Former Happy Daze property may be sold

Staff Writers

By takesha pettu

Former Happy Daze
property may be sold

SOUTH RIVER — A property that once was a borough eyesore is up for sale.

According to council President David Sliker, the Reid Street property that used to house the Happy Daze Lounge, prior to its demolition in June, may be sold to nearby Laffin Chevrolet, Main Street.

The empty lot lies adjacent to property Laffin currently uses to store some of its vehicles.

If the deal goes through, the dealership could use the lot for additional car storage or expand their current facility. A spokesperson for the company, however, was not available for comment on Laffin’s intentions.

On Nov. 1, the borough unanimously approved a resolution allowing for the advertisement of tax assignments for the property.

In order to sell the land, the tax assessor has to establish the assessed valuation of the property.

The building stood for many years as an eyesore in the borough after it became vacant.

In 1998, the borough began looking into purchasing the former lounge and demolishing it after a $21,872.66 property lien was enforced by the borough for failure to pay local taxes.

But attempts to demolish the building were thwarted when the borough discovered it would cost approximately $91,372.66 to raze it.

The borough then applied for a $100,000 grant from the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs, Division of Housing and Community Resources, but was only awarded $25,000.

A roof collapse in May prompted the borough to demolish the building in early June.

The property lien has since been signed over to the borough by former property owners V&L Investments, giving the rights of the property to the borough.