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Local news bites— quick and to the point. Just the facts.Planned improvements to Spring Lake's Marucci Park are going according to plan. Borough engineer Peter Avakian reported to the Spring Lake Mayor and Council during their regular meeting on Feb. 22 that his firm had received bids for the project, which are currently under review. Improvements to the park's soccer fields will be handled by the winning bidder. The council is expected to award the contract at their March 8 meeting.
Belmar has yet to find a tenant for one of the several commercial units it owns on the borough's boardwalk. On Feb. 16, the borough council held open bidding for a vacancy in Unit C of its 10th Avenue Pavilion. A winning bid would have required at least $45,000 and an immediate deposit of $5,000, however no interested parties came forward. This is the second time the unit has attracted no bidders. In January, units A and B of the pavilion were both bid on successfully by their previous tenants for $18,000 and $28,000 respectively.
Belmar Mayor Matt Doherty has reported that the property at 501 Main St. in the borough is in the process of being converted into a bistro. The current home of M&E Motors, Inc. is among the first things travelers using the Route 71 bridge see when entering the borough. Doherty said at a recent meeting of the Belmar Mayor and Council that the plans, which are currently under review by the planning board, include options for outdoor dining. Doherty explained that the owners hope to be open by the summer.
