Wenke’s Motel & Cabins In Point Pleasant Boro May Be Demolished

POINT PLEASANT BORO – They were always one of the last opportunities to find a place to sleep before getting to the Garden State Parkway on your way back from the boardwalk.

For more than 50 years, Wenke's Motel and Cottages have been considered a Route 88 "landmark" by some – and an eyesore for others – with 18 cottages and five motel units that brought Point Pleasant back to the 1960s.

Now it's likely on its way out. But not everyone is pleased that one of the oldest – though declining – businesses in Point Pleasant Boro could be replaced by condominiums.

New three-story buildings could be on their way to Point Pleasant Boro under a plan to demolish Wenke’s Motel and Cabins on Route 88.

The project would include building three-stories-high 24 condominium units as part of the "Whaler’s Point" development.

Here are the architectural plans.

A zoning board hearing is scheduled for April 14, but the review has taken some time because of some opposition.

A group of residents cited concerns about the development, saying the application has a number of problems.

Residents oppose placing trash containers and creating parking spaces directly on Curtis Avenue, and they believe the setbacks are too small.

"We do not believe these requests create a balanced community. We do not plan on having our streets turned into a parking lot with garbage dumpsters," according to the letter.

The residents also noted the influx of vehicles and pedestrians will increase the noise level "for all hours of the day."

"This is not like having houses across the street. There will most likely be 100 residents who come in and out of the buildings at all hours," the letter said.

They also expressed concern about increased traffic, lowering property values and the fact that there's a nearby school bus stop. "Increase(d) traffic volume on Curtis Ave and adjoining streets make this unsafe for young children getting off the bus and walking home," the letter said.

"What benefit does this construction proposal bring to the town and the neighborhood?" the letter said.