Pathway cleared for demolition of Beach 4 in Cape May

posted by CSWalczak on May 10, 2011 at 7:40 am

CAPE MAY, NJ — The long saga of efforts to save the Beach 4 now appears to have met a sad end. The City Council has voted to overrule the determination of its own Historic Preservation Commission which had recommended against the issuance of a demolition permit and also to take the matter away from the Zoning Board which had been holding hearings on the issue. The Council’s decision essentially clears the way for the theater to be destroyed.

City Council awarded a $7.5 million contract Tuesday to a Vineland firm to construct a new convention facility on the beachfront. And City Solicitor Tony Monzo announced the settlement of a lawsuit that will allow Frank Investments to demolish the Beach Theatre across the street from the convention facility.

The company plans to construct condominiums, but a debate over whether the movie theater built in 1950 was a historic building had held up the project.

Read the full story in the Press of Atlantic City.

Theaters in this post

• Beach 4 Theatre