Edwin Tuttle gave the world many gifts _ just ask people at the Pennsylvania Ballet _ but none more beautiful than the little beachfront lot across the street from his shore house in Ventnor that he turned into a free standing patio two decades ago and then left alone. The former head of Pennwalt Corp. preserved this lot at Sacramento and the Boardwalk to preserve his own view, naturally, but also that of his neighbors. He brought in a statue of a nymph, a replica of one in Pompeii, which he replaced with another replica when the first one was stolen. He put in circular patterned pavers like it was a piazza in Florence and chairs and benches and a pavilion that, truth be told, nobody really ever sat in it. Maybe one time, they had a barbecue. The garden was valued for what it wasn't. It wasn't another big house at the shore. It didn't block anything. It wasn't for sale. It wasn't available. It wasn't fenced in, just a little gate around it. When he died last year, he left the lot to his neighbor directly across the street from him, whose house borders the lot, another act of generosity in a lifetime full of them. But taxes on the lot are $26,000 and the neighbor, an 80-year-old widow, can't afford them. By selling the lot, which has an asking price of about $1 million, she will be able to live out her life in the two story bungalow the Wades have lived in since the early 60s. She thinks Edwin Tuttle meant for that to be the case. "It's been lovely for everyone," she said last night, as dusk fell on a perfectly lovely evening along the Boardwalk. She didn't want her full name used. "I am just not able to keep it." Here's another photo.
Comments (8)
What a joke. The poor 80 year old widow can't afford $26k in taxes -- so she is selling the lot for $1 million. Let me guess, she is on a "fixed income" also (oh the horror). Bring in the AARP to lobby for an earned income tax in Ventnor!
Posted by Dr. Kevorkian | June 7, 2007 11:47 AM
Posted on June 7, 2007 11:47
The lot belongs to the neighbor now. It's her's to do with as she wishes. If Mr. Tuttle didn't want that, he surely had the options of trusts or other avenues to preserve the "patio" as it is.
Still, has anyone suggested that she consider a reverse mortgage to allow her to keep the lot as it is (for now), and to allow her to live out her life in her home???
Posted by Nick | June 7, 2007 8:33 PM
Posted on June 7, 2007 20:33
My Mother is open to anybody giving her beachfront properties. She raised 6 sometimes loving children in a Philadelphia row home and vacationed with all of us on Portland Ave. located the next street over from Sacramento. She always loved the property but said she loved her 5th son more than anything. Her husband is handy and a very kind gentle man even though his toes are crooked. Fine candidates for a house if there ever was one.
Posted by The 5th Son | June 7, 2007 8:59 PM
Posted on June 7, 2007 20:59
I live a couple blocks from the lot and see it almost every day. It's a shame that it'll built on eventually, but understandable. At least there is not a garden or something there since it's already paved.
Posted by Chris | June 8, 2007 7:55 AM
Posted on June 8, 2007 07:55
What a joke? If the taxes are 26,000 a year for a patio, what are the taxes going to be for a house.
I'm not wealthy, but still 26,000 seems a little excessive. It shouldn't surprise me thought since NJ has the highest property taxes in the country.
I've alwasy wondered about that lot, I grew up in Ventnor.
Posted by matt | June 8, 2007 2:47 PM
Posted on June 8, 2007 14:47
The City of Vetnor should seriously consider an alternative solution to this. The idea that the city makes 26,000 for a beach front patio is absurd. More absurd is that Vetnor is most likely fretting over the other $30,000 it could get if a house was there. I hate NJ sometimes.
Posted by Nick | June 8, 2007 3:26 PM
Posted on June 8, 2007 15:26
Typical of Jersey. Tax, tax, tax till you can't afford anymore. Biggest reason I left NJ 20 yrs ago. You people are idiots for electing people whose only goal is to take your hard earned money and give it away.
Posted by Tom | June 9, 2007 9:11 AM
Posted on June 9, 2007 09:11
A nice little story about another Jersey Shore quirk that is about to go by the wayside.
$26,000 seems a bit steep even for New Jersey!
Posted by Chris P | June 9, 2007 12:43 PM
Posted on June 9, 2007 12:43