Dreams to Nighmares

W'wood code issue makes nightmare of dream homes

By TRUDI GILFILLIAN Staff Writer, (609) 463-6716
Published: Sunday, September 24, 2006

NORTH WILDWOOD — Southern New Jersey's shore and summer vacations were synonymous for the May family.

“As a kid, my parents used to go down to the Wildwoods,” Richard May said. “To us, North Wildwood was the shore.”

So as an adult, it seemed fitting that May, 64, would buy a vacation home here. He hoped his three children and five grandchildren could create equally lasting memories.

But a cloud overshadowed what should have been a sun-filled summer at the shore for May and many of his fellow condominium owners. They found out their properties may not have been built up to code.

The Joint Construction Office of the Wildwoods, which oversees construction projects for Wildwood, Wildwood Crest, North Wildwood and West Wildwood, notified the owners of nearly 500 units primarily in Wildwood and North Wildwood of the possible violations this year. Most received word in the first few months of 2006, but some, including May, only learned of the problem in June.

Owners were told their buildings may have been improperly inspected by the construction office or not built to code, and that an array of violations, such as a lack of firewalls, had to be repaired.

The construction office, according to its attorney, Glenn P. Callahan, is also reviewing other buildings, as many as 2,000, constructed between 2000 and 2005 to determine if the problem is more widespread. The review will then extend to other multifamily buildings erected prior to 2000, Callahan said.

The reported deficiencies in May's building, a four-unit property on Ocean Avenue, include the need for a second staircase and questions about the very joints holding it together.

Suddenly, May, of Yardley, Pa., found his perfect vacation home was not so.
May recalled looking at 28 properties in 2003 before he found number 29.

“Something with an ocean view, not the Boardwalk, and I liked the layout,” May said.
North Wildwood's appeal, he said, included what he called the gentrification of the island, linked to a changing real estate market combined with prices still relatively reasonable compared to neighboring shore towns Avalon and Stone Harbor.

He purchased his unit for under $300,000. According to the city's recent revaluation, the 1,600-square-foot unit is now valued at $570,000.

With the code question looming, however, those figures lose some of their meaning.
“For starters, if I wanted to, I can't sell it. I can't rent it if I wanted to right now,” May said. “I have no idea what my property is actually worth.”

And he has only an estimated idea of what it will cost to fix or whether it really needs to be fixed at all.

In August, May was one of many owners meeting with construction office officials to learn exactly what was wrong.

May said they couldn't find the building plans during that meeting and instead suggested that because it was designed by architect Kevin Young, the same architect who worked on several properties involved, that it likely had the same code violations.

“They couldn't prove it to me,” May said.

Superior Court Judge Steven Perskie, who is overseeing the litigation surrounding the units, has said he wants the problems fixed, promising no one will be hurt in one of the properties while he's involved.

Perskie became involved when the construction office filed suit against dozens of builders, developers, architects and condominium associations connected with the affected properties.

He has said he will revoke the certificates of occupancy later this year for properties where no progress has been made.

Meanwhile, the joint construction office has been talking with the owners, builders, developers and architects to resolve the problems and many owners have already signed abatement agreements, which are documents spelling out the violations and how they will be resolved.

If May and others in his building sign such an agreement, they will have to pay to fix any code violations. He says that could include installing fire alarms and sprinkler systems and estimates costs between $50,000 and $60,000.

May, who makes a living selling services to mutual funds, said he can afford it, but the additional expense, along with attorney's fees, will likely pose a hardship for others.

And May wonders just how urgently the repairs are needed.

“To date, nothing's burned down that I know of,” May said.

Instead, May said the focus should be on forcing those responsible to take the blame and suffer the consequences.

Perskie has said there is ample blame to go around, but assigning it will likely come later when he determines who ultimately will pay for the repairs.

The state Department of Community Affairs has already cited several construction officials for their role in the inspection process. As of June, letters of warning had been sent by Office of Regulatory Affairs supervisor Louis J. Mraw to Lawrence J. Booy, John E. Conti and Mario A. Zaccaria. A letter of reprimand also was sent to Wayne M. Gibson. An additional letter was sent to inspector Albert S. Beers advising him that a review committee will look at findings in his case to determine if his licenses should be revoked.

“The judge is trying to look like a hero. What he needs to do is knock heads with the developers and the JCOW office,” May said.

In the meantime, May says, he is managing to enjoy his seashore home. A typical summer day has included visits with his children and grandchildren, making sandcastles, reading a book under the sun and cooking together at home.

“There are trips to the Boardwalk with the grandkids. We've still been able to do that,” May said.

And this weekend, the joint construction office was the least of his concerns as he planned to enjoy a late September visit during the Irish Fall Festival.

May said the whole experience has soured him just a little on the Wildwoods, but he still wants to stay and enjoy his time here, possibly even purchasing a more luxurious vacation home next time around.

“I think North Wildwood is a pretty place. They've done some good things here,” May said.

But his good feelings may not be enough.
“This has the potential to destroy the community,” May said.

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