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Second Grand Condo Wins Fast Approval from Lower Planners

Diamond Beach (Lower Twp) | 10 weeks 5 days ago | Comments 11

By Jack Fichter

Grand of Diamond Beach under construction, left, and Pier 6600 where Grand South will be built. Photo by Jack Fichter

DIAMOND BEACH — Lower Township Planning Board granted Achristavest and Mita preliminary site plan approval June 19 to build another Grand of Diamond Beach condominium project, Grand South, a 12-story, 98-unit project, next to the building under construction in Diamond Beach.

It will “essentially” be a twin to the building presently under construction, said Frank Corrado, attorney for the project.
Grand South will occupy the site of Pier 6600 hotel.

The board approved Grand South, which required no variances, in 30 minutes. In contrast, approvals for the first Grand entailed multiple meetings that stretched over three years.

The project received a waiver for a drive aisle in the parking garage being one foot smaller than township regulations, but which conformed to state rules.

Mita said he was “committed long term to Lower Township and Diamond Beach.” He said he expected to spend another decade or more here, especially “given the market conditions.”

Architect Victor DePalo said Grand South differs from the first Grand building by including a ground level parking area as well as a second-level parking garage.

Grand South will have an elevated pool with a view of the ocean and a second, interior pool, fitness area and meeting rooms.
DePalo said the building would have space for eight retail stores with eight parking spaces off Rochester Avenue. He said Grand South met density requirements and could have had as many as 147 units instead of the proposed 98.

All township lot coverage and setbacks requirements were met, said DePalo.

Project Engineer Vince Orlando asked for a waiver for a regulation that only permitted entrances to the stores from the interior of the building. The waiver will also allows entrances from the street and include a plaza area with chairs and umbrellas.

He said a catch basin planned for the property would improve drainage.

Mita told the Herald he expected to break ground for Grand South in about five years and considered it phase three of the project. Phase one, the current building under construction, will be completed in 12 months, he said.

Phase two of the project, Grand West, a smaller five floor, 63-unit condominium across Atlantic Avenue, will break ground in four years, he said.

No members of the public were present to comment on the project as compared with a meeting room full of residents in the past, meeting after meeting.

Pier 6600 Hotel will remain open until the groundbreaking for Grand South, said Mita.

He said he predicted the national economy would not improve for another two years.

The Grand is the most successful condominium in the county in terms of sales with about one-third of the units sold, said Mita.

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Comments (11)

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Tue, 08/05/2008 - 2:00pm

it is hard to see how these condos will sell. i hope the developer has very deep pockets because he will have to carry this property for a few years; or at least i hope his banks won't foreclose. i also hope it is successful, for the areas sake.

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Mon, 07/14/2008 - 12:10pm

While the building is LARGE, a major concern is beach access along E. Rochester Avenue. A major safety concern is that horrible dilapidated broken-down boardwalk off E. Rochester. Every other complex has a beach access point that has a beautifully well maintained trek-type boardwalk from the street in about 500 feet. If the developers want to make friends with the current owners in the area they should leave this access open and improve it.

It also looks like the building has encroached upon the municipal right-of-way with its curbs along E. Rochester and Atlantic Avenues. I hope once their second phase is started they continue to leave the street open to the public.

It is easy to see why the Planning Board approved all of these projects, and the last one in such a short time. Since this section of Lower Township is so far away from everything else, it has little impact on any voting residents. It seems that it is always those who are considered the interlopers that get screwed the most.

I feel for those people who live along E. Rochester who used to have a view of the ocean and now it is dwindling, and soon will be gone.

As far as the other commenter from 12:14 6/29, if the market were better you would see a wholesale exodus from the area. I also don't believe over 1/3 or 40 units have been sold to date. Maybe there are contracts, but I am sure some of those people are either demanding a substantial reduction in their price or trying to get out of their deal. I see the lowest priced units have dropped almost $200,000.

The Market is the Market.

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Sun, 06/29/2008 - 12:14pm

WAWAWA...like you're the only one who has seen an increase in their taxes....here's some words of advice........SELL!!!!!!!!!!!!MOVE!!!!!!!!!and see if you can find anywhere cheaper!!!!!!!!

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Sat, 06/28/2008 - 6:57pm

As on owner in LT Diamond Beach Section that pays over 5.5k in taxes for 2008 for 1000 sq ft condo; we all hope this could lead to a little tax relief.

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Fri, 06/27/2008 - 8:58am

Boy o Boy there are some really jealous people in this area. An absolutly wonderful Bldg and a huge ratable for Lower Township. An answer to the one post is YES, it has aready been reported by twsp officials that these bldg's will be huge in the twsp's budget that will result in a tax reduction. And to the poster at 8:53 am, why dont you read the article before commenting. It is reported that a third are already sold and this is before a single condo has been built. Listen, why dont you WW Crest cry babies move to the other side of your little dry town and let Lower deal with issues that need to be dealt with. Side note, I have no affiliation to this project but I am a resident of Lower that is proud of where we are going. Someone please offer tissues to the rest of the nay sayers. Good luck to the developers and I hope you get rich and prosper, I envy you and keep on track in following that American Dream !!!

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Fri, 06/27/2008 - 5:13am

Phase I is already 1/3 sold and will not "open" until 09'. The millions in dollars of increased rateables will undoubtedly help lower township taxes, without adversely impacting township services as the condos are primarily being purchased by second home owners.

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Thu, 06/26/2008 - 6:05pm

to the poster of 7:57 PM- how could 4-6 million in additional tax revenue NOT help the Twp tax rate!

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Thu, 06/26/2008 - 8:53am

Wasn't this the same person who had multiple violations and routine customer service complaints relating to the Grand? Let's see how quickly they have to file bankruptcy, auction, or do an insurance scam to recoup when no one buys them.

(ED. NOTE: That was the former owner, not the present one.)

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Wed, 06/25/2008 - 7:57pm

will this eventually help lower the taxes for lower township with more ratables ? how about an answerfrom the lower township council.

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Wed, 06/25/2008 - 1:47pm

I would love to know how this is an asset. The local streets cannot possibly handle the traffic. It is good to know however, that Mita insiders are already at work with the PR as evidenced by the post above. The builders will get their due when their units sit empty due to a busted economy.

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Tue, 06/24/2008 - 3:03pm

This will be another tremendous asset to Lower Township. Thanks to Mita for having the vision and dedication to invest in the future and in Lower Township. We look forward to their many wonderful projects throughout Cape May County.

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