TOMS RIVER, NJ – Americana Motel on Route 166, just north of Route 37 in Toms River might soon be demolished and replaced with a much larger four-story motel.
“The site in question is previously developed with a 1-1/2 story motel building which is designed to be removed to fascinate the proposed development,” the application by the developer reads. “The applicant is proposing to construct a 4-story, 79 bedroom hotel, with additional site improvements including internal circulation aisles, off-street parking, lighting, landscaping, stormwater management facilities as well as all typical site plan development improvements.”
The motel is located on a busy and congested stretch of Route 166 between Route 37 and Old Freehold Road.
The road was subject to a multi-year renovation project by the State of New Jersey that essentially accomplished nothing, but repaving and putting a Jersey divider along that stretch of highway. The 1/8th mile stretch was expanded from one lane to two in both directions.
The town of Toms River shut down the motel, then known as the Parkway Motel for a series of code violations. The motel in recent years had become a haven for drug addicts and criminals before it was shut down by the township.