Skip to content

A town square for an unsquare town

redbankgreen

Standing for the vitality of Red Bank, its community, and the fun we have together.

RED BANK: HOSPITAL TO RAZE ‘UNSAFE’ BUILDING

A temporary fence has screened off the building, at 103 East Front Street, since mid-May. (Photo by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge.)

By JOHN T. WARD

Another building owned by Riverview Medical Center in Red Bank is slated for demolition, redbankgreen has learned.

The hospital has indicated it wants to replace the tax-exempt structure, at 103 East Front Street, with a parking lot, according to filings.

Map shows Hackensack Meridian’s real estate holdings in Red Bank as of February, 2021; click on the green markers for tax status and other details. (Google Map from Monmouth County property records.)

Three days after a December 10 fire call, borough inspectors visited the vacant, two-story building and found it “unsafe,” noting that the roof was “leaking excessive amounts of water” and black mold was “growing throughout” the structure, according to an enforcement notice.

Because of rainwater flowing through the roof, the electricity was shut off and the fire alarm could not be repaired, the report said.

The building department ordered Riverview to demolish the structure within 60 days, by February 12.

But that hasn’t happened. Construction Official Tony Neibert told redbankgreen that “the hospital asked for more time to go out to bid and to discuss with zoning and their management on what to do next with the property.”

Records show that Riverview, part of the 17-hospital Hackensack Meridian Health network, applied March 17 to create a 7,300-square-foot parking lot for 23 vehicles on the site. But Community Planning Director Shawna Ebanks denied the application, on the grounds that a variance would be needed to proceed.

A borough response to a redbankgreen Open Public Records Act request Thursday included no subsequent filings by Riverview.

In a prepared response to redbankgreen questions, the hospital said Friday that demolition “is scheduled to proceed once all necessary utility shutoffs have been completed” by Jersey Central Power & Light and New Jersey Natural Gas.

But the statement did not address whether the parking lot plan is still in the works. A variance request has yet to show up on a zoning board agenda.

The property, acquired in 1987, is one of several owned by the hospital that is exempt from property taxes. Click the above graphic for information about Riverview’s holdings.

The building, with a see-thru breezeway overlooking the Navesink River, is the third hospital structure in recent years to face a wrecking ball.

Next door, at 95 East Front, is a grass-covered, fenced-in lot where Riverview razed a Victorian mansion in December, 2020. Across the street is 96-98 East Front, a corner lot where Riverview razed several buildings in May, 2020; the lot has since been landscaped.

Both those sites are taxed.

Do you value the news coverage provided by redbankgreen? Please become a financial supporter if you haven’t already. Click here to set your own level of monthly or annual contribution.

Remember: Nothing makes a Red Bank friend happier than to hear "I saw you on Red Bank Green!"
Partyline
CHISELIN’ AWAY
Marcelo Garcia Lopez works with hammer and chisel on a new feature for his flower garden on Shrewsbury Avenue: a hollow in a carved log in w ...
STORM CLEANUP CONTINUES
  Saturday’s storm sent a tree toppling on this house on Bank Street, damaging the roof. Workers Wednesday could be seen removing ...
SNAPPING IN THE BREEZE
RED BANK: Blustery winds had the flags in Riverside Gardens Park snapping Monday evening.
POWER LINE DOWN
Red Bank firefighters were on scene at Manor Drive dealing with a live power line Monday afternoon. There was no immediate report of fire. T ...
TAR BEACH SOLSTICE
Aldo Quiroz of Ocean Township came ready with his beach chair and found a shady spot to spend his lunch hour in a parking lot off Broad Stre ...
GOING GREY
Workers painting the stone facade of the PNC Bank at the corner of Broad and Harding Thursday morning. An upgrade? Maybe it’s just pri ...
COFFEE & WILDLIFE
RED BANK: The best wildlife show in town can be taken in from a waterfront bench outside the public library, and it's totally free.
FAWNING OVER HER BABY
A mother deer and her fawn were spotted between a row of garages on Hudson Avenue and some trees alongside the Broad Street parking lots. Re ...
EVENING ESCAPE
RED BANK: Sailors in Monmouth Boat Club's weekly racing series found tranquil conditions on the Navesink River Tuesday evening.
PEAK COLOR ON BROAD
RED BANK: A year after they were installed, downtown mini gardens have added to "transformational" improvements, says business owner.
RED BANK: FAIRIES MOVE IN ON WHITE STREET
Red Bank: Girl scouts turns tiny parking lot plot of dirt into a "magical girls sparkle garden."
TRAINING UNDER FIRE
RED BANK: Volunteer firefighters train to cut into pitched roofs under active fire conditions.
“SUPERMOM” WANTS YOUR VOTE
Business owner. Dyed in the wool, lifelong Red Banker. Mother of six. Yup, seems like Anita Pierce does it all. In other words, she’s ...
SPLENDOR IN THE GRASS
RED BANK: Town prepares for Saturday's Pride in the Park celebration with another lawn art design by public works supervisor and Fire Chief ...
MOVIES VIA LIBRARY
RED BANK: Public Library now offers members access to streaming movies via Kanopy, with some 30,000 titles and tons of content for kids.
NEW RAINBOW CROSSWALK ON BROWN PLACE
Kicking off pride month, some Brown Place and Spring Street residents, ages 5 to 11, constructed a rainbow crosswalk with chalk over the wee ...
WHAT TO WEAR?
RED BANK: Dressmakers' mannequins appeared to mull what to wear as they looked down on Monmouth Street last week.
SYMPHONY RETURNS JUNE 29
RED BANK: An annual crowd pleaser returns June 29 with a free concert in Marine Park by the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra, RiverCenter said ...
Heard on the Green
Heard on the Green
DUCK RESCUE EFFORT
Duckling rescue attempt underway in sewer at East Front and Broad, 10:29 a.m.