Herald - lantern - Dispatch 16 April '86 * ^3

No Glut Of Condos.

By JACK SMYTH CAPE MAY — There is no glut of unsold condomiums in this city a recent survey of real estate agents shows. City Tax Assessor John Dollinger reports 419 condo units within city boundaries. Only about 24 of these are currently on the market according to city Realtors Seventy-six other units under construction. Mo6t of them (60) are part of the Meadows at Cape Island development on Lafayette Street. The Balance (16) are in the Devil's Reach complex on Yacht Avenue. In a two-week survey, only one of the five major real estate agencies in the city reported slow sales of condo units. ( Almost all condo sales are re-sales since most units are owned as investment properties). "RIGHT NOW I WOULD say that the condo re-sale market isn't real strong.'V said William Bezaire, office manager of the Sol Needles Agency. Sale of units at The Capers, a Beach Avenue, condo complex below Grants Street, where four units are available, "are a little soft," said Bezaire. Condo rental's are doing much better, he added "Summer rentals on condos on the beachfront have been good. Most people will pay a premium price for them," Bezaire said. "We see a lot of interest, and we are selling them," reported Jack Aftanis, president of Cape May Realty. He said he is expecting "a better spring selling season than we have had in the last five years." More units have been up for re-sale recently. Aftanis said, because of a substantial expansion in the number built. "People who express concern about the number of condos that have been built forget there was a moratorium on all building in Cape May from 1977 to 1979," he said. The average turnover in units is about 4.7 years, Aftanis said. There is a need, he added, for more condos priced about $100,000 With a slight decline in the number of rental units. Aftanis said, owners "have no problem" renting three-bedroom townhouse condos on the oceanfront for as much as $1,100 a'week. "IT SEEMS FOR EACH condo we've sold, the seller has either bought another condo. or a large house." Aftanis said. "They stay in the community." James M. Dwyer, of Dwyer Real Estate, said that "overall there is a good demand for them (condos)." Only two of the 10 units in the Victorian Harbor complex on Yacht Avenue are still on the market, Dwyer said. With the drop in interest rates, Dwyer said, the condo market is improving and owners are getting their asking price. "I think we're on the verge of a bonanza down here," he said. Ni£j)olas Mucha, co-owner of Tolz Realty. said "there is a stronger demand for condos in Cape May all the time despite some people who would like to limit growth." Hennelly House, a Pittsburgh Avenue condo complex, at Pennsylvania Avenue, which mhny people cite as an instance of oversaturation of the condo market. Mucha said, went into bankruptcy "not so much because of a problem with condos as much as because the original builder was financially over-extended." Since Tolz took over sales of complex units a little over a year ago, Mucha said, the agency has sold 16 of 20 units. Now called Cape Manor, there are four, two-bedroom, one-bath units up for sale at $85,000, Mucha said. Units at Cape Roc, the city's oldest condo complex on New Jersey Avenue behind the Christian Admiral Hotel, which originally sold in the $23,000 to $27,000 range, are now bringing $65,500. "THERE IS JUST ONE available," said Mucha. The 10-unit Surrey complex across from r . Bridge to Close (From page 1) Lichtenstein will have been paid a total of $234,949 for his engineering work, according to the county Treasurer's office. Original estimate of his fee was $167,000. 1 The "no" vote came from Gerald M. Thornton who also voted against an addi-, tional $11,000 last July as his way of expressing dissatisfaction with delays.

Cape Roc sold out initially about five years ago in the $35,000-$40,000 range. Mucha said. "They are now selling in the mid-to-upper 50s," he said. The Tides, a Jackson Street complex off of Beach Avenue, which was converted from a hotel, "is completely sold." Mucha said. Condominiums took longer to catch on with the buying public in South Jersey than they did in California, he said. "But they are now becoming more in demand than a few years ago." In the Victorian Walk complex, where units sell from $155,000 to $215,000, six of 19 are on the market, according to Kathy Tourison of Fleming Realty Inc. John Diamond, manager of Regent Beach. Windsor and Beach avenues, said most of its 52 units are owned as investi ment properties. Those that are not rented are used by their owners, he said. "The occupancy rate varies." he said. "In the summer, it's 100 percent. In the off- ' season, it's less." Diamond said six units have been re-sold since the complex was built in 1982. Carl Buck, sales manager for Cape Country Club Estates Inc.. developers who are building an $8 million, 60-unit condo complex on Lafayette Street, said five samples have been completed. "We have 11 refundable deposits." said Buck. He said units are priced $117,500-$139,5S0. Ground was broken last summer on the complex known as The Meadows at Cape Island and completion is scheduled in 24 years.

Paperless Society tFrom page 1) Calvin Greble said the new system will have a capacity of 64 terminals compared to the 16 handled by the current computer. „ an IBM 34, which will remain to handle the Probation Department for awhile, then be sold. GREBLE CAME into the April meeting as the county's data processing coordinator at $21 .000 a year and left as head of the Department of Management Informa tion Services (MIS) at $22,500 The depart ment was formed by resolution that night, and will expand from two persons to four Right now MIS includes computer operator Peggyanne Mathis Sheppard Taylor of Cape May is expected to join the department as a programmer April 25 An "in-house person" will be shifted to the department as a word processing trainer by next year. Sturm said WANG AND HONEYWELL both described their "solutions" to the county's problem. The problem was the fact that the IBM 34 was^at capacity or. as Strum put it. "We've outgrown that box in there " The new computer should be operating by July 1. but/it may be a year and half before it's handling all intended operations, he said First it will take over payroll, budget and the county clerk's office from the IBM Then it, will take on work for the Administrator. Planning. Purchasing. Roads. Facilities and Services. Crest Haven, Public Affairs and. with its own mini-computer, the Health Department, reportedly awash in paperwork THE SYSTEM will start with 18 display stations. 12 printers and eight personal computer^ Both Greble and Strum said the computer will not eliminate any jobs. "But it should preclude us from adding people." Strum said. Greble said one reason he recommended Honeywell is that it already has equipment. although smaller, at the Welfare Department in Rio Grande, which will be linked to state offices. Charles D. Hensley of Wang had offered a "test drive" by installing the system at no cost alongside "a comparable processor" to simulate operations "and look at the results under user site observation DURING HONEYWELL'S presentation. Christopher M. Ball pointed out that his firm also made climate controls such as those in use in the building. "That's not a good recommendation." joked Freeholder Gerald M. Thornton, the only freeholder wearing a suitcoat in the overheated meeting room, i "Moving right along...," joked Ball. s An hour later, his firm was awarded the v contract.

Beach ^ ' By Charles P. lamey jf Ijar^aitl

Waylon Jennings has neatly snapped his string of erratic albums with Will The Wolf Survive (MCA). Over the course of 10 songs. Waylon Jennings proves he's still one of country music's most vital voices. His singing is heartfelt, the material consistent, and the production sympathetic, all of which adds up to a surefire winner TTiis is the record Jennings' fans knew he still had in him, and it's nice to see he didn't let us down. Dog Eat Dog (Geffen) marks Joni Mitchell's return to the world of records and it's a brave and interesting effort. Instead of playing it safe and sticking to a folky. acoustic guitar format, which is what her audience might expect. Mitchell has opted for a more modern sound, hence the heavy use of synthesizers and horns. NORMALLY, this doesn't work, but Mitchell succeeds because of her talents as a writer. She knows how to get the most out of a lyric or musical phrase and it's this quality that allows the listener to ignore the album's awkward moments Dog Eat Dog isn't a great album, but it does show an artist can be in transition without being clumsy. Unfortunately, the same can't be said about Philadelphia's Essra Mohawk. In the late 60's, early 70's, Mohawk issued several wonderful records of moody, introspective songs that were built around her piano, jazzy arrangements. and her sensuous vocals E-TURN (Eclipse. PO

Memorial Society To Meet COURT HOUSE - The annual meeting of the Memorial Society of South Jersey will be held 1:30 p.m. May 3 in the County Library meeting room, Mechanic Street Peter Putnam of the Princeton Memorial Society, a board member of the Continental Association of Funeral and Memorial Societies, will be the speaker Refreshments will be served The Society was formed to educate the public on the advantages of pre-planning funerals that have dignity, simplicity and are economical Card Party NORTH WILDWOOD - The Knights of Columbus Ladies Auxiliary will hold a card party 1 p.m. Thursday, April 24, at the K.C. Hall, Walnut and New York Avenues. Cards and bingo will be played, and guests are asked to bring their own cards. "'There will be prizes and coffee and cake.

Box 78. Willow Grove. PA 19090) has Mohawk in a bland New Wave format. Her once strikingly effec- ' tive vocals now sound like a half dozen other singers and the arrangements are tedious and predictable From her past efforts, especially the long out-of-print Primordial Lovers, I know Essra Mohawk is capable of better musie than what's on here. I only hope she gets a chance to make up for this album soon. J a z z c o m - poser/bandleader Carla Bley's latest. Night-Glo (ECM), will probably let dowrt^her following, as it lacks the adventure and humor of her previous efforts. BUT THAT ISN'T to infer it's a bad record, because technically it's a very good fusion album Bley's songs are melodically strong and her sidemen. especially bassist Steve Swallow, pianist Larry Willis, and guitarist Hiram Bullock, turn in strong performances. If this record was by any other bandleader people would be praising it to the hilt, but because Bley has earned the reputation of being a composer not afraid to take chances Night Glo sounds painfully ordinary

Panel Talk On Teenage Pregnancy COURT HOUSE - A panel discussion on "Teenage Pregnancy — What Is Being Done in Cape May County?" will be held 7:30 p.m Thursday. April 24. in the public meeting room of the County Library. Mechanic Street Four local experts will discuss such topics as the philosophy of contraceptive use among teenagers, financial assistance for mothers who decide to keep their babies, adoptice services. and what local high schools are doing to combat the problem The discussion is sponsored by the county Advisorty Commission on the Status cf Women, which wi,li hold a business meeting before the panel begins. Seminar Set AVALON — A seminar on "Women and Chemical Dependency" will be held 9 a m -12:30 p.m Saturday, May 3, at the Golden Inn here. ^,'The program is sponsored by the American Association of University Women and the Cape May County Council «« Alcoholism. Presenters will be Mary Reynold?, Kate Garibaldi, and Katie McGuckin of the council. There is no fee for registration, which may be by mail or at the door

(K'EAN CITY - Vaca tioners can save $2 on seasonal tags by ordering beach tags by mail from this resort from April 1 to May 31. The pre-season rate for individual seasonal tags is $5. with an increase to $7 beginning June 1. Orders should include names of persons who want the tags with a $5 check for each tag Checks should be made payable to the City of Ocean City land sent to Beach Fee (Office. City Hall. Ocean City. N.J*. 08226 A stamped, selfaddressed envelope should be included with the order A RECEIPT will be returned, to the f)hyee with information about where the tag£*may be picked up upon arrival in Ocean CityBeach tags will be on sale at Ocean City Information Centers and other locations 4 p.m beginning Friday. May 2. Tags must be worn by all persons 12 years or older from June 14 through Labor Day. Sept. 1. bet ween 9 30 a m and 5:30 p.m

SIC Chamber Has Election SEA ISLE CITY - The city Chamber of Com merco held the first of its regular monthly meetings March 27 The revitaliza y tion of the chamber and the election of officers and directors were the main topics After elections the newly appointed chairman. Michael Gardner . called for the formation of three groups to guide the chamber in a membership drive, a steering committee and a dinner meeting for the installation of officers The chamber will hold its next meeting 7pm Thurs day. April 24. in the Com missioner s Meeting Room on the second floor of the Public Safety Building on J.F.K Boulevard Anyone interested in joining the chamber is invited to attend 2 Students Get Awards SOMERS POINT - Two Cape May County residents were among the three recipients of Rev Monsignor Leon S. Winowicz Scholarship awards made by the Polish-American Associa^ tion of South Jersey. They are : Daniel Swankowski, Ocean City, and John Young. Wildwood. Third recipient was Jacqueline Drongoski Presentation of the awards will take place Sunday afternoon. April 27, at ' ady of Sorrow* Parish Hall, Linwood. A polka dance and Polish style buffet will also be held, beginning 2 p.m. Mrs. Rosanna Filinczak was chairperson of the scholarship committee.