Can't Rent

Wildwoods condo owners can't rent without fix
By TRUDI GILFILLIAN Staff Writer, (609) 463-6716
Press of Atlantic City
Published: Wednesday, May 24, 2006
Updated: Wednesday, May 24, 2006

NORTH WILDWOOD — Condominium owners who received notices of violation from the island construction office have been sent letters by the city telling them that they will not be able to rent their properties this summer unless a fix is found.

City Administrator Ray Townsend said Tuesday that letters are going out to those who requested mercantile licenses for the summer informing them of the city's position.

Other letters will be sent to people who already received those licenses, explaining the city's method for rescinding mercantile licenses.

Earlier this year, about 500 units on the island were deemed to have been improperly inspected and/or constructed by the state Department of Community Affairs.

The units have problems of varying degrees related to the type of fire-suppression systems installed and fire safety.

Solicitor William Kaufmann said the city will not issue mercantile licenses to those properties unless the Joint Construction Office of the Wildwoods, or JCOW, notifies the city that the problem has been fixed.

Kaufmann said that if JCOW tells the city that JCOW, the state and the owner have reached an agreement to fix the problems, then the city will also consider the problem abated and would then issue a mercantile license.

Kaufmann said the matter is moving as quickly as possible given the litigation involved.

JCOW attorney Glenn P. Callahan has been meeting with property owners, builders, developers and architects to come up with solutions for the 79 buildings involved.

To e-mail Trudi Gilfillian at The Press:TGilfillian@pressofac.com