Crews Demolish Brighton Avenue Fire Buildings

The Brighton Avenue buildings that were destroyed by a huge fire on Monday morning are no more.

Crews demolished the buildings on Wednesday and the portion of the road that was once closed to traffic has been reopened.

Long Branch Business Administrator Howard Woolley said the building owners are doing the demolition and that it was imperative that it was done in a "safe and quick manner."

"They were hazardous structures, and the one that concerned us most was the 3-story building," Woolley said. "I believe they are doing everything they can based on the huge amount of debris."

Woolley said recent tax records indicate the building at 55 Brighton Ave., owned by Sue Weinberg, was assessed at $468,300. The building at 51-61 Brighton Ave., owned by Martin Grubman, Emcee Realty LLC, was assessed at $2.14 million. The third building at 63-67 Brighton Ave., owned by LaRue Brighton LLC of Brooklyn, was assessed at $858,700.

Woolley said he had spoken to some of the owners and that Grubman said he was "interested in rebuilding it after he gets the insurance sorted out."

"I'm hoping they all get rebuilt, because I think it's a great area," Woolley said.