Back to nature

Group developing power plant site in Upper Township has plans for luxury hotel, boardwalk with shops, and acres upon acres of natural beauty,

It’s not too often power plants are associated with relaxation, comfort and outdoor exploration.

Of course, the site of the B.L. England Generating Station – formerly a smattering of twinkling lights and plumes of smoke tucked along the Great Egg Harbor River in Upper Township for nearly 60 years – is going to offer these things in spades once the Beesleys Point Development Group brings its vision to life.

“Our entire existence over the past 25 years has been getting sites like these,” Chris Wilson, the site’s LLC managing member, said. “We can’t reveal everything yet, but we’ve been working with the township since long before we closed in regard to the vision.”

Ownership and demolition

After a three-year long, arduous process that included multiple sale agreements that didn’t come to fruition, the Beesleys Point Development Group and parent firm ERSI Group closed on the B.L. England site in February 2022.

“We were so thrilled to take ownership,” Chris remarked. “Three years is a long time. It wears you down.”

ERSI Group specializes in redeveloping “heavy industrial distressed sites,” according to its website.

In September 2022, the B.L. England cooling tower was imploded. Safety during the demolition is paramount, according to Chris, even if it means using more expensive contractors.

“We have a terrific safety record. It’s one of the things we’re most proud of, all the way back to the late ’90s,” Chris explained.

The group is ahead of schedule regarding the rest of the demolition. Soon the smoke stack will come down, and everything else will follow, with demolition slated to be finished by the end of this year.

“We’re about 13 months ahead of schedule now. We’ve spent millions and millions of dollars just getting everything ready,” Chris said. “We pride ourselves on working closely with all regulatory agencies.” For this project, that includes local organizations, such as the Upper Township Fire Department and New Jersey State Police, as well as the state Department of Environmental Protection.

“They’ve been wonderful,” Chris said. “Once you establish a good thing with the agencies that are on top of things, they come to know you can count on each other.

“It’s a good working relationship.”

The new vision

The Beesleys Point Redevelopment Group plans for the B.L. England site include a “beautiful hotel, meandering boardwalk and a top-of-the-line marina,” according to Chris, with retail along a Main Streetstyle design. He doesn’t see the space as a competitor for Ocean City – it’s much the opposite.

“This development is to coincide with the magnificence of Ocean City,” Chris said. Another big piece of the development is to embrace the environment.

“We want to take advantage of the unprecedented natural community that Cape May County consists of,” Chris said. In March, there was a controlled burn at the site to remove phragmites, a reed grass that is invasive to the area and aggressively chokes out native plants and disrupts the ecological health of the area

“We had great involvement in both the company that managed the burn and the township’s oversight of it. It was fantastic. It went perfectly,” Chris said.

This is phase one of a multiphase process to rehabilitate the area from the phragmites and related damage. The Beesleys Point Development Group is working with the Great Egg Harbor Watershed Association on this part of the project.

“They want to be involved, and that’s priceless,” Chris said.

“We’re reestablishing a very significant section of marine forest,” he continued. “It was eroded away because of the phragmites. We’re bringing it back – dozens of acres. Native species. The things that are supposed to be there.”

As far as why the group is going the extra mile – or acre – to restore the natural habitat around the site, Chris said it’s their duty.

“It’s just totally irresponsible not to,” he said. “Our goal has always been to restore the green space to as natural a state as possible. We specialize in sites spending a good portion of time ruining the earth, so we want to get it back.

“We see this space as essential in our overall development,” Chris continued. “Protection of the environment and the wildlife, that is key. That’s something the community can enjoy for generations.”

A spot for everyone

Another big focus on developing the former power plant site is to ensure it is a spot for everyone. Much like rehabilitating the natural environment benefits the entire community, there will be public access to the waterfront area. Those who want to kayak or canoe in the Great Egg Harbor Bay or look skyward for migratory bird watching – a top activity in Cape May County – will be able to do so.

“We’re going to be giving back. There are going to be shore areas that everyone can enjoy. That’s been a big push from the township, and we’re working hand-in-hand with them along the way,” Chris said.

“We want people to say this was a great thing that happened,” he continued. “This is going to be something that the community loves.”

Above left to right: Some OC waterfront homes will have views of the new development. Beesley's Point Park is a nearby landmark. Get updates and learn more about the development project at www.beesleyspointdevelopment.com.