BY CHRISTINEVARNO
Staff Writer
LONG BRANCH — The MTOTSA [Marine and Ocean Terraces and Seaview Avenue] Alliance wants the public to know exactly what they have been fighting for.
On the Fourth of July, starting at 10 a.m., as part of the city’s Oceanfest 2004 celebration, the neighborhood is inviting the rest of the community to visit, meet the MTOTSA residents on a personal level and see the oceanfront homes the city is threatening to destroy.
Their property, located in the three-street neighborhood designated as phase II of the Beachfront North Redevelopment Zone, could be taken by the city using its powers of eminent domain. If that occurs, the homes are slated to be bulldozed and replaced by townhouses and condominiums expected to sell for as much as $1 million each.
The alliance was organized to oppose the city’s effort to take their homes, and the group submitted its own redevelopment plan for the neighborhood on May 18 that included revitalizing the area while preserving all the homes in the neighborhood.
"We want people to see the neighborhood and maybe call the mayor and tell him to stop [eminent domain]," Denise Hoagland of Ocean Terrace said. "We are asking people to walk through the neighborhood and judge for themselves."
As a prerequisite for using its power of condemnation to take the homes through eminent domain procedures, the city declared the neighborhood and the rest of the beachfront area that is being redeveloped, as blighted.
MTOTSA is inviting all the visitors who will be at the shore for the day, to take a stroll through their neighborhood that is located adjacent to the boardwalk at Seven Presidents Park and judge for themselves on how blighted the area is.
City officials began work on beachfront redevelopment 10 years ago, and construction is now taking place in the first phase of Beachfront North and the area designated as Pier Village, with a decision pending on the developer for Beachfront South.
Olga Netto of Marine Terrace said these homes are the last remaining seaside community that retains the ambiance of what an old Long Branch seaside community was like when the seven U.S. presidents used to vacation in the city.
Mayor Adam Schneider described the MTOTSA homes as being in fair to poor condition.
"We are simply inviting Oceanfest visitors into our area to see for themselves if this area should be saved from eminent domain because it is not blighted," Netto said.
The MTOTSA residents are opening their porches and yards to the public and are ready to converse with the community to show how much they believe that MTOTSA will be losing if the city wins.
Watermelon, lemonade and cookies will be offered to the visitors along with T-shirts, post cards of the area, a compact disc with a song written by Long Branch resident Ryan Doyle titled ‘Song for the People of MTOTSA,’ and literature to educate homeowners everywhere on the threat of eminent domain.
There also will be art and craft activities set up for children.
"It is important to explain to everybody what is happening on the beachfront," Olga said. "Hopefully people can benefit from what we have done."
MTOTSA has extended an invitation to the mayor and City Council but have not received a response yet, Netto said.
This is not an open house or a block party, Netto said, but rather an opportunity for the public to observe the seaside community firsthand on the birthday of the nation.
"It is only fitting that on this day [July 4], MTOTSA and other homeowners everywhere observe and celebrate the constitutional right to own private property undisturbed," Netto said. "It is not about money; it is about keeping our homes."

