Demolition Underway On Several Dilapidated Motels Outside Atlantic City
By Cleve Bryan
EGG HARBOR TOWNSHIP (CBS) – Demolition began this week on several empty motels along the Black Horse Pike, marking the end of an era many are happy to forget in the section of Egg Harbor Township known as West Atlantic City.
In 2006, four prostitutes were found dead in a drainage ditch behind one of the motels, the Golden Key, a crime that has never been solved.
"These motels have been in a rather deplorable condition," says EHT Mayor James "Sonny" McCullough, "we have had homicides out here, we have had narcotics problems out here, we have had domestics out here."
Five motels and a former restaurant will be leveled in the next five weeks, but the Township would like to knock down another six motels and that could take a while to fund.
The 3 million dollars need to purchase and demolish these properties came from the Casino Reinvestment Development Authority , which McCullough says under new state guidelines now only directs dollars within Atlantic City.
"If there was ever a project that should have full CRDA money it's this project, cause not only does it impact the neighboring town but it absolutely has a negative impact on the casino industry in Atlantic City," he says.
McCullough is hopeful another state program can help give grant money to demolish more motels and redevelop the area into an attractive gateway to Atlantic City.
