Coaster Photo
A permit has been granted for the demolition of Holy Spirit Roman Catholic Church in Asbury Park.
By ED SALVAS
Demolition of Holy Spirit Roman Catholic Church in Asbury Park may take place soon as the legal battle over the fate of the landmark church comes to an end.
The city Planning Bard voted this week to approve the plan to remove the church and build six new single family homes on the site at Second Avenue and Bond Street. The Planning Board had rejected that plan earlier this year when submitted by Mountain View Development, a subsidiary of JLD Investment Group. The company bought the property from the Diocese of Trenton for $1.7 million.
Mountain View Development went to court and on Oct. 31, the court vacated the Planning Board’s decision, agreeing with the developers that the plan was rejected despite the fact that it conformed to all of the zoning requirements for that location and should have been approved. City officials declined to challenge the ruling. Present for the vote Monday were Planning Board members Jim Henry, Jennifer Souder, Eric Gallipo, and Chairman Barbara Krzak.
Joseph Hanna, co-founder and president of Mountain View Development said a permit for demolition of the 114 year old church was granted by the city Dec. 14.
The battle to save Holy Spirit from the wrecking ball took place over several months of packed Planning Board meetings and emotional pleas from former parishioners and residents. Faced with declining attendance at Mass, Holy Spirit was merged into our Lady of Mount Carmel on Asbury Ave. in 2014 and they became the Mother of Mercy Parish. The last Mass at Holy Spirit was celebrated in June, 2021.
While the Gothic Style church building is still standing, much of the interior has been gutted with the altar, statues and other artifacts moved to other churches in the Diocese of Trenton.
