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Long Branch, NJ - U.S. Rep. Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ) issued the following statement through his district representative, Alex Maldonado, at a press conference this afternoon with public officials and environmentalists voicing support for the acquisition of the Takanassee Beach Club.
"I apologize for being unable to be with you today in person, but I have to be in Washington for votes in the House.
"I want to express my full support for November's ballot initiative that would approve $200 million for the Garden State Preservation Trust (GSPT). Not only do I support the ballot initiative but I am hoping that some of the prevention funds will be used here at the Takanassee Beach Club. I urge New Jersey to vote yes on the initiative.
"Takanassee represents a perfect example of what Green Acres funding should be used for. It has the dual purpose of being a beautiful recreational area as well as a valuable historical site. Takanassee is also an extremely important urban coastal zone which adds to its preservation value.
"By voting in favor of the November ballot initiative we will be sending a strong signal that the Takanassee Beach Club is exactly the type of area we should be using federal, state, and local preservation funding to protect. And that New Jersey is serious about open space and historical preservation issues.
"I share the feelings of many here who oppose the idea of developing residential units at Takanassee Beach Club. As a lifelong resident of Long Branch, who has represented this city in some fashion or another for twenty-five years, I know how critical it is to preserve both the historic Lifesaving Station and the open space at the Beach Club.
"As I am sure many of the experts here will tell you, the Beach Club includes three buildings that comprise the original United States Life-Saving Station #5. This was once part of a vast network of stations that aided shipwreck victims up and down the Mid-Atlantic coast. There used to be over 40 such stations along the Jersey shore equipped with teams that would patrol the coastline -- a system that eventually evolved into what we know as the United States Coast Guard.
"Unfortunately, only a few of these stations still exist today, but the Takanassee Beach Club is home to three original life-saving station buildings that preserve this remarkable historical legacy. The first of these buildings was completed in 1879 and the third in 1903, with the station operating until 1928. These buildings have significant historical value, and we cannot simply stand idly by and watch as they fall victim to overdevelopment.
"There are many federal resources available to help protect the historic properties and the land at the Beach Club, and my office stands ready to help with this process.
"Anyone can nominate buildings or properties to be listed on the National Register of Historic Places. You simply prepare a nomination and send it to the State Historic Preservation Office, which is part of the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection. That office forwards the request to the National Park Service, which makes a determination whether the site meets the criteria to be listed on the Register. That listing recognizes the historic value of a property and makes the site eligible for tax incentives and preservation grants.
"There are also multiple federal programs available to help provide funding for preserving historic places. Many of you know that the Church of the Presidents here in Long Branch received money through a program known as Save America's Treasures; the Lifesaving Station here would certainly also be eligible to get that type of funding. There is also a new program called Preserve America that specifically assists communities in preserving historic heritage through education and historic tourism.
"Another program that could be utilized is the Coastal and Estuarine Land Conservation Program, which is designed to help protect coastal lands from development. I am currently a cosponsor of a bill that would authorize this program and help give it more money. Senator Lautenberg is the lead sponsor of the Senate version of this bill.
"In order to protect the Takanassee Beach Club, we will need a comprehensive effort at the federal, state, and local levels. I am fully prepared to help in any way possible and I support the November ballot initiative that would approve $200 million for the Garden State Preservation Trust (GSPT).
"We should do all we can to preserve the open space and historic value of Takanassee Beach Club as it stands now. I hope my office can continue to help all of those here who are working hard to preserve the property."
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