73-space parking lot for Bayview Ct. and six duplexes to replace this group of homes with bad history
SOMERS POINT — Five dilapidated eyesores on one of the busiest streets in the city are about to be demolished to make way for a parking lot and 12 housing units.
The Planning Board approved a requested subdivision and major site plan June 15, paving the way for a 73-space parking lot on Shore Road and six fee-simple duplexes off Pleasant and Sunset avenues.
Somers Point Planning Board Chairman Paul Striefski said members approved the plan with some modifications.
The project involves the demolition of the five homes and creation of a parking lot for Bayview Court Apartments, as well as six fee-simple duplexes.
Jack Leonard, owner of the Bayview Court Urban Renewal Entity, said during a presentation of the proposal to City Council that rehabilitation of the apartment complex, formerly known as The Gates and for much longer as Atlantis Apartments, has driven the need for more parking.
The parking lot will be landscaped and have ample lighting and safety measures, including a fence that would force those who park in the lot to walk to the corner before crossing the street, Leonard said.
City Council President Janice Johnston said she is excited for the development to commence.
“They are ready to start tearing them down,” she said. “It’s going to be great getting rid of five boarded-up houses.”
The homes are at 528, 532, 538 and 542 Shore Road, as well as 536 Sunset Ave. behind the others. The next step is to apply for a demolition permit, which had not been done as of last week but was expected any day.
Before they were deemed uninhabitable, the Somers Point Police Department had to respond to the homes multiple times over the years.
Information gathered via an Open Public Records Request shows that 528 Shore Road was the location of 44 calls between Jan. 1, 2011, and Aug. 4, 2020, including 10 for domestic violence, five for 911 verification, two assaults/fights, two disturbances, two sex offender registrations, two restraining orders served, two ambulance calls, one child custody dispute, one harassment, one landlord/tenant issue, one narcotics complaint, one noise/loud party complaint, one theft and one suspicious activity.
Next door at 532 Shore Road, there were a total of 25 calls over the same period, including five property/building checks, two ambulance calls, two well-being checks, one burglary, one criminal mischief, one domestic violence, one fraud, one harassment, one narcotics investigation, one noise/loud parties complaint, one restraining order served, one stolen property report, one instance of trespassing and two warrants issued.
At 538 Shore Road, there were 17 calls over the time span, including seven ambulance calls, two property/building checks, one sudden/unattended death, one repossessed vehicle and one warrant.
There were 12 calls to 542 Shore Road, including six ambulance calls, two trespassing reports, two property/building checks, one suspicious activity and one 911 verifications.
Finally, at 536 Sunset Ave., there were 20 calls, including three noise/loud party complaints, two disturbances, two property/building checks, one burglary attempt, one customer dispute, one domestic violence, one motor vehicle theft, one offense against family and one suspicious activity.
The properties also have been issued multiple code violations for failure to cut the grass and weeds, improper storing of a pod container, accumulation of trash, failure to maintain sanitary conditions, unsafe conditions at 528, 532, 538 and 542 Shore Road.
Police Chief Robert Somers said the developer “has done an outstanding job, they have done a 180 at that place. I have nothing but good things to say about that.”
Michele Bell, 40, who has lived in the complex for about three years, thinks the lot will be a great addition.
“There’s not enough parking; there are too many cars per apartment,” she said. “It will be better for sure. There’s nobody in there, it’s an eyesore.”
She said her sister lived in the complex when it was Atlantis Apartments.
“It’s way better than it was; they cleaned it up big time,” Bell said.
Walking past on her way home from the Somers Point branch of the Atlantic County Library, Molly Sulzer said the change will be a great improvement.
“It’s better than the houses the way they look,” Sulzer said. “It will be good for Somers Point.”
Complex resident Robert Speller said more parking would be nice. He said he fears for his safety at night because he cannot park close to his apartment. He also said he doubts people will park across the street if there are spots in the complex.
Michele Rose, 41, who has lived at the complex for about three years, said there would be no need for a parking lot if the spots were assigned.
“I think it would be better if they put numbers for each apartment and got rid of the cars that shouldn’t be here,” she said.
Rose said the management has done a nice job of fixing up the complex.
“It’s really nice; it’s come a long, long, long way,” she said.
By CRAIG D. SCHENCK/Sentinel staff