel Employee Charged with $400,000 in Theft

Eatontown Man Charged in Burglary, Resisting Arrest in Interlaken

March 22, 2023
Sleepless Sleeping Out in Neptune City Park

Sleepless Sleeping Out in Neptune City Park

March 28, 2023
2 Lawsuits Filed Over Neptune City’s Marijuana Ordinance

New Cannabis Ordinance Approved in Neptune City

March 28, 2023

Advertise Online with The Coaster

Advertise on The Coaster to reach countless new customers for your local business.

START ADVERTISING TODAY

E-mail Newsletter

Sign up to get a free weekly newsletter to your inbox.

Subscribe

Contact Us

The Coaster
1011 Main St
Asbury Park, NJ 07712
Phone: 732-775-3010
FAX: 732-775-8345
editor@thecoaster.net

Email Newsletter »

All Articles

Search Our Site

No Result
View All Result

© 2023 The New Coaster, LLC. All rights reserved.

No Result
View All Result
  • Browse News by Town
    • Allenhurst
    • Asbury Park
    • Avon
    • Bradley Beach
    • Deal
    • Interlaken
    • Loch Arbour
    • Long Branch
    • Neptune
    • Neptune City
    • Ocean Grove
    • Ocean Township
    • Tinton Falls
  • About Us
  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
Subscribe / Renew

© 2023 The New Coaster, LLC. All rights reserved.