2021:

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This Weeks News 4/29/2021

Perhaps nothing says "summer" like a dolphin in the ocean! A few days ago, Nik Pattantyus recorded a handful of dolphins as they visited him just off Seven Mile Island! Enjoy paddling along with Nik!
 
LOOK FOR SAND BACKPASSING to begin on the beach in Avalon at the end of this month. Sand will be borrowed from an area south of the fishing pier and trucked along the beach in order to replenish north-end beaches. The project is expected to be completed by Memorial Day Weekend.  No sand backpassing will occur in Stone Harbor this year.  
 
SHIFTING SANDS are part of life at the shore as daily weather, tides, and storms move sand continuously. SeaIsleNews.com has reported that the sandy beach at the foot of the Townsend's Inlet Bridge has shifted dramatically on the Sea Isle side of the inlet, uncovering scores of clams and leaving a sandbar projecting into the inlet.
 
READ MORE: BRIDGE BEACH GONE, MASSIVE SANDBAR SHOWS UP IN INLET
 
ØRSTED'S OCEAN WIND project, located 15 miles off South Jersey beaches, is expected to generate 1,100 megawatts of electricity when it is built. The project has already generated quite a bit of controversy between its proponents, and concerned constituencies which include commercial & recreational fishermen, environmentalists, property owners, and more.  Find out more about the project--including simulated views of it as seen from your favorite beach locations--at OCEAN WIND - AN ØRSTED PROJECT.  You can also participate in a virtual meeting room and review presentations, renderings, maps, and a variety of other information at OCEAN WIND VIRTUAL MEETING ROOM.
 
MEET GREG LINGO, executive producer and co-writer of the film Last Call, in the next Stone Harbor Connections virtual meeting. The Seven Mile Island resident will discuss the film, based on a real estate developer from Delco (like Lingo) who left the area to pursue his career, but later returns home and is faced with either tearing down his favorite neighborhood bar as part of a real estate project, or saving it. There are many references in the film to Delco, Philadelphia, and the Jersey Shore beaches. The discussion with Lingo will take place May 6th at 7pm via Zoom. Register here:
 
STONE HARBOR CONNECTIONS WITH GUEST GREG LINGO
 
MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND: ONE MONTH AWAY! That's right, just a month to go until the summer season kicks off! The anticipation can be sensed on the island, as sunshine and warm weather have arrived, trees and flowers are blooming, homeowners are readying their properties, and businesses and restaurants have reopened.  
 
STAY FOR A WEEK OR MAKE IT PERMANENT! Whether you'd like to escape for a week at the beach, or make your stay permanent, I'm ready to help you with that! Let me know what you're looking for, I'll find it!

 

This Weeks News 4/22/2021

VIEW THE LATEST LONG & FOSTER MARKET MINUTE REPORT  |  DOWNLOAD/PRINT PDF
  
MARKET STATS: The median sale price and the number of units sold both rose in March compared to a year ago, while the number of active listings and the average "days on market" both declined. Demand for properties in all price ranges remains strong. For a detailed look at the market see the latest Long & Foster Market Minute report above.
 
SAND BACKPASSING is expected to begin in Avalon late this month. Borough crews will move sand from a borrow location south of the Avalon Fishing Pier onto north-end beaches, in order to replenish them after winter storms took their toll. The project could not be started any sooner because of ongoing construction work on the Avalon Boulevard Bridge --the only bridge able to handle the weight of the equipment that will be used in the backpassing project, but the beach work is expected to conclude before Memorial Day Weekend. Stone Harbor will not conduct a backpassing project this year, even though some of its beaches were impacted by winter storms. Stone Harbor does not have enough extra sand on its beaches to support a backpassing operation, and accumulated sand at Stone Harbor Point is off limits since it's a protected bird nesting habitat.
 
SIGNS OF SPRING: Restaurants have opened, shops are stocking shelves, and property owners are readying their homes for the summer--it must be springtime! Coupled with frequent sunny days and trees and flowers that are blooming, the island is alive with anticipation of good times to come!
 
IF YOU USE NJ ROUTE 47 to get to and from the shore, be prepared for delays due to a detour around a bridge project in Dennis Township. Work on the bridge over the Dennis Creek began this week and is expected to last a month. Traffic will be detoured off Route 47 and through Woodbine until the project concludes. Allow extra travel time, or plan to use an alternate route.
 
SATURDAY, MAY 8TH is shaping up to be a busy one here on the island! Avalon will host a number of activities including the Avalon Garden Club's community-wide yard sale (AVALON GARDEN CLUB TOWN-WIDE YARD SALE), Community Paper Shredding beginning at 9am at the Public Works building at 15th & Dune Drive, and the Avalon Police Department bicycle auction at 12 noon, also at Public Works. The Avalon Volunteer Fire Department will hold its annual Plant Sale at the firehouse starting at 9am. The Stone Harbor Garden Club will also host their annual plant sale from 8am to 2pm at the Women's Civic Club at 96th Street & First Avenue.
 
THE BEACH SETUP GUY: Looking forward to your vacation, but dreading hauling all those chairs to the beach each morning? The Beach Setup Guy has you covered! For a weekly fee, he'll set up your beach chairs and umbrella each morning of your stay, then haul them back to your house each afternoon. Check out his site and consider booking his services!

LEARN MORE: BEACH SET UP GUY

 

This Weeks News 4/15/2021

Ospreys, laughing gulls, and other shorebirds have returned and can be found all around the island. Many osprey nests can be observed from various roadways, including this one adjacent to Avalon Boulevard.
 
OSPREYS, LAUGHING GULLS BACK! Laughing gulls--commonly as seagulls--have made their return to our area and can be seen everywhere from beaches to back yards. Ospreys are back, too. Sit quietly along a back bay waterway for a while and you are likely to see them--often carrying a freshly caught fish in their claws as they fly back to their nest for dinner!
 
SPRING BEACH SWEEPS will take place Saturday morning, April 17th in Avalon, Stone Harbor, Sea Isle, and many other New Jersey beach towns. The semi-annual sweeps help keep our beaches free of trash and debris. Volunteers are always needed but must register first at WWW.CLEANOCEANACTION.ORG. Volunteers should plan to bring their own gloves, a bucket (to reduce use of plastic bags) and water.
 
STONE HARBOR BIRD SANCTUARY TOURS will return this summer...but did you know that you can walk the four trails on your own? The trails enter the Sanctuary from Second or Third Avenues and then each winds its way to the interior. The Heron Overlook often affords a view of feeding herons or egrets, while the Holly Path wanders through maritime forest where you can view sassafras, red cedar, and a three-hundred-year-old holly tree. Benches interspersed along the way make for pleasant spots to sit and enjoy the view and sounds of nature.
 
YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT YOU'LL FIND ON THE BEACH--OR ON EBAY! Horseshoe crab shells are often found washed up on local beaches. One of them appeared--and sold--on eBay last week. The seller described it as being from Avalon's beach, measuring 17.5 inches long and 10 inches wide, and in excellent condition.


 
FREE TREE SEEDLINGS will be offered by the Avalon Environmental Commission to New Jersey residents and Cape May County homeowners. On Saturday, May 1st, from 9am to 12pm, shore-appropriate seedlings will be provided to those who stop by the 39th Street greenhouse (next to the History Center) and sign in. The NJ Tree Recovery Program is providing the free seedlings again this year.
 
LIST NOW, SELL LATER: Thinking about selling your shore property, but don't want to miss out on the summer season? Why not list your property for sale now, but require that closing not occur until mid-summer or even post-summer? That allows you to capitalize on strong demand now, with the aim of placing your property under contract now and avoiding summertime showings while you're enjoying it. Interested? Call or email me!

 

This Weeks News 4/8/2021

The beach is calling your name!
 
WOW! $22.9 MILLION! Take a look for an astounding new listing that just hit the market! With an exclusive beachfront location in the high dunes and an extraordinary new home to be built, it's no surprise that there's a premium price tag on this home. But take a look at some of the other recent sales--proof that we really do have something for everyone! No matter what price range you're interested in, call or email me and I'll help you find the perfect place!
 
WIND FARM PUBLIC COMMENT: The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management has initiated a 30-day public comment period on the proposed 1,100 megawatt offshore wind project by Ocean Wind. Virtual meetings will be held on Tuesday, April 13th (1pm), Thursday, April 15th (5:30pm), and Tuesday, April 20th (5:30pm).
 
MORE INFO & REGISTRATION: OCEAN WIND | BUREAU OF OCEAN ENERGY MANAGEMENT
 
DRIVING THE MARKET: The real estate market strength continues to be driven by the effects of the pandemic, with a few key factors especially influential locally:
 
-Spending more time at home: while spending more time at home during the pandemic, people are seeking more space for exercise, work, and gathering with family.
 
-Virtual work: all-virtual or hybrid work and school routines allowed people to reduce physical ties to the office or school. Locally we have seen many families relocate to their vacation home, where they work or attend classes virtually each day--and then go for a walk on the beach each afternoon!
 
-Escaping cities & crowds: with so much emphasis on social distancing in the past year, seeking the open spaces, views, and fresh air associated with our beaches and bays seems a natural evolution.
 
BEACH TAGS cost $25 for the season if purchased prior to May 31st. Thanks to a partnership with Jersey Cape Tags, you can purchase your tags online and have them shipped to your home! (A convenience fee and shipping cost applies.)

ORDER: JERSEY CAPE TAGS ONLINE STORE - AVALON 2021 SEASONAL BEACH TAG
 
ORDER: JERSEY CAPE TAGS ONLINE STORE - STONE HARBOR 2021 SEASONAL BEACH TAG

PROPERTY IMPROVEMENTS--SCHEDULE NOW! The summer season is rapidly approaching--make sure you get your property projects and improvements scheduled now. Whether you need a spring cleaning, repairs, painting, or other work done, call your service provider now and get the job scheduled. Need service provider or contractor recommendations? Email or call me!

 

This Weeks News 4/1/2021

 
MARKET STATS: Strong sales have reduced the number of available listings and pushed the median sale price up to $1,712,500 in February. 19 new listings hit the market in February, and 18 went under contract. For a detailed look at the market, see the latest Long & Foster Market Minute Report:

VIEW THE LATEST LONG & FOSTER MARKET MINUTE REPORT  |  DOWNLOAD/PRINT PDF
   
OFFSHORE WIND FARMS=WHITE HOUSE PRIORITY: The Biden administration wants to "fast-track leasing in federal waters off the New York and New Jersey coasts, a priority for wind power," according to the Wall Street Journal (WSJ, March 29th). Only two offshore wind farms are currently operating in the United States, off Rhode Island and Virginia. The WSJ went on to report that "Monday's announcement includes a goal for 30,000 megawatts of offshore wind by 2030, more than triple what the country is on pace for by 2026 if permits were issued without delay." Not all are in favor, however, with constituencies ranging from commercial and recreational fisherman to environmental groups having expressed concerns about the projects.
 
WINDRIFT ACQUIRED BY ICONA: The Windrift Hotel was recently acquired by ICONA Resorts, which also owns the ICONA Golden Inn. The Windrift will operate this season and will then undergo a renovation in preparation for the 2022 summer season.  
 
AVALON WILL HOLD THE LINE on its local purpose tax, with no increase for 2021. Avalon's net ratables increased by $144 million in 2020, providing an additional $300,000 in tax revenue. Stone Harbor introduced a budget in mid-March that would require a 12.4% increase in the municipal tax rate for 2021. During the past year Stone Harbor incurred an emergency appropriation of over $300,000 in August to cover the cost of increased lifeguard pay and added over $400,000 in spending to provide paid fire department staffing to maintain sufficient coverage.
 
CAPE MAY COUNTY = "STORM-READY": Cape May County is the first New Jersey County to be deemed "storm-ready" by the New Jersey Storm Ready Board. Various criteria include multiple means for receiving severe weather warnings, a formal hazardous weather plan, and the creation of a system that monitors weather conditions locally. The Storm Ready program was created by the National Weather Service to improve response to hurricanes, severe flooding and tornadoes. 
 
WHAT'S YOUR PLAN FOR 2021?  Whatever it is, I'm here to help! Whether you need a week's vacation at the beach, or something more permanent, call or email me today!