Long Branch's Seaview Towers Getting Public Beachfront Park

LONG BRANCH, NJ — The Long Branch City Council passed a resolution preventing Seaview Towers from being turned into a hotel and spa, which was the original plan for the property, located at 390 Ocean Avenue.

Instead Seaview Towers will be converted into a 154-unit residential apartment complex, the Asbury Park Press reported.

The proposed apartment building will come with a 375-foot oceanfront park that will be open to the public.

Last year, the city of Long Branch deemed the abandoned towers to be an imminent hazard, expediting the demolition of the buildings.

At their April 27 Council meeting, the Long Branch City Council passed a resolution forbidding it from being turned into a hotel and spa, and limited its use to only residential apartments with no tax abatement.

This will either be condo units for sale or apartment rentals.

"Our concern was that the developer would have the ability to construct a large hotel and commercial businesses in an area where the surrounding buildings are strictly residential. That is why the redevelopment agreement was written this way," said Long Branch Mayor John Pallone.

"Reducing the height of the project and the intensity of development was important to our administration," Council Vice President Mary Jane Celli said.

The city said converting Seaview Towers into apartments will bring in more tax revenue for the city.

"Last year the tax revenue paid to the city for this property was $180,000. When the project is built out, the tax revenue to city is nearly $6 million," said Council President Dr. Anita Voogt.

Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts. Contact this Patch reporter: [email protected]