Gerald T. Walsh, an experienced and licensed real estate professional, is available through The Lakewood Development Corporation, the administrative arm of the Urban Enterprise Zone (U.E.Z.) to assist businesses seeking to locate or expand in Lakewood, N.J.  Walsh, considered a one-stop source for property information and availability within Lakewood, had been the broker of record of Walsh Realty Group, Manchester, from 1990 until 2009. 

Walsh was invited by Township officials to develop Lakewood’s potential for the business and retail community in the Cedar Bridge, New Hampshire Avenue, and Route 9 areas, along with a redevelopment project on Franklin Street, a paper road off South Clifton Avenue and Main Street on which Roey’s Diner was located.

Walsh says, “We are acquiring the Franklin Street property through various means. The Township already acquired some of it in the past. Patricia Komsa, the executive director of the UEZ, has also been utilizing some of the UEZ funds to acquire some of this property for business development.  We have been buying properties to create a stream of parking lots behind the stores along Clifton Avenue.” 

Lately, Walsh also has been working with Steve Reinman and Buxton Corporation, a national marketing firm that specializes in retail real estate, to assist Walsh in bringing new businesses to Lakewood into areas of town that could use some upgraded shops or new shops, and fill any vacancies.  “After a lot of telephone calls and a lot of contacts,” says Walsh, “we are finally getting responses.”

Buxton is continually sending out inquiries on behalf of developing the Lakewood business community, highlighting the benefits of locating in Lakewood. They have already conducted a survey in town and the surrounding areas that township officials feel are important to be developed, such as Route 70, Cedar Bridge Avenue and New Hampshire Avenue. 

Walsh notes that interest in Lakewood has definitely been increasing even though nothing definite has been signed as of yet. “It is a long process,” says Walsh.  “The real estate market is slow right now and there is still a lot of fear out there.  I do feel that after spring we should see a little bit of an upturn in the real estate market.  From the reports that I have been receiving, both nationally and locally, I think the research we are doing is correct. I already have gotten several calls back now from different people who will benefit by locating their businesses in Lakewood.”

Walsh’s knowledge and interest in Lakewood grew significantly when he worked for  11 years with Leisure Technology, a Lakewood-based a retirement development company.  Walsh helped them develop the “life care center,” which was called Leisure Park at that time.  
 
“Through my office in Lakewood, I assisted our director of life care and was involved with international figures at the time the Japanese helped us to develop that project. Leisure Park is a well care center, assisted living facility on Route 70 that was started through Leisure Technology.  I was able to bring somebody to the table who could help us finance it because at that time the marketplace was sort of like it is now in real estate.” 

Walsh also became the vice president of legislative affairs and the resale director for Leisure Technology, a division of the Californian company United Development Corporation, 1978 to 1989. “They hired me mainly because of my reputation of being a fair shooter with both sides of the aisle and having a good rapport with people, bringing people into the area, and helping develop the locations they had selected.”

Walsh, who also served as assistant to the Special Council in the office of Governor William Cahill for three years, holds a N.J. Real Estate Broker’s License.  He is a member of the N.J. Association of Realtors the Ocean and Monmouth County Association of Realtors, and has been utilized as an expert for the Ocean County Condemnation Board. He was on the Ocean County Utilities Authority, the N.J. Hotel and Multiple Dwellings Board, the N.J. Vocational Education Board, and is on the Advisory Board of Healthsouth Rehabilitation Hospital.

Komsa says, “We encourage business to take advantage of Jerry’s real estate assistance.  It costs them nothing to consult with him about finding suitable property or buildings within Lakewood. He has a wealth of information to share.”  For further information, contact Gerald Walsh 732-364-2500 x 5408 or [email protected].