It's no secret, most of us would like to stay in our own home as we age. Yet, sometimes our loved ones just need a little extra help to remain comfortable at home. That's where Always Best Care can help....we are dedicated to exceeding expectations....always
They say that your golden years are the best years of your life. For most older Americans, that's how it should be - a time to relax, reflect, and live life in a familiar place. After all, senior citizens in the U.S. have worked tirelessly to build a better economy, serve their communities, and raise families.
However, as seniors grow older, completing daily tasks like showering and enjoying activities such as visiting the historic Seaside Heights Water Tower gets harder without someone by their side. Unfortunately, many older Americans aren't able to rely on their adult children for help. The reality in today's world is that family members do not have the skills or time to dedicate to caring for their parents. That's where Always Best Care Senior Services comes in.
Our in-home care services are for people who prefer to stay at home as they grow older but need ongoing care that family or friends cannot provide. More and more older adults prefer to live far away from long-term, institutionalized facilities and closer to the place where they feel most comfortable - their home. Home care in Seaside Heights, NJ is a safe, effective way to give your loved ones the care they need when they need it the most.
Home Care Services
Service AreasSince 1996, Always Best Care has provided non-medical in-home care for seniors to help them maintain a healthy lifestyle as they get older. We are proud to have helped more than 25,000 seniors maintain higher levels of dignity and respect. We focus on providing seniors with the highest level of in-home care available so that they may live happily and independently.
Unlike some senior care companies, we genuinely want to be included in our clients' lives. We believe that personalized care is always the better option over a "one size fits all" approach. To make sure our senior clients receive the best care possible, we pair them with compassionate caregivers who understand their unique needs. That way, they may provide care accordingly without compromising their wellbeing.
The Always Best Care difference lies in life's little moments - where compassionate care and trustworthy experience come together to help seniors live a fruitful, healthy life. Whether you are an aging adult that can't quite keep up with life's daily tasks or the child of a senior who needs regular in-home services, Always Best Care is here to help.
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“I just started using always best care for my dad The certified aids that came from the agency were fantastic This situation is new for myself and my dad For having no complaints from my dad is a plus So ty again for such an easy transition for my dad Much appreciated Susan”
“Such an amazing company with employees who truly care about their business and those they take care of. Caretakers are top notch and customer service is great and they are available whenever you need them.”
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“I am a current client of this provider I can’t begin to tell to you how pleased I am with Always Best Care. Not only have they placed the perfect caregiver with my mother they also take care of the billing and when I need to speak to a receptionist they are always available. Thank you!!”
“I cannot thank Always Best Care enough for helping us find an ideal Assisted Living Facility for my mother. We moved to the city a month ago and had little idea about the local senior living communities. I’d like to thank the highly experienced and knowledgeable caregivers of Always Best Care for helping our family during the difficult time.”
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“I am a current client of this provider We are very happy with Always Best Care. They do 24hr care, and the caregiver is excellent. I would recommend them.”
“I am a current client of this provider We have hired Always Best Care. We have them for 5 to 6 weeks now. My mother practically does everything herself, but sometimes they might fix her her lunch, there might be a little bit of shopping, and they take her to her appointment. My mother is fine. The hours are fine. She got the hours that she requested. I know she is being billed on her credit card. They have been very helpful and very cooperative. The women always call back.”
“I am a current client of this provider We hired Always Best Care two weeks ago for my mom. The woman comes in three days a week to assist my mother with doing the wash, keeping the house picked up, and just talking to her. She’s wonderful. We interviewed several people, and there was just something about the way they were organized in their presentation and their follow up. that impressed us. They were a level above the other ones that we spoke to. They really listen to you about your needs and work very hard to match the caregiver up with what you’re looking for. We were very impressed with them.”
Home is where the heart is. While that saying can sound a tad cliche, it is especially true for many seniors living in America. When given a choice, older adults most often prefer to grow older at home. An AARP study found that three out of four adults over the age of 50 want to stay in their homes and communities as they age.
When you begin to think about why, it makes sense. Home offers a sense of security, comfort, and familiarity.
The truth is, as we age, we begin to rely on others for help. When a family is too busy or lives too far away to fulfill this role, in-home senior care is often the best solution. Home care services allow seniors to enjoy personal independence while also receiving trustworthy assistance from a trained caregiver.
At Always Best Care, we offer a comprehensive range of home care services to help seniors stay healthy while they get the help they need to remain independent. As your senior loved one gets older, giving them the gift of senior care is one of the best ways to show your love, even if you live far away.
To give our senior clients the best care possible, we offer a full spectrum of in-home care services:
If your senior loved one has specific care needs, our personal care services are a great choice to consider. Personal care includes the standard caregiving duties associated with companion care and includes help with tasks such as dressing and grooming. Personal care can also help individuals with chronic conditions like diabetes.
Common personal care services include assistance with:
Sometimes, seniors need helpful reminders to maintain a high quality of life at home. If you or your senior has trouble with everyday tasks like cooking, our home helper services will be very beneficial.
Common home helper care services include assistance with:
Using this kind of care is a fantastic way to make life easier for you or your senior loved one. At Always Best Care, our talented caregivers often fill the role of a companion for seniors. That way, older adults can enjoy their favorite local activities, such as visiting Lake Avenue Playground and Beach with friends while also receiving the care they need daily or weekly.
Common companionship services include:
According to AARP, more than 53 million adults living in the U.S. provide care to someone over 50 years old. Unfortunately, these caregivers experience stress, exhaustion, and even depression. Our respite care services help family caregivers address urgent obligations, spend time with their children, and enjoy nearby activities. Perhaps more importantly, respite care gives family members time to recharge and regroup. Taking personal time to de-stress reduces the risk of caregiver burnout. So, if you've always wanted to eat at the local Hemingway's Cafe or visit Seaside Heights Historical Society Museum, don't feel bad. Doing so is great for both you and your loved one.
At the end of the day, our goal is to become a valuable part of your senior's daily routine. That way, we may help give them the highest quality of life possible. We know that staying at home is important for your loved one, and we are here to help make sure that is possible.
If you have been on the fence about non-medical home care, there has never been a better time than now to give your senior the care, assistance, and companionship they deserve.
Always Best Care in-home services are for older adults who prefer to stay at home but need ongoing care that friends and family cannot provide. In-home care is a safe, effective way for seniors to age gracefully in a familiar place and live independent, non-institutionalized lives. The benefits of non-medical home care are numerous. Here are just a few reasons to consider senior care services from Always Best Care:
According to AARP, 9 out of 10 seniors prefer to age in place within the comfort of their own home. With in-home care, seniors have a way to stay at home, receive the care they need, and maintain a sense of independence, improving overall wellness.
If you or a member of your family have assumed the role of caregiver for your senior loved one, you know how stressful the job can be. Between caregiver burnout and constant worry, being a family caregiver is hard. In-home care relieves your burden and gives you peace of mind knowing that your older family member is in expert hands.
Unlike nursing homes, where the staff and residents rotate frequently, seniors can foster new friendships and build bonds with their caregiver. Seniors who socialize on a regular basis are often happier, which fosters positivity and leads to increased wellbeing.
No two seniors need the same kind of in-home care assistance. That is why each of our Care Plans is tailored to meet our client's individual needs. We offer plans that cover everything from light housekeeping to more involved duties like transportation to doctor's appointments. Our Care Coordinators will work closely with you to develop a personalized plan to ensure your senior's needs are exceeded.
Always Best Care offers a full array of care options for patients at all levels of health. With our trusted elderly care services, your loved one will receive the level of care necessary for them to enjoy the highest possible quality of life.
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While it's true that some seniors have complicated medical needs that prevent them from staying at home, aging in place is often the best arrangement for seniors and their families. With a trusted caregiver, seniors have the opportunity to live with a sense of dignity and do so as they see fit - something that is unavailable to many older people today.
In-home care makes it possible for millions of seniors to age in place every year. Rather than moving to a strange nursing home, seniors have the chance to stay at home where they feel the happiest and most comfortable.
How much does a senior's home truly mean to them?
A study published by the American Society on Aging found that more than half of seniors say their home's emotional value means more than how much their home is worth in monetary value. It stands to reason, then, that a senior's home is where they want to grow old.
With the help of elderly care in Seaside Heights, NJ, seniors don't have to age in a sterilized care facility. Instead, they can age gracefully in the place they want to be most: their home. In contrast, seniors who move to a long-term care facility must adapt to new environments, new people, and new systems that the facility implements. At this stage in life, this kind of drastic change can be more harmful than helpful.
Institutional care facilities like nursing homes often put large groups of people together to live in one location. On any given day, dozens of staff members and caregivers run in and out of these facilities. Being around so many new people in a relatively small living environment can be dangerous for a seniors' health and wellbeing. When you consider that thousands of seniors passed away in nursing homes during the COVID-19 pandemic, opting for in-home care is often a safer, healthier choice for seniors.
Aging in place has been shown to improve seniors' quality of life, which helps boost physical health and also helps insulate them from viral and bacterial risks found in elderly living facilities.
For many seniors, the ability to live independently with assistance from a caregiver is a priceless option. With in-home care, seniors experience a higher level of independence and freedom - much more so than in other settings like a nursing home. When a senior has the chance to age in place, they get to live life on their own terms, inside the house that they helped make into a home. More independence means more control over their personal lives, too, which leads to increased levels of fulfillment, happiness, and personal gratification. Over time, these positive feelings can manifest into a healthier, longer life.
More independence, a healthier life, and increased comfort are only a few benefits of aging in place. You have to take into consideration the role of cost and convenience. Simply put, it's usually easier and more affordable to help seniors age in place than it is to move them into an institutional care facility. According to the US Department of Housing and Urban Development, seniors who age in the comfort of their homes can save thousands of dollars per month.
In-home care services from Always Best Care, for instance, are often less expensive than long-term solutions, which can cost upwards of six figures per year. To make matters worse, many residential care facilities are reluctant to accept long-term care insurance and other types of payment assistance.
With Always Best Care's home care services, seniors and their families have a greater level of control over their care plans. In-home care gives seniors the chance to form a bond with a trusted caregiver and also receive unmatched care that is catered to their needs. In long-term care facilities, seniors and their loved ones have much less control over their care plan and have less of a say in who provides their care.
In-home care is a valuable resource that empowers seniors to age in place on their own terms. However, a big concern for many families and their loved ones is how much in-home care costs. If you're worried that in-home care is too expensive, you may be pleasantly surprised to learn that it is one of the most affordable senior care arrangements available.
Typically, hiring an Always Best Care in-home caregiver for a few hours a week is more affordable than sending your loved one to a long-term care facility. This is true even for seniors with more complex care needs.
At Always Best Care, we will work closely with you and your family to develop a Care Plan that not only meets your care needs, but your budget requirements, too. Once we discover the level of care that you or your senior need, we develop an in-home care plan that you can afford.
In addition to our flexible care options, families should also consider the following resources to help offset potential home care costs:
When you or your senior loved one needs assistance managing daily tasks at home, finding a qualified caregiver can be challenging. It takes a special kind of person to provide reliable care for your senior loved one. However, a caregiver's role involves more than meal preparation and medication reminders. Many seniors rely on their caregivers for companionship, too.
Our companion care services give seniors the chance to socialize in a safe environment and engage in activities at home. These important efforts boost morale and provide much-needed relief from repetitive daily routines. A one-on-one, engaging conversation can sharpen seniors' minds and give them something in which to be excited.
At Always Best Care, we only hire care providers that we would trust to care for our own loved ones. Our senior caregivers in Seaside Heights, NJ understand how important it is to listen and communicate with their seniors. A seemingly small interaction, like a short hug goodbye, can make a major difference in a senior's day. Instead of battling against feelings of isolation, seniors begin to look forward to seeing their caregiver each week.
Understanding the nuances of senior care is just one of the reasons why our care providers are so great at their job.
Unlike some senior care companies, our caregivers must undergo extensive training before they work for Always Best Care. In addition, our caregivers receive ongoing training throughout the year. This training ensures that their standard of care matches up to the high standards we've come to expect. During this training, they will brush up on their communication skills, safety awareness, and symptom spotting. That way, your loved one receives the highest level of non-medical home care from day one.
While it's true that many seniors prefer to age at home, sometimes in-home care isn't the best fit. For those seniors and their families, choosing an assisted living facility makes more sense. Unfortunately, finding the optimal care facility is easier said than done in today's day and age. That's when Always Best Care's assisted living referral services begin to make a lot of sense.
Assisted living is a form of housing intended for seniors who require varying degrees of medical and personal attention. Accommodations may include single rooms, apartments, or shared living arrangements. Assisted living communities are typically designed to resemble a home-like environment and are physically constructed to encourage the independence of residents.
At assisted living communities, seniors receive help with daily activities such as bathing, dressing, and eating. They may also benefit from coordination of services with outside healthcare providers, and monitoring of resident activities to ensure their health, safety, and well-being. Caregivers who work at assisted living communities can also provide medication administration and personal care services for older adults.
Other services offered within assisted living communities can include some or all of the following:
At Always Best Care, our representatives can match your senior's emotional, physical, and financial needs with viable assisted living communities nearby. Results are based on comparative data, so you can select the best choice for you or your loved one.
Always Best Care works closely with local senior living communities to gain valuable knowledge that we then use to help seniors and their loved ones make informed decisions. This information can include basic care and rent, resident availability, and services provided. Because Always Best Care is compensated by these communities, we provide senior living referral services at no extra cost to you.
Some of the most popular assisted living communities to consider in our area include the following:
For many seniors, moving into a senior living community revolves around how and when they want to make a transition to more involved care. Some seniors are more proactive about transitioning to independent living. Others choose to remain home until their care needs or other requirements are satisfied. Remember - our staff is here to help. Contact our office today to learn more about assisted living communities and how we can find a facility that exceeds your expectations.
The first step in getting quality in-home care starts with a personal consultation with an experienced Always Best Care Care Coordinator. This initial consultation is crucial for our team to learn more about you or your elderly loved one to discover the level of care required. Topics of this consultation typically include:
A discussion of your needs and how our trained caregivers can offer assistance in the most effective way
A draft of your care plan, which includes highly detailed notes and a framework for the care that you or your senior will receive
Discuss payment options and help coordinate billing with your insurance provider
Our caregivers are trained to spot changes that clients exhibit, like mental and physical decline. As your trusted senior care company, we will constantly assess and update your Care Plan to meet any new emotional, intellectual, physical, and emotional needs.
If you have never considered in-home care before, we understand that you and your family may have concerns about your Care Plan and its Care Coordinator. To help give you peace of mind, know that every team member and caregiver must undergo comprehensive training before being assigned to a Care Plan.
At the end of the day, we only hire the best of the best at Always Best Care. Whether you need home care in Seaside Heights, NJ 24-hours a day or only need a respite for a couple of hours, we are here to serve you.
When you're ready, we encourage you to contact your local Always Best Care representative to set up a Care Consultation. Our Care Coordinators would be happy to meet with you in person to get to know you better, discuss your needs, and help put together a personalized Care Plan specific to your needs.
Seaside Heights has long allowed surfers and anglers to access the beach without purchasing a beach badge, so when New Jersey legislators proposed a bill last year that would extend the policy to all beaches up and down the coast, there was no opposition.“Our local surfers are knowledgeable, they don’t go when it’s incredibly crowded and they know where to go to catch the best wave,” said Mayor Anthony Vaz. “The same with our fishermen. We haven’t charged them and it was never an issue.”...
Seaside Heights has long allowed surfers and anglers to access the beach without purchasing a beach badge, so when New Jersey legislators proposed a bill last year that would extend the policy to all beaches up and down the coast, there was no opposition.
“Our local surfers are knowledgeable, they don’t go when it’s incredibly crowded and they know where to go to catch the best wave,” said Mayor Anthony Vaz. “The same with our fishermen. We haven’t charged them and it was never an issue.”
Then, suddenly, the rather uncontroversial bill changed drastically.
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As it moved through the state General Assembly, the text referencing surfing and fishing was removed, and replaced with general language concerning “recreation.” The law would not prohibit towns from charging for beach access – a reality since state funding for local beach operations is effectively non-existent in the Garden State – but would allow anyone engaging in a recreational activity to enter the beach as long as they remain below the high water mark, essentially the wet sand near the immediate shoreline and in the water itself.
The issue isn’t so much about badge fees, but the potential for chaos, officials said. The bill could be interpreted to allow kayaks, canoes, heavy surfboards, stand-up paddleboards and even battery-assisted watersports equipment in close proximity to bathers, creating a safety hazard. It would also create an environment in which people may simply lie about their intentions, skirting the fees that pay the salaries of lifeguards, sanitation workers, maintenance crews, as well as the infrastructure that goes into a beach operation. The law, some said, might also undermine the issue it was supposed to address: eliminating questions about beach access to avoid escalating confrontations between visitors and authorities.
Vaz said his main concern surrounds lifeguards, who would suddenly be tasked with watching over swimmers as well as any combination of people engaging in other recreational activities that could be dangerous in the presence of breaking ocean waves.
Legislative Changes
The practical issues with the bill came with the recent revision, said Christopher Vaz, Seaside Heights’ borough administrator.
“It went into a committee at the Assembly level and they changed it by deleting surfing and fishing, and basically said we can’t require beach tags for any recreational activity as long as it’s taking place on the wet, sandy beach by the mean high tide line,” he explained to borough council members Wednesday. “We thought this through, and thought of the chaos this would create. We want to encourage them to go back to the language that was in the original bill.”
Seasonal employees, he said, could end up getting caught in the middle of arguments over the legal definition of a “recreational use” and the mean high water mark.
“We have a lot of high school kids who work our beach. Their job is hard enough,” said Vaz. “I listen to the radio all day long and hear what goes on. Now they would have to worry about defining, at the top of the ramp, ‘what is a recreational activity?’ It’s an impossible job.”
There is also a question of enforcement. While the bill’s language initially clarified that badges would not be required for surfing and fishing, it does not prohibit standard beach badge fees for those who access the beach and enjoy the services provided by local communities. Differentiating between who does – and does not – need a badge may have been easy in the first iteration of the bill in that a person is either surfing, fishing, or not. But “recreation” could be interpreted widely.
“You could have 50 people on line to go down to the beach, and then have five say, ‘Oh, I’m just going down to the wet sand, so I don’t need a beach tag,'” said Vaz. “It’s just becomes, ‘how do you enforce that?'”
The bill, titled A-4816, was introduced in September 2024 by Assemblywoman Margie Donlon (D-Monmouth). It went unchanged until amendments were added Feb. 13, 2025 in the Assembly’s Tourism, Gaming and Arts Committee. It passed the committee in a 4-2 vote, making it eligible for a roll call on the full body. Its companion bill in the state Senate, S-4158, sponsored by Sen. Vin Gopal (D-Monmouth), has yet to pass the Senate Environment and Energy Committee, however a vote is expected on the measure in the near future.
Click here for important updates to our privacy policy.OCEAN COUNTYOne-minute readAsbury Park PressSEASIDE HEIGHTS -- Ocean County's largest St. Patrick's Day parade kicks off Saturday, March 8, on the Boulevard.The parade st...
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Asbury Park Press
SEASIDE HEIGHTS -- Ocean County's largest St. Patrick's Day parade kicks off Saturday, March 8, on the Boulevard.
The parade starts at J Street and marches north on the Boulevard to Carteret Avenue. The parade committee will celebrate Mass at 10 a.m. Saturday at Our Lady of Perpetual Help, 100 Grant Ave., before the start of the parade.
This year's grand marshal is Herbert McGrath, who will march alongside Irishwomen of the Year Aileen Gulino and Becky Christensen.
A parade after-party, featuring the "Drunkin' Clams," along with a performance of "Amazing Grace" by a massed pipe band, and the unfurling of a 40-foot American flag, will take place at the Hershey Motel, 1415 Boulevard.
Ocean County has about 120,000 residents who claim at least some Irish ancestry, according to U.S. Census data.
Jean Mikle covers Toms River, Seaside Heights and several other Ocean County towns. She's also passionate about the Shore's storied music scene. Contact her: @jeanmikle, jmikle@gannettnj.com.
SEASIDE HEIGHTS, NJ – MAY 16: A person on a bike rides past the Seaside Heights boardwalk as the state begins to reopen beaches and boardwalks amid the novel coronavirus pandemic on May 16, 2020 in Seaside Heights, New Jersey. New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy said he is willing and ready to bring back social distancing rules if he begins to see a spike in cases in the sates. “If we have to pull the brakes we will do that.”(Photo by Yana Paskova/Getty Images)Next spring, town officials will review plans for a...
SEASIDE HEIGHTS, NJ – MAY 16: A person on a bike rides past the Seaside Heights boardwalk as the state begins to reopen beaches and boardwalks amid the novel coronavirus pandemic on May 16, 2020 in Seaside Heights, New Jersey. New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy said he is willing and ready to bring back social distancing rules if he begins to see a spike in cases in the sates. “If we have to pull the brakes we will do that.”
(Photo by Yana Paskova/Getty Images)
Next spring, town officials will review plans for a new beachfront complex and mixed-use development. The planning board meets on March 3 to look over these major projects.
At 200 Ocean Terrace, developers want to build a 102-foot building combining hotel rooms with luxury condos. The large property, spanning three lots including 26 and 50 Lincoln Avenue, would replace old motels with 135 hotel rooms and 55 condominiums.
Down the street, Hook's on the Boulevard plans to add 22 apartments above their restaurant and bar space. Their design includes parking spots and amenities for future residents.
While these projects move forward, the town is working on important underground improvements. A $2 million NJ Water Bank loan will help fix stormwater problems throughout the area.
Along the beach, workers are moving ahead with a big $73.5 million restoration project. Crews will add 241,000 cubic yards of sand to local beaches. This work is part of a larger plan to move over 2 million cubic yards of sand to protect Ocean County's shoreline.
“Ocean Avenue is going to be repaved by the county, but they are not going to repaint the parking strips by themselves,” said Councilman Marty Wilk.
Each project has challenges. The hotel needs special approvals for parking and spacing requirements, while Hook's needs exceptions for building size and usage.
The hotel will include space for events and retail shops. It represents a major change for the Surfside/Glendale/Drydock neighborhood, which has needed updating for years.
These improvements aim to protect the town from storms while creating new places to stay, dine and live. The beach work fixes erosion damage while building better protection against the ocean.
Seaside Heights planning board members will hear the applications for two major development projects in town next month. Filings with the borough published Monday call for both hearings to be held at the board’s March 3, 2025 meeting. The projects are the demolition and reconstruction of Hook’s on the Boulevard as well as the construction of an oceanfront hotel, banquet facility, restaurant and condominiums on a parcel of land where three aging motels current stand.Hook’s RebuildShorebeat ...
Seaside Heights planning board members will hear the applications for two major development projects in town next month. Filings with the borough published Monday call for both hearings to be held at the board’s March 3, 2025 meeting. The projects are the demolition and reconstruction of Hook’s on the Boulevard as well as the construction of an oceanfront hotel, banquet facility, restaurant and condominiums on a parcel of land where three aging motels current stand.
Hook’s Rebuild
Shorebeat covered the details of the proposed demolition and reconstruction of Hook’s, located on the Boulevard between Carteret and Kearney avenues, when it was discussed at the board’s recent workshop meeting.
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According to the formal filing, the plan calls for the property owner to demolish the existing restaurant and bar structure and rebuild a structure which will include a restaurant, bar, 22 residential condominiums with a parking deck, a pool deck and amenities for the condominium owners.
The applicant requires variances for height, density (also known as lot area per unit), a use variance since a portion of the lot is in the residential zone which does not allow restaurants, front yard setback on Carteret and Kearney Avenues, off street parking for the restaurant and condos, the location of a depressed curb for the corner lots, and the number of driveway openings.
The full details of what the development will look like can be found here.
Grand Hotel Plans
The board, on the same night, will also hear the proposal by a prominent Boston-based developer to construct a major hotel which will front the ocean from Ocean Terrace in the southernmost portion of town.
The development will occur within what is known as the Surfside/Glendale/Drydock Redevelopment Area, named for three aging motels will would be torn down to make room for the new complex, which will feature amenities beyond that of the 135-room hotel which will be at the center of the project.
The formal site plan submitted to the borough last week includes a nine-story mixed use development of commercial and residential space. The proposed development plan calls for a nine-story structure containing a three story parking deck, a ground level commercial tenant, 55 residential condominium units, 135 hotel rooms, a restaurant with a bar, a banquet facility, a pool deck and various amenities necessary and suitable for the hotel guests. The hotel will stand 102 feet tall, according to its development team.
Variances will be required for the rear yard setback on the west side of the structure, parking space dimensions, drive aisle width in the parking garage area, and the location of the depressed curb area.
The entire project will be located at the addresses now known as 200 Ocean Terrace, 26 Lincoln Avenue and 50 Lincoln Avenue. The site as a whole is situated along Ocean Terrace between Lincoln and Franklin avenues.
Likewise, full details on the development plan can be found in Shorebeat’s previous coverage.
Seaside Heights officials said this week that they would modify plans for a bathhouse facility on the town’s boardwalk following complaints – and a tacit legal threat – from owners of units in a nearby condominium. The borough council, however, strongly pushed back on complaints from other seasonal residents asking for the project to be scrapped because they do not want tourists attracted to the beaches they use.A bathhouse existed along the Seaside Heights boardwalk for decades, allowing visitors to take hot showers...
Seaside Heights officials said this week that they would modify plans for a bathhouse facility on the town’s boardwalk following complaints – and a tacit legal threat – from owners of units in a nearby condominium. The borough council, however, strongly pushed back on complaints from other seasonal residents asking for the project to be scrapped because they do not want tourists attracted to the beaches they use.
A bathhouse existed along the Seaside Heights boardwalk for decades, allowing visitors to take hot showers after the beach – an amenity that would often lead to those on a day trip extending their stay into the evening. Of three bathhouses that once dotted the shoreline in town, one remained near Hiering Avenue before Superstorm Sandy washed it away in 2012. The borough intended to replace the facility quickly, but the cost at the time was beyond the means of the local government. Last year, however, U.S. Rep. Chris Smith delivered a $1.6 million federal grant for the facility to be reconstructed. Initial plans called for a two-story building largely in the footprint of the former bathhouse, with the second floor serving as a handicap-accessible viewing platform with the aim of providing seniors and disabled persons an opportunity to see the ocean. That facet of the plan appears to be scuttled after owners of an oceanfront condominium building next door hired an attorney who expressed that the residents felt the second floor platform would obstruct their view of the ocean.
Other property owners, primarily from other condominium buildings and a few residences on Hiering Avenue, lamented the idea of a bathhouse facility being rebuilt at all, saying it would attract too many tourists and crowd what they described as “their” beach. Some residents also held that beach badges should not be sold at the showers so day-trippers would be forced to walk further down the boardwalk to purchase badges, distributing crowds across several blocks. On that point, officials strongly pushed back, saying the boardwalk and beach is open to the public, and Seaside Heights is a town that is centered on tourism.
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Borough Administrator Christopher Vaz said at a council meeting Wednesday that officials have been working with the project’s architect to redesign the structure with one floor, eliminating the viewing platform. There will also be some minor repositioning of the building on the lot.
“It would be relocated halfway between the boardwalk and Ocean Terrace, and that addresses those particular homeowners’ concerns,” said Vaz.
The repositioning would also allow a small deck area to be constructed so those waiting in line would not have to queue on the boardwalk along with their belongings.
The compromises did not pass muster with all residents, however.
“Why do we need a bathhouse in town?” asked homeowner Delores Alexander. “You’ve got all these beautiful, million-dollar homes going up, and you have enough homeowners and taxpayers in town to frequent the businesses. Why are you catering to a few tourists?”
The question received a frank response from Councilman Robert Triano.
“We have thousands of people who come to our town, spend money, take care of all our businesses – and we need to not only worry about the people who live here full time, we need to worry about the people who come here on day trips and for the weekend,” Triano said. “Some people only get a week’s vacation and they choose to come to Seaside Heights. We’re not like a regular town, we have a lot of people to worry about.”
“You could become that regular town,” Alexander replied. “You’re getting all these beautiful residences coming into town, the tax base has gone up tremendously; you don’t need to cater to these tourists. We can’t get on our beach now.”
Other council members reiterated the borough’s history as a tourist-centric community.
“This town has been a tourist town forever. Come on, you know that,” said Councilman Richard Tompkins. “You have to have facilities for people. When people come here, they want to wash off before they go home, and that is one of the biggest concerns we’ve heard. This is a tourist town, and we have to work together.”
There is also a legal obligation to provide such facilities, said Borough Attorney Robin La Bue.
“Part of the receipt of public funds in order to do the replenishment and build the beach back up was enhancing public access,” she said. “Because the whole point is that the beach is supposed to be open to everyone, not just the people who can afford to live in the town.”
Not all residents opposed the bathhouse. Richard Sasso, who heads the borough’s Property Owners Association, said the facility is needed in town because at the moment, there is no accommodations at all for people to shower and change clothes after a day at the beach.
“What I see is people trying to take showers in the bathrooms, trying to take showers in the foot baths, and taking off their bathing suits,” he said. “I was selling raffle tickets for the [Italian-American Club fundraiser] Jeep and I see people taking their bathing suits off and washing up. I see what goes on on that boardwalk.”
“I am the longest, oldest living resident in Seaside Heights, said Alfonso Poane, of Grant Avenue. “We used to have three bathhouses in Seaside Heights. You have to have accommodations for people who come here. We had one on Hiering Avenue for years and we all know Sandy took it out. As long as it’s clean, presentable and smells clean, that’s all you have to worry about.”
Mayor Anthony Vaz requested that borough staff have a rendering and finalized plans for the bathhouse by April, so public comment could be solicited. It is expected construction will begin after the 2025 summer season is over.
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