Posted by: lois lane @ 8:04 am
The Sea Mist is one of the most photographed buildings in Cape May.
It’s red cupola across from the ocean has become an icon for the town, much like the Empire State Building is for NYC.
Imagine the surprise when driving down Beach Ave. these days and seeing this:
Apparently the Sea Mist is being converted into condos and the owners got a permit to do some interior renovations. They ended up taking off the top one and a half floors and the cupola.
When the Historic Preservation Commission got wind of what was going on, they immediately issued a stop work order.
Seems that the cupola, a cherished symbol of Victorian Cape May, wasn’t part of the original building. And the renovators reportedly ran into some structural issues while they were doing their renovating.
But the owners told the HPC the cupola will return.
Posted by: lois lane @ 5:30 pm
In case you haven’t noticed, all of the parking meters have disappeared on Carpenter’s and Lyle Lanes. But not for long.
Cape May is quietly installing a brand new parking meter system, one that talks back. Don’t even think about trying to beat the clock and grab an extra 15 minutes out of the new meters. They have the ability to “phone home” and light up if you’ve overstepped your alloted time.
That’s after you’ve found your meter in the first place.
In some areas, there will no longer be a meter at every parking spot.
There will be only one meter for every six to ten parking spaces. So how do you find your meter? Just follow the arrow on your parking space. Some are already painted on the street:
Or read the new signs. Some have already been put up:
The new Reino meters have not yet been installed, but in case you’re wondering what they look like, here’s a photo from the company website:
Just make sure you punch in the right parking spot number before putting in five dollars worth of quarters. Otherwise, the guy parked next to you gets free time on his meter.
So, what’s good about this new system?
Well one good thing is that you can save a parking space early. Just load the meter up with quarters at 9 AM. It won’t start ticking away until 10AM. No need to leave the beach or the store or the restaurant to start feeding the meter.
And the new meters could be programmed sometime in the future to take credit cards.
If you’re not crazy about looking at parking meters, well, there certainly will be a lot fewer of them to stare at.
The city manager’s office says Cape May has purchased a total of 32 new meters at a cost of $220,000. Thirty will be installed along the streets near the Washington St. Mall.
Another two meters will handle all the 100 plus spaces in the Jackson Street parking lot. But those meters will operate differently.
At the two Jackson St. Parking Lot meters, you put your money in and get a receipt. You then put the receipt in your car window. Do not forget to put the receipt in your car window. You know what happens then.
Ticket time.
So to recap:
If you’re parking along Carpenters Lane, Lyle Lane and parts of Ocean, Decatur, Congress, Mansion and Guerney Streets, first find your parking spot number, then find your designated meter, then punch in the parking spot number and pay the meter.
If you’re parking in the Jackson Street Parking Lot, look for one of two meters, put in your quarters, get a receipt and put the receipt in your car window.
If you’re parking on Beach Ave and vicinity, feed the meter as per usual.
The new system goes into effect May 1.