The reward for being a bad neighbor: toms river to buy surf club, debris for $8. 4 million

The reward for being a bad neighbor: Toms River to buy Surf Club, debris for $8.4 million

by
March 10, 2021
··

ORTLEY BEACH, NJ – In the 8 years since Superstorm Sandy, most of the Shore has been restored.  Debris has been cleaned up, homes and businesses have been rebuilt.  That is, except for the Joey Harrison’s Surf Club.  The owners of the Surf Club have been bad neighbors to the residents of Ortley Beach.  After an initial demolition project, the property was left pretty much as it was after the storm. Concrete footings, a partial structure and a fence warning the public to keep out have remained an eyesore for Ortley Beach.

A few years ago, the owners of the property argued their case to the Township of Toms River that they were paying too much in taxes and filed a property tax appeal.   Now, the town is going to approve the purchase on Tuesday for $8.4 million.   That doesn’t include the cost to demolish the existing structures on the property to make way for a new boardwalk extension Toms River Mayor Mo Hill seeks to build in their place.

The deal is a political one too.  GOP Lawyer Larry Bathgate represents the sellers, the Barcelona family.  Bathgate has been an influential player in Republican politics in New Jersey since the 1980s.  On the other side is the township where Councilwoman Maria Maruca, who has been pushing the sale said she’s good friends with the Barcelona family.

So tonight, the saga of the long-abandoned eyesore ends, as the Barcelonas walk away with $8.8 million, Mo Hill gets to build his boardwalk and Maria Maruca gets a few votes in her 2021 election.  It will be interesting to see the $60,000 press release they come up with.

Phil Stilton
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.

  1. New Jersey Town Where ICE Agent Was Run Down Passes Resolution Urging Repeal of Sanctuary State Policies
  2. New Jersey Dem Lawmakers Move to Expand Assault Rifle Ban As Court Rules Existing Law Unconstitutional
  3. FIFA Is Now Selling World Cup Grass Paid for by New Jersey Taxpayers
  4. Flood Watch, Severe Thunderstorm Risk, and Possible EF2 Tornado Threat Across New Jersey Today