Asbury Park Press from Asbury Park, New Jersey • A3

APP.COM FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2021 3A TODAY OCEAN MONMOUTH Got a news tip, photo or video? Call us at 732-643-4200 or email We want to hear from you! ASBURY PARK City leaders rolled out their version of a rent control ordinance Wednesday night, voters an alternative to one that they will see on an April 20 special election ballot. Asbury Park City proposal was panned by advocates for renters and creators of the plan up for the April vote who said the proposal does not do enough to protect renters. Mean- while, landlords gave their support to the saying it is better than the one on the ballot. The city plan: Caps most rent increases for exist- ing tenants at 3.5% or the Consumer Price Index, whichever is greater (the most recent annual for in the region is 1.2%). Creates a seven-member rent lev- eling board made of at least two renters and two landlords, which would hear complaints from renters and consider applications from landlords for larger rent increases.

Allows landlords to seek hardship rent increases for items like tax in- creases or repairs that would make them insolvent. Allows landlords to seek up to rental increases to make upgrades to their rental properties that improve amenities and services for existing ten- ants. Requires that landlords have been properly maintaining their rental prop- erty to get additional rent increases. Requires landlords to share of any property tax reduction from an as- sessment appeal with their tenants through rental relief. Creates a city called the regulation who would as- sist the rent leveling board, tenants and landlords.

The city plan would apply to dwellings with or more rental units. Smaller rental complexes, group homes, boarding homes, hotels and property that already falls under the short- term rental ordinance would be exempt from this rent control plan. A state law also protects newly built rental units from rent control measures Dueling rent control plans in Asbury Park Susanne Cervenka Asbury Park Press USA TODAY NETWORK NEW JERSEY More on mobile Get instant news updates on your phone or tablet. Download the free APP.com for videos, photos and more about Asbury Park. Search Park in the app store.

See RENT, Page 4A BRICK Construction on a massive project including a sports complex, stores and a restaurant could break ground in coming weeks, redeveloping a long empty lot known as the former Foodtown supermarket site, Mayor John G. Ducey said during a meeting of the Township Council on Tuesday. The vacant parcel on Route 70 will be redeveloped with a foot sports complex with indoor super- dome, two retail buildings for stores and a restaurant with drive-through, pend- ing one remaining approval, Ducey said. In 2018, the Brick Planning Board ap- proved a plan to allow HFZ Superdome of New York City and at Route 70, based in Piscataway, to split the 10.9- acre parcel for redevelopment. HFZ is seeking to build the sports complex with include indoor climate- controlled basketball courts and turf for year-round football, soccer or lacrosse.

The company is also propos- ing constructing rooms for classes, ballet studio, space for physical therapy, party rooms and other recrea- tion. Outside the dome would be a turf area, walking path and two beach vol- leyball courts. The proposed owner runs a similarly designed facility in Waldwick, Bergen County. would develop the parcel along Route 70, which would hold a restau- rant and two buildings containing near- ly 30,000 square feet of new retail space. At meeting of the Town- ship Council, elected approved a agreement with the developers and Ocean County govern- ment.

The agreement gives the approval for a construction project that would route and treat stormwater run- from the site and Brick Boulevard, a county road, and discharge it into Forge Pond. The agreement is dependent on the condition that the developers hold the county government harmless of any li- ability related to the stormwater pro- ject, the mayor said. thing (project) is ever so Ducey said during the council meeting. The state Department of Transpor- tation and state Department of Envi- ronmental Protection have already granted their approvals, he said. The Brick Municipal Utilities Authority ap- proval is still pending, he said.

very exciting to get this sports dome under Du- cey said. give another option for all the kids, adults and grandparents (for) something to do here in Brick. So getting The township purchased the Food- town property in 2003 for more than $6 million to stop the construction of a home improvement store. Afterward, elected struggled to put the large property back on the tax rolls. In 2017, township agreed to sell the parcel for $5 million.

Amanda Oglesby is an Ocean County native who covers Brick, Barnegat and Lacey townships and the environment. Reach her at aoglesby or 732-557-5701. This is an architectural rendering of the proposed Superdome sports complex in Brick. COURTESY OF ATTORNEY JOHN JACKSON Mayor: Brick superdome close to breaking ground Amanda Oglesby Asbury Park Press USA TODAY NETWORK NEW JERSEY give another option for all the kids, adults and grandparents (for) something to do here in Brick. So getting Mayor John G.

Ducey BARNEGAT Fred M. Bost a for- mer Barnegat Planning Board member, a military veteran turned local politi- cian, and Black coun- cilman died Sunday, his family con- He was 82. Before retiring in Barnegat, Bost worked as a top administrator in the Essex County and en- tered politics to give voice to the re- voiceless, his wife Sara Bost said. cares about peo- ple and how liv- said his wife. was dedicated to being of assistance at all lev- Bost was born in Monroe, North Caroli- na, as the youngest of 11 children, according to his obituary.

He attended schools in Washington, D.C., and Detroit, eventually joined the U.S. Army, and later relocated to New Jer- sey. He studied at Essex County College and College and later worked his way through various public service positions, including assistant director of community of Essex County. Bost participated in the March on Washington in 1963, a historic protest that drew attention to inequalities and injustice faced by Black Americans and where the Rev. Dr.

Martin Luther King Jr. gave his famous Have A speech. In 1979, Bost won a leadership posi- tion in the regional Democratic Party, started a local civic association, and won election as Black councilman. Sara Bost said her husband was de- voted to service and his community. She recalled an incident in Irving- ton before her husband was a public where her husband chased down a purse snatcher.

chased him 10 blocks, zigzag- she said. The young man ran into a barber- shop and changed his shirt to avoid be- ing recognized by police, but Bost found him, tackled him, and held him until police arrived, she said. A decade later, the couple recon- nected with the man when they hap- pened to be dining at the same restau- rant as the man, his wife and son. Sara Bost recalled their conversa- tion years later: said, me. You know me, but I am the young man you caught and turned over to police.

And I thank you, be- cause if you done that, then I know where be right Her husband do anything he could to help Sara Bost said. In their retirement years, the couple moved to Four Seasons At Mirage, an age-restricted community in Barne- gat. Yet, Fred Bost continued to be ac- tive in local politics and served on the Fred M. Bost, political pioneer, has died at 82 Amanda Oglesby Asbury Park Press USA TODAY NETWORK NEW JERSEY Bost many conversations to the Mayor Albert Bille See BOST, Page 4A LONG BRANCH As if the deal on lower Broadway get any deader, the city terminated its redevel- opment agreement with Long Branch Partners, the owners of over 50 prime real estate properties along the historic thoroughfare. The deal was created in 2017 and gave Long Branch Partners the go- ahead to develop the four-block tract that is just a block in from the beach.

The Montvale-based real estate de- veloper then got city approval to con- struct 590 market-rate rental or for- sale multifamily residential units, 99,500 square feet of commercial space and 1,255 parking spaces, and related site improvements, together with the creation of 30 housing units. The group cleared the streetscape of several derelict buildings but then tried to sell the properties to Kushner Cos. as well as transfer the agreement and associated liquor li- censes. However, Long Branch Partners broke that real estate deal last sum- mer, which resulted in the group being sued by Kushner Cos. in state superior court.

Kushner Cos. claims Long Branch Partners did not its end of the contractual obligations and intended to walk away from the deal. In doing so, Kushner Cos. alleges the group wants to seize its $750,000 down payment and turn around and sell the properties to a third party. The two remain locked in litigation.

Long Branch kills lower Broadway redevelopment deal Dan Radel Asbury Park Press USA TODAY NETWORK NEW JERSEY This is a drone image of lower Broadway in Long Branch. A redevelopment project there has been killed. RICKY FLORES AND PETE TODAY NETWORK See DEAL, Page 5A.