Toms river to decide future of canceled downtown twin towers site

TOMS RIVER, N.J. — Mayor Dan Rodrick has canceled plans for a ten-story apartment complex in downtown Toms River, ending a years-long controversy over the proposed development. The project, to be built at the site of the old Red Roof Inn, was officially terminated after the developer, Capodagli Properties, failed to meet multiple deadlines for securing permits and financing.

Rodrick announced the decision last month, stating that his administration took legal action against the developer in early May. “We began taking legal action against the developer of tower projects in early May,” Rodrick said. “Capodagli Properties, the developer of the towers, did not have their permits in place by the contractual deadlines. This was not the first time the developer missed those deadlines.”

Now that the project appears to be done, the next question is what should be done with the land. The township and the mayor have said they will not purse another major developer and they will not sell their land again for $1. Rodrick has hinted about more passive recreational use for the land, which has sat as a dormant parking lot for years, sometimes used as a farmer’s market.

The development had been a contentious issue in Toms River, with opposition from residents and officials alike. Last year, the previous mayor, Maurice “Mo” Hill, extended deadlines for the project after similar delays, allowing Capodagli Properties more time to fulfill its obligations. However, the company again failed to meet this year’s extended deadlines, prompting Rodrick’s administration to declare the developer in default.

“When the developer failed to meet the extended deadlines again this year, my administration put them into default,” Rodrick said. “Over the last 90 days, the developer has not once reached out to explain how they planned to cure that default.”

In early July, Capodagli Properties was unable to demonstrate that they had secured the necessary financing for the project, which led to further legal action and a second notification of default. The township exercised its right to cancel the agreement when the developer failed to meet financial obligations.

Under the terms of the agreement, the property, which was transferred for $1 under Mayor Hill’s administration, will revert back to the township within 60 days. Rodrick did not specify future plans for the site but made clear that transforming the downtown area into a high-density urban center is no longer on the table.

Phil Stilton Latest posts

Phil Stilton is the Editor and Publisher of Shore News Network, an independent digital newsroom providing original reporting on New Jersey, national news, government, public policy, public safety, courts, and community affairs.

As founder of the publication, Stilton leads editorial strategy, investigative reporting, and daily newsroom operations while overseeing coverage that reaches millions of readers annually.

With extensive experience covering municipal government, county government, state legislatures, elections, law enforcement, emergency management, and public records, Stilton specializes in translating complex government actions into clear, factual reporting. His work frequently relies on primary source documents, including court filings, legislation, public meeting records, election finance disclosures, government databases, police reports, and Freedom of Information and Open Public Records Act (OPRA) requests. He has reported extensively on local government accountability, taxpayer spending, campaign finance, public corruption investigations, infrastructure, public safety, and the policies affecting New Jersey residents.

Under Stilton's editorial leadership, Shore News Network has grown into one of New Jersey's largest independent digital news organizations, publishing thousands of original news articles each year while providing breaking news coverage, investigative reporting, and analysis across state and local government. The publication's reporting is routinely sourced from official government agencies, public officials, court records, and firsthand documentation, with a commitment to transparency, attribution, corrections when warranted, and clearly distinguishing factual reporting from opinion.

Stilton's journalism follows established newsroom standards emphasizing accuracy, verification, fairness, and accountability. Every effort is made to verify information through official records and multiple reliable sources before publication. His reporting is intended to provide readers with timely, well-documented information that helps them understand the issues affecting their communities, while maintaining editorial independence from political parties, government agencies, advocacy organizations, and commercial interests.

Readers can submit story tips, corrections, public records, or media inquiries through the official Shore News Network website or its verified social media channels. Shore News Network welcomes corrections and updates when new information becomes available as part of its ongoing commitment to accurate and transparent journalism.