Century-old Long Branch Record building could be saved with apartments, store

Dan Radel, Asbury Park Press
·2 min read
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LONG BRANCH - A plan is shaping up to restore the Long Branch Record building on Broadway, one of several older edifices that still dot the city's historic main thoroughfare.

The proposed concept it to make it high-end apartments with ground-floor retail. A total of six one-bedroom units is what's being considered for the space. A final site plan needs to be submitted for review.

Last week, the mayor and city council designated the owner as a conditional redeveloper, as the building's location on lower Broadway is in one of the city's redevelopment zones that were established over 25 years ago.

The four-story building with the archway entrance and brick façade was once used as the offices for city's hometown paper, which had a print run from 1883 to 1975. Monmouth County Property Records indicate the building was constructed in 1910.

The old Long Branch Record building as it appears on Long Branch's Lower Broadway section on Nov. 14, 2023. A plan is moving forward to preserve it and turn it into an apartment building.
The old Long Branch Record building as it appears on Long Branch's Lower Broadway section on Nov. 14, 2023. A plan is moving forward to preserve it and turn it into an apartment building.

"It's an essential part of the streetscape there. It will be nice to preserve it," said Tomer Weber, one of the principals of 192 Broadway LB, the limited liability company that owns the building. The other is Martin Weber, his father.

The Webers have residences in Long Branch and own buildings in Newark's University Heights section, home to Rutgers-Newark and NJIT.

Preserving the building poses some challenges, as it is sandwiched between two others that are both in use. One houses a Family Dollar. The building has also been vacant for two decades. Structurally, Weber said the façade is in good shape, as is the steel holding it up, but the wood floors rotted because the previous owner neglected a partial roof cave-in. Weber said they tore the floors out already.

The building is one block west from where Kushner Cos. is adding 299 apartments, new retail spaces and a grocery store in a long-awaited plan to revitalize the once bustling Lower Broadway section.

A conditional redeveloper agreement begins the process for building in the city's redevelopment zones, which have specific design standards. Once a final site plan is reviewed, the developer and the city can enter into a redeveloper's agreement, which among many things sets construction timelines.

When Jersey Shore native Dan Radel is not reporting the news, you can find him in a college classroom where he is a history professor. Reach him @danielradelapp; 732-643-4072; dradel@gannettnj.com.

This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Long Branch Record building owner wants to fill it with apartments