10. Manco & Manco Pizza

Pizza is a staple of Jersey boardwalk fare, and Ocean City’s Manco & Manco is the best on the promenade. This is a decidedly NYC-style pie — the big floppy kind that you can fold in half and chow down on while you walk. Unlike the trash that drifts down to Jerseyto participate on the show, this is one NYC import we can all enjoy. (Photo: Infinite Jeff)

9. Dippin’ Dots

The future of ice cream! Or so they’ve been telling us for the past twenty five years. At what point will the future actually get here so I can throw out my Ben & Jerry’s? These ice-cold globules used to be a “special occasion” item that you would see for sale at the shore. These days, I can buy them from a machine at the mall. Kinda takes the charm out of it. (Photo: newwavegurly)

8. Salt Water Taffy

All the nutritional value of a conversation with Mike “The Situation,” these chewy treats are the bane of brace-wearing children everywhere. Each box always includes some bullshit story about how the taffy was invented when candy fell into seawater, but you’re mostly just interested in getting the good flavors and shafting your siblings with the banana and licorice. Corn syrup + artificial flavoring = awesome. (Photo: Live?Laugh?Love)

7. Boardwalk Fries

These things are so good that they made a mediocre fast food franchise out of them! The signs that say the fries are cooked in “100% peanut oil” were tantalizingly exotic to a third grader in the 1980s (yeah, my horizons have expanded since then), and the fact that they sliced the potatoes on premises made it even more fun. The medium-cut sticks are great for the most part — the fries that you get from the center of the potatoes are long and perfectly cooked — but the unfortunate slices that are nicked off the edges invariably lead to a pile of deep-fried potato skins in the bottom of your paper cup. Bummer. (Photo: roboppy)

6. Binge Drinking

Sure, it’s not technically a food item, but it does account for approximately 56% of the total calories consumed at the Jersey Shore. In fact, I think that national Beer Pong Championships are held in Wildwood Crest. (Photo: C o l i n)

5. Casino Buffets

What’s better than a little bit of bad food? A whole shitload of bad food! There are a bunch of crappy buffets located along a number of the boardwalks, but the casinos in Atlantic Citytraditionally have the best buffets. Now, as the casinos have transitioned from “places you can go to lose $200 on a Saturday” to ”family destinations,” they have been adding high-end restaurants from celebrity chefs like Bobby Flay. Don’t count on any trips down to AC by the Jersey Shore crew. Flash casino games and blackjack require way too much math. (Photo: iirraa)

4. Fudgy Wudgy

It’s just a fudgesicle, but you haven’t been to the Jersey shore until you’ve been laying on a beach blanket only to have your ears perked up by the dulcet tones of “FUUUUUUUUUDGY WUUUUUUUUDGY!” coming from a vendor pushing a refrigerated cart across the baking-hot sand. I contend that it is physically impossible to not want a fudgesicle under these circumstances. That the vast majority of the popsicle sticks end up as litter on the beach is a small price to pay for this convenience, I suppose. (Photo: Jocelyn | McAuliflower)

3. Funnel Cake

Oh yeah…deep fried dough covered in powdered sugar, these things are sold by every fourth of fifth vendor on the boardwalk. Of course, some foodies may argue that the funnel cake pales in comparison to the Italian zeppole, much like the Jersey Guidos are sad parodies of Eye-talian Americans. (Photo: churl)

2. Kohr Brothers Frozen Custard

I’ve been to the Jersey Shore boardwalk for over thirty years and I’ve passed Kohr Brothers locations more times than I can count, and I’m certain that they sell something other than the vanilla-orange swirl cone, but I’m fairly sure I’ve never seen anyone order something other than this amazing combination of creaminess, tanginess and dairy architecture. (Photo: CellPhoneSusie)

1. Good Seafood

Wait, a completely non-sarcastic entry? Well it’s true. There is some fantastic fresh local seafood down the shore, including oysters, striped bass and monkfish, although much of it has quickly gone from underrated to over-fished in the blink of an eye. When I was a more active fisherman, I used to pull out and eat species including flounder and bluefish. I’m also proud to tell you that — despite the presence of many Guidos in the water — Jersey-caught seafood does not taste like it’s been marinated in Hawaiian Tropic and hair gel. (Photo: peekandeat)

Did we miss any of your Jersey Shore favorites?

Can you say paradise ?

1.        Piña Colada, Puerto Rico

The pineapple, coconut, and rum slurry known as piña colada had been popular in the Caribbean for at least a hundred years before Ramon “Monchito” Marrero, a bartender at the Caribe Hilton’s Beachcomber Bar (now called Oasis Bar) inSan Juan,Puerto Rico, perfected it in the 1950s using cream of coconut. Today,San Juan’s signature cocktail is sipped all over the world, but tastes best inPuerto Rico, by the beach or pool.

2.       Caipirinha, Brazil

Made with sugar, lime, and cachaça—a spirit fermented from sugarcane juice— the caipirinha is ubiquitous in Brazil’s seaside cafés. Even vendors on the beach mix them. Variations abound, the most popular is caipifrutas, which adds one or more of the region’s wide array of fruits, such as caju (cashew fruit), passionfruit, mango, or kiwi.

3.        Mai-Tai, Polynesia

Upon tasting this cocktail of rum, orange curaçao, orgeat syrup (made from almonds), and lime at Polynesian-style lounge Trader Vic’s (then called Hinky Dink) in Oakland, California, in 1944, a Tahitian guest remarked, “maita’i ro’a ‘ae,” meaning “out of this world.” Hence the name mai-tai, or so the story goes. The drink got a boost in Elvis’s hit movie Blue Hawaii and has since become a staple at tiki lounges everywhere.

4.        Red StripeBeer, Jamaica

So identified is Red Stripe with the Jamaican national identity that when the island formally gained independence from Great Britain in 1962, one columnist suggested the real date should have been 1928, when the beer was first brewed on the island in Kingston. After a couple of marketing glitches in theU.S.market, the lager is now the most popular of allCaribbeanbeers.

5.       Daiquiri, Cuba

Thanks to the prevalence of rum, lime, and sugar in the Caribbean, the trio became the base for many of the region’s cocktails (as well as the British sailor’s grog). Named for a beach near Santiago, Cuba, the first daiquiri was allegedly invented by a group of American engineers working in the area whose gin supplies had run dry. The drink today is more recognizable to Americans in its fruit-flavored frozen form.

6.       Margarita, Mexico

Was it a Texassocialite in Acapulcowho was looking for something to refresh her party guests on a hot afternoon or a bartender in Tijuanahoping to impress Rita Hayworth (née Margarita Cansino) with a drink in her honor? Regardless of who invented the margarita—the stories are legion—the tart blend of tequila, cointreau, and lime juice in a glass rimmed with salt has become synonymous with Mexico. It’s the top-selling tequila cocktail worldwide.

7.        Limoncello, Southern Italy

When life gave farmers in southern Italy surplus lemons, they soaked the peels in grain alcohol and added sugar to make limoncello. The sweet-tart digestivo is traditionally sipped after dinner, but is gaining ground as a base for simple cocktails, such as splashed over ice with soda or tonic water, preferably enjoyed while taking in the stunning seaside vistas of theAmalfiCoast.

8.       Cape Codder, Massachusetts

When cranberry giant Ocean Spray began to promote its juice cocktail as a mixer, suggestions to pair it with Canadian whiskey or rum fell flat. But vodka and cranberry—named the CapeCodderin honor of the beloved Massachusetts peninsula where cranberries thrive—hit it big, spawning multiple variations, including the trendier martini hybrid, the cosmopolitan.

9.        Rosé, Côte d’Azur, France

Drinking pink has just started to catch on stateside, but a glass of chilled dry rosé has long been de rigueur in the seaside cafés of France’sCôte d’Azur, alongside fish soup and langoustines. Typically made by removing the skins of the red grapes after crushing, rosé is thought of as the less-serious sister to white or red wine, making it the ideal beachside quaff in Saint Tropez.

10.    Gin and Tonic, India

Gin was first introduced to tonic to offset its bitter taste so the British, who were occupying India at the time, could stomach the stuff as an anti-malarial. The Brits ended up fancying the crisp combo, adding a wedge of lime, and it became a mainstay of the tropics long after the empire fell. Try it on the beach inGoa while watching the sun set.

Permanent vacation

By Elizabeth Gehrman

Vacationers, beware: It’s that time of year when you’re most susceptible. You spend a week at a rustic camp in Maine or a few days in a cozy Cape Cod cottage, and – intoxicated by the sound of kids splashing at the dock, the heady scent of saltwater, the luscious taste of lobster rolls and soft-serve ice cream from the corner clam shack – the next thing you know you’re putting a down payment on the place next door. But what do you need to consider when purchasing a vacation home, and where are the top bargains right now?

Know When and Where to Buy

If you’re lucky enough to be able to purchase a second home, the generally depressed real estate market and historically low interest rates beckon. According to the National Association of Realtors’ Investment and Vacation Home Buyers Survey, released in March, the peak of vacation home buying occurred in 2006, with about 1.5 million properties sold nationwide. By 2008, the number of vacation homes transferred was less than half that. And when demand decreases, prices typically follow. The market does appear to be on the upswing: Last year, the number of vacation homes sold nationwide increased by almost 8 percent, to 553,000 from 513,000 in 2008, and the median sale price rose from $150,000 in 2008 to $169,000 in 2009. But that’s still down almost 17 percent from a high median sale price of $204,100 in 2004, and some very desirableNew Englandlocations have excellent news for buyers right now.

In Maine, for example, statewide prices for all homes have declined almost 16 percent, from a median of $194,000 in 2007 to $164,000 in 2009. InNew Hampshire, the drop was about 22 percent, withBelknapCounty– which encompasses Lakes Region cities and towns likeLaconia, Gilford, andBelmont– declining by 27 percent.

In Newport,Rhode Island, according to realtor Paul Leys of Gustave White Sotheby’s International Realty, a modest wharf-area condo might now go for as low as the upper $300,000s. “That wouldn’t be waterfront,” he says, “but it might be water view.”

And on Cape Cod, prices are down about 20 percent since 2005 – slightly more than the state as a whole, but that number depends in part on where you’re looking to buy. Mid-Cape seems to be the best bargain. “We are selling condos for prices that have not existed since 2000,” says Joyce Bearse, a realtor with Kinlin Grover inYarmouthPort.That’s because the condo market has taken a bigger hit than the single-family market and inventory is high across the board. “Right now, there are 224 listings in Dennis andYarmouthfor under $300,000. If I had done that search six years ago, it would have been two or three.” Bearse points out that prices may dip even lower now that the federal tax credit has expired, reducing demand, and as homes in foreclosure continue to come on to the market. “Even people at the high end can now afford a property they never could afford before,” she adds. “Now, instead of $1.5 million, that same property might be $1.2.” Even prices inProvincetown, with its easy access by fast ferry toBostonand its cosmopolitan feel, may surprise you. Century 21 Shoreland broker Rick Tourgee, for example, says he has a 1,300-square-foot two-bedroom-plus-den listed in a condo development called Seashore Park for $329,000.

“We don’t know when the bottom is until it starts going back up,” says Tom Kelly, the Seattle-based author of How a Second Home Can Be Your Best Investment, “but this appears to be close to the bottom.”

Analyze Your Needs

According to the National Association of Realtors survey, almost a third of buyers begin their vacation-home hunt by searching Internet sites like findashorehome.com, lakehouse.com, escapehomes.com, and homeawayrealestate.com. While 20 percent of buyers find their primary home through a friend, relative, or neighbor, or by driving by and seeing a sign in the yard, 28 percent of those looking for a vacation home get their most productive leads this way, suggesting that the idea of buying first enters people’s minds while they’re actually on vacation.

As you weigh the notion of taking on a second home, be sure you’d rather spend time in the same location every year than visit different destinations. “If you buy,” says Tony Giacalone of Tony’s Realty in East Boston, who owns a second home inPalm Springs,California, “you’re not just going on vacation. It gives you a chance to build up community someplace else. It gives you a new set of neighbors and a new set of activities, and gives your kids a whole new group of summer friends.” If you decide that’s for you, consider these points:

> Get to know your desired location before you buy. “If you’ve never been toMainebut you want to buy a place here,” says Tom Ferent of Mr. Lakefront Keller Williams Realty in South Casco,Maine, “well, we’ve got a big state. I always say come spend some time, because it’s a big investment.”

> Determine how you plan to use the property and how long you’ll hold on to it. “Families with kids buy a ski home and think they will come up every weekend to ski,” says Peter Tucker of Tucker Real Estate inStowe,Vermont. “But when the kids become teenagers, they may have different interests. Hockey is a good example. If you’ve got to be on the rink at 6 a.m. on Saturdays, it’s tough to come up for the weekend.”

> Decide whether you’ll want your vacation home to eventually become your full-time retirement home. It could help determine the features you look for, such as a first-floor master bedroom.

> Finally, consider whether you might want or need to rent out your place to help with costs. If so, study the rental market, going rates, and issues such as advertising options and cleaning services available in the area.

Compromise to Save Money

The best way to save money on a vacation property inNew Englandis by giving up one or two items on your wish list, starting, perhaps, with location. The mid-Cape, for example, has better deals than the lower, or outer,Cape, in part because it contains a broader range of properties. Bearse says a heated 900-square-foot two-bedroom ranch within a mile of the beach might go for less than $300,000. “And you can buy those small places, 450 or 500 square feet, for under $200,000,” she says. “Or if it’s half of a duplex, you could get 500 or 600 square feet for maybe $150,000. Just a place to hang your hat.” It won’t be a sprawling family compound, but with the right layout, 450 square feet can comfortably sleep four or five people.

In the Berkshires, Lenox, Stockbridge, Great Barrington, and Egremont are more expensive than, say, Lee or Becket. “Becket’s still an easy commute” fromBoston, says Beth VanNess, broker/owner of Gile Real Estate in Becket, “and it’s close to Tanglewood and all the other cultural amenities of the Berkshires.”

InNew Hampshire, Whitefield, for example, is less expensive than towns likeLincoln, whereLoonMountainis located, andLaconia. Whitefield is farther north but still just a short drive to the slopes, and it offers beautiful views, cute shops, decent restaurants, and fewer crowds. Even a small distance from your first choice can make a price difference. A recent Craigslist search on “Winnipesaukee cottage,” for example, yielded a 450-square-foot place with stunning water views about 2½ miles from hot spotWeirsBeachfor just $169,900. True, if you paid $80,000 or $100,000 more, you could probably just fall out of bed and onto Weirs – but what’s a short bike ride when you’re on vacation?

Scrutinize the Property

Once you’ve pinpointed a community you can afford, it’s time to fine-tune that wish list. Yes, you’ll likely have to compromise, but Ferent recommends looking for these criteria in a vacation home:

> A knockout view. “As you get older, you’re not as active on the water,” Ferent points out. “If an older person can get in anAdirondackchair and look at the sunset over the mountains, that’s really important.”

> A level lot. This kind of property – or, for lakeside homes, a sandy beach with gradual entry – appeals to a broader market than one with a steep slope.

> Proximity to the water. This can be a two-edged sword. In Maine, for example, all new construction has to be 100 feet back from the water – but, as Ferent points out, “you can’t watch the kids from the deck if you’re 100 feet back,” which might make an older home more appealing. Then again, in certain areas – near the open ocean and on river-fed (as opposed to spring-fed) lakes – being closer to the water may present flood hazards, so you need to inquire about special insurance before making your move.

> Privacy. Ferent contends that for a single-family home, about 100 feet of water frontage is needed for real privacy. “It really kills the atmosphere when you’re sitting on your deck and your next-door neighbor flushes his toilet,” he says. “If it’s 50 feet and the neighbors are on top of you, you’re going to have to really like people.” For some buyers, of course, living closer to neighbors is part of the fun; if you’re one of them, you might want to consider a cottage community or condo rather than a stand-alone house.

Ferent recommends that all the buyers involved – usually a committed couple, but sometimes two or three friends or relatives – take separate notes as they visit properties, ranking each of, say, five attributes on a 10-point scale. “I say, ‘Don’t share, but each of you come up with your top three,’ ” he says. “Often the husband and wife don’t agree on what they like,” but will have enough pluses in common to come to a decision.

Consider the Finances Carefully

By now everyone knows it’s tougher to get a mortgage than it was a few years ago, and for vacation homes it’s even worse. “You can buy a primary house for as little as 3 percent down,” says David Brennan, senior vice president for residential and consumer lending at Cape Cod Five Cents Savings Bank inOrleans. “But for an owner-occupied vacation home – that is, one you’re not planning to rent out – you’d need at least 15 percent down.” And you’ll need at least 20 percent down if you think you’ll get any income from rentals or if you need a jumbo loan, which in Barnstable County, for example, is $462,500 or greater and on Nantucket and the Vineyard, $729,750.

“What I’m hearing, at least here inCape Cod, is that more people are paying cash simply because there are no investment opportunities,” Brennan says. “Money market funds are paying nothing; the stock market’s up and down. I’m hearing from realtors that people are saying, ‘I might as well take the money out of my portfolio and pay cash or put down a very large down payment.’ ”

If you don’t have a sizable amount to put down, you might find a seller who is willing to carry part of your mortgage for a fixed period, allowing you to ask a smaller amount from the bank. “There are a lot of older people who’ve held these properties for a long time and are looking for consistent income in their retirement,” says Kelly. “You can make a lower down payment, and their qualifying standards won’t be as stringent as the bank’s.”

When figuring out how much you can afford, remember that your carrying cost, or the amount you’ll pay monthly, includes not only your mortgage, taxes, and insurance, but also maintenance, which can include unexpected surprises during the seasons you’re not watching over the place, and any extra insurance you may need because of the location – that flood insurance, for example, or additional homeowner’s insurance because your place is in a remote location far from a fire station or hydrant.

Go With Your Gut

While some realtors recommend taking your time to buy – after all, this is a discretionary purchase – just as many say you should grab the place you want when you see it. “I can’t tell you how many people say, ‘That first house was perfect for our needs, but we felt like we shouldn’t make an offer because we hadn’t done our due diligence,’ ” says Ferent. “And then they regret not making an offer because someone else buys it.”

To avoid longing for the one that got away, Ferent recommends being ready to take the leap once you do know what it is you’re looking for. “If it’s in your gut that you like the place and it’s in your price range, take it,” he says. “If you don’t, and someone else does, you’ll feel awful, and then on the rebound you might buy too quick. I’ll tell you how you know: If I call you in a week and tell you it’s sold, will you be sick?”

Once, the notion of owning two homes was solely for the wealthy. But now more middle-class baby boomers entering retirement are “trading down” from a big family house to two small abodes in separate states, according to real estate specialists.

“These aren’t rich people. … Yet they have traditional pensions that give them enough income to support homes in two parts of the country,” says Margie Casey, a veteran real estate broker and author of “Relocate at Retirement or Not?”

In a typical scenario, a retiring couple will first sell their large family house. Then they’ll buy a smaller home nearby for use as their primary residence. Finally, they’ll purchase a small, secondary residence in another state, most often in a resort setting.

Wherever they choose to live, most boomers want low maintenance, with exterior upkeep provided through a condo or homeowners’ association.

“People want the total freedom of ‘lock and leave’ homes,” Casey says.

Of course, many boomers lack the wherewithal to pursue a two-home retirement strategy, often due to financial setbacks in recent years. But Casey says those with enough money are willing to spend it in order to enhance their retirement lifestyle.

Here are a few tips for those considering a two-home retirement dream:

•First check out the financial implications of your plan.

Casey, who reviews retirement communities, says anyone considering two-home ownership should first discuss the financial implications with a professional adviser.

“A planner can help you calculate what you can afford and give you a second opinion on your plan,” she says.

On paper, it should be no more expensive to own two small units than a single large one. But in reality, dual homeownership can be more expensive after you take into account homeowner’s association fees and transportation costs.

Local taxes are also a big factor, especially in today’s tough times, where cash-strapped municipalities are frequently raising them.

“Once you investigate the taxes, you may decide to live one state away from your grandchildren, assuming that lowers your cost of living,” Casey says.

•Think through the choice of a condo as one of your two homes.

Michael R. Crowley, a real estate broker and past president of the National Association of Exclusive Buyer Agents, says homebuyers considering the purchase of a condo should exercise caution.

As an example, he tells of a married couple he advised on the purchase of retirement property in Hawaii. The couple chose a condominium development that seemed attractive. Before they concluded a purchase there, however, they rented a unit as a trial run.

“After a brief time renting, they realized they hated condo living. It felt way too crowded to them. They were glad they’d tried it out before actually buying,” Crowley recalls.

As he notes, there are other options for small-scale living that provide many of the worry-free features as a condo-apartment.

For instance, in many “planned unit developments,” you can buy a one-level detached unit that comes with exterior maintenance, including a lawn service, Crowley notes.

•Consider transportation before deciding where to relocate.

Many a retiree has selected an idyllic retirement setting without taking into account airport access, which is a major mistake, Casey says.

Relying on an out-of-the-way airport makes it harder to travel to distant locations for vacation or to see your offspring. It can also add to your transportation bills.

“Try to live near an airport that’s a hub for one of the major carriers. That can save you a ton on air travel costs,” Casey says.

Another transportation factor to consider is proximity to major interstate roadways.

“Most retired people want to live within a two-hour drive of their grandchildren,” Casey says.

•Avoid high expectations for visits with your offspring.

“Living near the grandkids is the No. 1 thing for a lot of retirees,” Casey says.

Still, she cautions those choosing a retirement habitat to be realistic about their expectations on how often they’ll see family, no matter how close they live.

“Your kids have busy lives. Sure, you can hope to see them often. But don’t focus your whole retirement lifestyle on seeing family. First and foremost, choose the lifestyle that works for you,” Casey says.

•Remember the benefits of two-home living.

One reason retirees like owning two abodes is that they can take advantage of two distinct climates, avoiding harsh winters and interminable summers

By living in two places, Casey says, many retirees have “the best of both worlds.” They can choose a primary setting near family and a secondary one that satisfies their desire for intellectual stimulation, perhaps in a college town where they can enjoy classes, lectures and cultural events.

For instance, Casey cites low-cost courses available to seniors on many campuses through the Osher Lifelong Learning Institutes, www.osherfoundation.org Buying a home near a college town offering such classes can enrich retirement.

Obviously, not all retirees are suited to living in two homes. Some prefer a sedentary life with little travel involved. But many others thrive on a dual-town lifestyle, Casey says.

“Living in two places can be exciting. The change of going back and forth is stimulating. And that’s good for a lot of people,” she says

By BRIAN IANIERI Press of Atlantic City Staff Writer

Beach-home seekers and unseasonably warm weather helped boost regional home sales in March from a year ago, even as sales declined nationally, according to Realtor sales figures and local real estate agents.

Existing single-family home and condo sales in Cape May County jumped 39 percent from a year ago to 269 homes in March, data tracked by the local Multiple Listing Service show.

In Atlantic County, shore towns such as Brigantine and Margate posted large volume increases as home resales throughout the county grew 9 percent to 214 in March.

“These are not investors. These are end-users, people buying for themselves to meet a vacation need or a retirement plan,” said Ada Krebs, senior sales associate at Weichert Realtors Brigantine Realty.

In March, the 57 homes sold in Cumberland County were up from 39 in the same month a year ago.

Realtors agreed that the region’s warm weather was a factor because its puts people in the mood to house hunt.

Nationwide, the pace of buying slowed 2.6 percent in March to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 4.5 million homes, the National Association of Realtors said Thursday.

An increase in January and February purchases nationwide had raised optimism that home sales would continue their upward momentum, but that did not happen throughout the country in March.

Even with the first-quarter gains, the sales pace remains far below the 6 million per year that economists equate with healthy housing markets.

U.S. home prices, however, were up. The median price nationally of a house sold in March was $163,800, 2.5 percent higher than a year ago.

“I believe prices have largely already bottomed out in the Atlantic City region,” said Joel Naroff, president of Holland, Pa.-based Naroff Economic Advisors and the owner of a home in Margate. “Sales are beginning to pick up and that is a signal prices have reached a level where buyers now think there are real bargains out there.”

In Ocean City, most of the sales were condos — 72 in March, compared with 47 in the same month last year, MLS listings show.

“It hasn’t been this busy in a long time,” said Doug Grisbaum, co-broker of record at Berger Realty in Ocean City.

“I think the problem we had in the past, all they were looking for was an investment in Ocean City. Now people want to be here, to vacation here. They are not so much investors as users,” Grisbaum said.

At McCann Realtors, which has locations in Sea Isle City and Ocean City, sales associate Eric C. Axelson said the spring market locally has been strong among properties priced realistically.

Bidding wars have even arisen for some of those homes, he said.

“One property had seven bidders on it,” he said. “There’s inventory and the smart buyers are realizing this and they’re aggressive right now, which is good. We have a lot of inventory out there to work through. People are realizing the market has softened and getting their price points down to realistic levels.”

“The guy who has owned this property for 20 years can sell in a heartbeat. The guy who bought in 2007 at the height of the market and is trying to get it back, obviously the numbers don’t work,” Axelson said. “The biggest hurdle is people understanding the market has softened from the peak, but the peak was unrealistic and unsustainable.”

Wednesday Apr 4, 2012

(Reuters) – Here’s a list of some of the most popular and promising places for vacation-home shopping, with recent median list prices from real estate shopping site Zillow.com.

Aspen, Colorado

Median list price: $1,725,000

Sales were brisk in winter playground Aspen during the last year as motivated sellers accepted prices 25 percent off their 2007 peak, says local real estate agent Steven Shane.

The Hamptons, New York

Median list price: $2,100,000

Bidding wars these days aren’t uncommon for well-priced homes in this group of upscale enclaves on eastern Long Island, says Cia Comnas of brokerage Brown Harris Stevens, especially for properties close to the water. Home prices surged 22 percent in the third quarter of 2011, but smaller Wall Street bonuses could slow sales in 2012.

Hilton Head, South Carolina

Median list price: $475,000

Home sales in Hilton Head, known for ocean breezes and world-class golf, were up 13 percent last year over 2010, says local agent Andy Twisdale. Prices on this South Carolina island benefit from a limited supply of land.

Santa Barbara, California

Median list price: $799,000

Temperate climate and easy access to the ocean and mountains draw buyers to this posh community about halfway between Los Angeles and San Francisco. The high-end market especially is heating up, with half of all deals in cash, says broker Bridget Murphy.

Avalon, New Jersey

Median list price: $1,350,000

A barrier island near the southern tip of New Jersey, this seashore community has long been one of America’s most expensive zip codes. Beachfront homes range in price from $4 million to $12 million, according to local broker Paul Leiser. “As of February, there’s been a stampede of buyers,” Leiser says. “From modest condominiums to beachfront, we’ve seen an incredible run.”

Miami Beach, Florida

Median list price: $447,000

International jet-setters have descended on Miami Beach in recent years, with buyers from South America and Russia in particular gobbling up high-end properties. “It’s a seller’s market,” says agent Allison Turk.

Sun Valley, Idaho

Median list price: $649,000

Prices are down 25 percent to 30 percent from their 2007 peak in this year-round resort, but realtor Dan Gorham has already seen 17 properties over $2 million close this year — three times more than all of 2011, he says.

Phoenix, Arizona

Median list price: $120,000

In 2006, Phoenix, a popular destination for Midwestern snowbirds, became the epicenter of the mortgage crisis as home prices tumbled. Prices ultimately dropped more than 60 percent on average, but the market seems to be back on its feet. New-home sales in the hottest areas are up 35 percent over the past month, say Jim Belifore, a local real estate consultant.

Lake Geneva, Wisconsin

Median list price: $299,000

Inventories are still rising at this lakeside resort town two hours from Chicago, but local brokers say prices have hit bottom after falling more than 25 percent since 2006. Sales are climbing. “The market last year was impressive, with a full volume recovery evident by year’s end,” wrote local real estate blogger David Curry. “Yet this year, Geneva Lake is on track to absolutely obliterate recent sales results.”

South Lake Tahoe, California

Median list price: $265,000

In South Lake Tahoe, tucked in the Sierra Nevada mountains, home prices are down 50 percent in the last five years, according to local real estate agents Gary and Richard Bolen, but demand was up 7 percent in 2011 and sales of properties under $300,000 grew by nearly 20 percent. Bargains are still available: Homes in the $600,000 to $650,000 price range are nearly two-thirds larger than they were in 2005.

(The author is a Reuters contributor. The opinions expressed are her own.)

Avalon, NJ

This piece originally appeared on NJ Spotlight.

A massive white sphere resembling a golf ball sits atop the newly built Revel casino, arousing the curiosity of anyone who sees it. When asked, company officials were coy, saying only that it would be used to represent their brand and that it would not roll off the top of the building. But people may have to wait for Revel’s grand opening Memorial Day weekend to see just what the ball will do.

The Atlantic City Boardwalk. Credit: Chris Connelly on Flickr

They aren’t the only ones watching Revel. Investors are anxiously waiting to see how the casino, will fare—because most say as goes Revel, so goes Atlantic City. The gambling mecca is trying to reinvent itself as a seaside resort, and developer Revel Entertainment Group LLC’s $2.4-billion project, Atlantic City’s first new casino in nine years, is widely viewed as the barometer of whether that concept will work.

Aside from 150,000 square feet of casino space, Revel has 1,800 hotel rooms, three theaters, including a 5,500-seat concert hall, 14 restaurants, six pools and two acres of landscaped outdoor decks. Investors want to see whether Revel attracts a new breed of tourist to Atlantic City or whether it simply siphons off business from the existing casinos. With gambling now available throughout the Northeast, Atlantic City needs to attract people other than gamblers if it is going to survive.

The roadmap for the city’s makeover is the Casino Reinvestment Development Authority’s master plan, unveiled Feb. 1, a year to the day Gov. Chris Christie signed landmark legislation designed to revitalize the city.

With help from Chicago-based Jones Lang LaSalle, the urban planning firm Jerde Partnership, the engineering firm Birdsall Services Group, and the law firm Hill Wallack, the state-run CRDA put together a 300-page plan that spelled out redevelopment options for the so-called Tourism District—a 1,700-acre area encompassing the casinos, the boardwalk, shopping and dining districts, and Bader Field. Christie is giving the resort five years to gain its feet before reconsidering whether to expand casino gambling to the Meadowlands and other parts of New Jersey.

The plan contained short- , medium-  and long-term goals. Among the short-term: To have light and sound attractions along the two-and-a-half mile Boardwalk. The designers envision up to 10 “Innovation Pavilions” sponsored by private companies that would have entertainment and educational components. Interactive wind sculptures will run along the beach.

If the planners have their way, even the casino parking garages will be revamped to include some open space—for cafes and stores. The sky bridges leading to the casinos will offer more sky, and the bandshell will be expanded and art and music festivals will be held year round.

Atlantic and Pacific Avenues, which run parallel to the Boardwalk, will be given a make-over; the blighted facades addressed by a variety of means, some legal, some by asking the owners to get involved in the reclamation. Street furniture will be installed, as well as hexagonal pavers. Fountains will be added, along with other “water features.”

Pacific, one street over from the Boardwalk, will be more pedestrian-friendly, while Atlantic Avenue, the next street, will be turned into a Main Street of sorts for tourists. Atlantic will also have a “small business incubator” to support local business.

Lighthouse Park will be expanded to encompass the South Inlet. A Gardner’s Basin development will have a wildlife research facility and marine technology center, as well as a working “Fisherman’s Village.” And Bader Field, the 143-acre site of the former municipal airport, will be turned into a mixed-use commercial and residential area.

Screenshot from the master plan.

The plan received unanimous support from the CRDA’s 15-member board, including Atlantic City Mayor Lorenzo Langford, who in the past has been critical of the state’s takeover of Atlantic City’s tourism district.

Some questioned the master plan process. Typically, a draft of the plan is put out to stakeholders and the public, who can then make comments. Those comments are considered in the final draft. In Atlantic City, the plan was adopted first and then put out for comment. Copies weren’t even available until after it was adopted.

Critics also question how some of the proposals will be implemented. The city has had five or six master plans since gambling was legalized in 1976, and much of what was suggested was never done. They fear this plan will be more of the same if money isn’t put behind some of the goals, such as improving the casino parking lots and cleaning up blighted facades.

“I would liked to have seen immediate plans to throw money behind demolition and removal of blight, and maybe some incentive programs, to actually get people in here to start building,” said Damon Tyner, an attorney in Atlantic City who recently ran unsuccessfully as a Democrat for state assembly.

While New Jersey already offers tax incentives to developers on $50 million projects that create at least 200 jobs, Sen. Jim Whelan (D-Atlantic) has sponsored a bill that would extend those incentives to non-gaming projects within Atlantic City’s tourism zone. The bill would give developers of such projects a $20-million credit against their state income taxes over 10 years if the project costs at least $20 million and creates at least 100 jobs.

“You’ve got to get [investors] in there immediately. Unfortunately, all the buzz I’m hearing from folks on Wall Street is that they’re just not really interested,” Tyner said. “It’s always disappointing, living here and understanding the potential, and then seeing that the folks that write the checks are just not coming.”

It doesn’t help that not one non-gaming project, since the city adopted gaming—from residential projects to the shopping outlet district in the center of town known as the Walk—has been profitable without hefty government subsidies, sources said.

One of the primary issues, for non-gaming projects like real estate, is the city’s high property taxes. With its proximity to the ocean and its great restaurants and entertainment, Atlantic City would be an ideal place for tri-state area residents to have a second home, but high property taxes make it cost prohibitive, said Tom Scannapieco, president of Scannapieco Development Corp., based in New Hope, PA.

Scannapieco, whose company built the Sheraton Atlantic City Convention Center Hotel, as well as the Bella Condomiums next to Revel and townhouses on the Northeast Inlet, said the current economic climate has investors skittish everywhere. But casino revenues falling 6 percent to 8 percent a year give the impression that Atlantic City is a city on the decline. That’s unfortunate, because it has a ton of potential, he says. But property taxes are the No. 1 hurdle.

“I will tell you flat out that nothing will be done in the city non-casino wise. No development will go forward in the city unless they are able to put in a very significant tax abatement program like they have in Philadelphia,” he said.

Philadelphia has a tax abatement program that gives hefty tax holidays over a 10-year period. Scannapieco said he currently has a condo project in Center City, Philadelphia, where the property taxes on a $7 million condo would be about $1,800 a year for the first 10 years. A similar condo in Atlantic City would have an annual tax bill of $140,000, he said.

“Atlantic City is not a market that can command that kind of tax payment today, for a second home, and because of that, it has been passed over as an opportunity for second home development.”

Proponents of the plan say this time may be different because there’s finally a consensus to turn Atlantic City around. The plan has the backing of the governor’s office, the city, and there is now an agency whose clear mission it is to implement the goals in the plan, said Cory Morowitz, a gaming industry analyst. That said, economics will ultimately dictate whether the plan succeeds, he said.

“Investor money is drawn in by the market opportunity. So if Revel is successful, and the gaming industry stabilizes in Atlantic City, and if the general economic conditions get better, then investor money will flow,” Morowitz said.

Consensus, tax incentives, and leadership are all good tools to help facilitate investment, but investors are driven mostly – or entirely—by returns on investment.

“I don’t think things like tax incentives are a major driver of investment decisions,” Morowitz said. “Ultimately, it’s going to depend on a few things: The market has to evolve beyond gaming, which it is, and the economy has to get better. And the leadership has to be consistent and maintain the course it’s on.”

Tom Ballance, senior vice president of administration for the Borgata Hotel, contests the notion that the master plan is good on paper but difficult to implement. The plan spells out short-term goals like boardwalk and façade improvements, which are easy to do and don’t require a lot of capital, and yet they increase the appeal of the city, thereby attracting the tourists and investors needed to achieve the longer-term goals.

“As with any urban redevelopment, you need to get momentum,” said Ballance. “Those early projects are designed to build that momentum.”

Ballance is also a trustee on the Atlantic City Alliance, an agency whose goal it is to build that momentum by marketing the city. The ACA has a budget of $30 million a year, money the casino industry used to pay to the ailing horse-racing industry so that it could offer more lucrative purses. For the next five years, that money will remain in Atlantic City.

If you make Atlantic City attractive, people will definitely come, said Jack Plackter, a real estate lawyer with Fox Rothschild in Atlantic City. Borgata has shown that, and Revel, when it opens, will show that, he said.

“Atlantic City is only 48 blocks long. You can fix this place one block at a time,” Plackter said. “The issue is can it be done quickly enough. We don’t have a huge window. We don’t have 20 years.”

Sales of investment and vacation homes* jumped in 2011, with the combined market share rising to the highest level since 2005, according to the National Association of Realtors®.

NAR’s 2012 Investment and Vacation Home Buyers Survey, covering existing- and new-home transactions in 2011, shows investment-home sales surged an extraordinary 64.5 percent to 1.23 million last year from 749,000 in 2010. Vacation-home sales rose 7.0 percent to 502,000 in 2011 from 469,000 in 2010. Owner-occupied purchases fell 15.5 percent to 2.78 million.

Vacation-home sales accounted for 11 percent of all transactions last year, up from 10 percent in 2010, while the portion of investment sales jumped to 27 percent in 2011 from 17 percent in 2010.

NAR Chief Economist Lawrence Yun said investors with cash took advantage of market conditions in 2011. “During the past year investors have been swooping into the market to take advantage of bargain home prices,” he said. “Rising rental income easily beat cash sitting in banks as an added inducement. In addition, 41 percent of investment buyers purchased more than one property.”

Yun said the shift in investment buyer patterns in 2011 shows the market, for the large part, is able to absorb foreclosures hitting the market. “Small-time investors are helping the market heal since REO (bank real estate owned) inventory is not lingering for an extended period. Any government program to sell REO inventory in bulk to large institutional companies should be limited to small geographic areas. Even where alternatives are needed, it’s best to rely on the expertise of local businesses, nonprofit organizations and government,” he said.

All-cash purchases have become fairly common in the investment- and vacation-home market during recent years: 49 percent of investment buyers paid cash in 2011, as did 42 percent of vacation-home buyers. Half of all investment home purchases in 2011 were distressed homes, as were 39 percent of vacation homes.

“Clearly we’re looking at investors with financial resources who see real estate as a good investment and who aren’t hesitant to use cash,” Yun said. Of buyers who financed their purchase with a mortgage, large downpayments were typical. The median downpayment for both investment- and vacation-home buyers in 2011 was 27 percent.

“Given the tight credit in recent years, many would-be normal home buyers for owner occupancy declined,” Yun said.

The median investment-home price was $100,000 in 2011, up 6.4 percent from $94,000 in 2010, while the median vacation-home price was $121,300, down 19.1 percent from $150,000 in 2010.

Investment-home buyers in 2011 had a median age of 50, earned $86,100 and bought a home that was relatively close to their primary residence – a median distance of 25 miles, although 30 percent were more than 100 miles away.

“The share of investment buyers who flipped property remained low in 2011, and many of those homes likely were renovated before reselling,” Yun said. Five percent of homes purchased by investment buyers last year have already been resold, up from 2 percent in 2010. The typical investment buyer plans to hold the property for a median of 5 years, down from 10 years for buyers in 2010.

The typical vacation-home buyer was 50 years old, had a median household income of $88,600 and purchased a property that was a median distance of 305 miles from the primary residence; 35 percent of vacation homes were within 100 miles and 37 percent were more than 500 miles. Buyers plan to own their recreational property for a median of 10 years.

Lifestyle factors have consistently been the primary motivation for vacation-home buyers, while the desire for rental income drives investment purchases. Vacation homes purchased last year were more likely to be in suburban or rural areas; investment homes were concentrated in suburban locations.

Eighty-two percent of vacation-home buyers said the primary reason for buying was to use the property themselves for vacations, or as a family retreat. Thirty percent plan to use the property as a primary residence in the future, and only 22 percent plan to rent to others.

Half of investment buyers said they purchased primarily to generate rental income, and 34 percent wanted to diversify their investments or saw a good investment opportunity.

Sixteen percent of vacation buyers and 14 percent of investment buyers purchased the property for a family member, friend or relative to use. In many cases the home is intended for a son or daughter to use while attending school.

Forty-two percent of vacation homes purchased last year were in the South, 30 percent in the West, 15 percent in the Northeast and 12 percent in the Midwest; 1 percent were located outside of the U.S.

Forty-four percent of investment properties were in the South, 23 percent in the West, 17 percent in the Midwest and 15 percent in the Northeast.

Eight out of 10 second-home buyers said it was a good time to buy. Nearly half of investment buyers said they were likely to purchase another property within two years, as did one-third of vacation-home buyers.

Currently, 42.1 million people in the U.S. are ages 50-59 – a group that has dominated second-home sales since the middle part of the past decade and established records. An additional 43.5 million people are 40-49 years old, while another 40.2 million are 30-39.

“Given that the number of people who are in their 40s is somewhat larger than the 50-somethings, the long-term demographic demand for purchasing vacation homes is favorable because these younger households are likely to enter the market as their desire for these kinds of properties grows, and individual circumstances allow,” Yun said.

NAR’s analysis of U.S. Census Bureau data shows there are 8.0 million vacation homes and 42.8 million investment units in the U.S., compared with 75.3 million owner-occupied homes.

For more information about Jersey Shore vacation homes contact Ian Lazarus, The Landis Co., Realtors, 609-457-0258 mobile, ian.lazarus@mygo2realtor.com .

With interest rates sitting just above 5 percent, now is a great time to crunch the numbers and see whether refinancing your mortgage can save you money. As a general rule, homeowners will probably come out ahead when they can shave about 2 percentage points off of their interest rate, says Marc Savitt, president of the National Association of Mortgage Brokers.

If you have an adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM) or an interest-only loan, you might also benefit from refinancing, even if you don’t save money on the monthly payments. That’s because you can lock in a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage at today’s historically low rates and never have to worry again about your payments increasing.

Think you’re a good candidate for refinancing? Despite reports of banks hoarding money, lenders are still making loans. But it has become harder to qualify for one. Here’s a road map to help you navigate the new and ever changing mortgage terrain.

The new criteria

Credit scores matter

“If you want access to the lowest interest rates, you need a credit score of 720 or higher,” says Keith Gumbinger, vice president at mortgage-information publisher HSH Associates. If you have a score of 620 or below, you might not qualify for a loan at all, he adds. Credit scores range from a low of 300 to a high of 850.

Equity is king

You’ll need at least a 10 percent equity stake in your property to refinance. And in some cases, you won’t be able to get a loan without a 20 percent stake if private mortgage insurance is hard to get in your region. That might be a problem if you live in an in area where property values are quickly falling. You might discover that your house is valued at less than you owe on your current mortgage, making refinancing difficult. The one exception is for people with mortgages that are owned and held by Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac. A new program will allow homeowners to refinance up to 105 percent of the home’s value.

Underwriting standards are tough

All homeowners will need to document their assets and income. “Right now you have to prove you are the borrower you say you are, sometimes repeatedly,” Gumbinger says. Lenders want to make sure that homeowners can realistically afford any debt obligations, and they’re reluctant to underwrite a mortgage if the homeowner’s overall debt load is more than 43 percent of the family’s income. At the height of the housing boom, acceptable debt ratios reached as high as 55 percent, Gumbinger says.

The jobless need not apply

Refinancing isn’t an option for the millions of Americans who need to lower their monthly payments the most those who have lost their jobs. Banks won’t make new loans to such people until they can show pay stubs from a new job for at least 30 days, says Savitt, of the National Association of Mortgage Brokers. A jobless homeowner’s only option might be one of the new government programs for distressed folks, but they are usually available only to those who are at least 90 days delinquent on their payments. And while it might be tempting to stop mailing in your check, know that your credit score will take a serious hit if you stop paying your mortgage.

The refi shopping experience

Expect higher fees

In the past, you might have been able to refinance without paying any points and fees, but today that’s often not the case. Now that Wall Street is no longer securitizing smaller mortgages, the vast majority of conforming loans (those valued at $417,000 or less in most areas and $625,500 in high-cost areas) are sold to government-sponsored entities Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. About a year and a half ago, they started charging borrowers additional fees. The first one you’ll encounter is called an Adverse Market Delivery Charge, and it could add as much as a quarter of a percentage point to the loan.

Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac also charge a fee called the Loan Level Pricing Adjustment, which takes into consideration your credit score and loan-to-value ratio, or how much home equity you have. Someone with poor credit and very little equity could end up paying an additional 300 basis points in fees, says Gumbinger, of HSH Associates. So if you were borrowing $100,000 and had to pay 3.25 percentage points in fees, you’d owe the bank an additional $3,250 in closing costs. If you wrapped the fees into the mortgage itself, you’d end up paying a 6.25 percent rate over the life of the loan.

Small lenders might offer the best deals

Interest rates used to be fairly similar from one lender to another, but now they can vary by as much as a percentage point. And some of the most competitive interest rates are found at the smaller community banks and credit unions, which might be better funded than some of the larger players that got caught in the subprime debacle, according to Gumbinger.

Make sure you don’t limit your shopping to a single bank or mortgage broker. Some of the larger lenders, including Chase, no longer allow brokers to sell their products. So if you want to see all of the rates in your area, you’ll need to pick up the phone and do some calling around yourself.

If you want a few local mortgage sources that I have personally worked with contact me for a list of me vendors list of mortgage, title insurance, attorney’s, home inspectors, etc.

Ian Lazarus

The Lazarus Team

The Landis Co., Realtors

ian@mygo2realtor.com

609-457-0258 mobile

www.SJbeachhomes.com

With the project substantially completed, the City will be coordinating with representatives of FEMA to obtain reimbursement of 75% of the eligible costs of the project. The beach-fill and dune reconstruction from 1st to 15th and 40th to 52nd Street was previously determined to be eligible for FEMA reimbursement, based on the damages that had occurred in a November 2009 storm event, which was a federally declared disaster. The beach from 30th to 40th Street, while not eligible for FEMA funding, was 75% funded by the State of New Jersey, as the City was successful in its efforts to obtain available funds from the state’s dedicated shore protection funding source.

Please see photos below of Sea Isle’s beach replenishment efforts and new dune fencing…

Phase 2 of Excursion Park, Beach to Bay Corridor – This project involves streetscape improvements to the public corridor along JFK Boulevard from the Promenade to Landis Avenue, and widening of the sidewalks along each side of this corridor by 3 feet. The contractor, Fred M. Schiavone Construction, is in the process of placing the surface pavement, in efforts to open up the street for the coming weekend. The landscape planter walls, landscaping, sod and sidewalk pavers have been substantially completed for the entire project. New, relocated utility poles have been placed; and the electric, cable, and phone utilities are scheduled to relocate the overhead wires over the next two weeks. Delivery of the new, decorative light poles is scheduled for April, at which time the project will be able to be completed.

Please see photos below of Phase 2 construction, taken earlier this week…

Demolition of Existing Library / Beach Tag Facility and Conversion to Parking Lot – NO CHANGE FROM PREVIOUS UPDATE – Demolition of the old library facility will start in April. Construction of the parking lot will follow immediately afterwards. The completion of the parking lot will be prior to Skimmer Weekend (June 16 and 17).

Construction of Welcome Center Addition to the Community Lodge and Renovations of the Existing Lodge Facility and Site – The contractor, R. Wilkinson and Sons, has completed piling installation for the Welcome Center addition and the handicapped access ramps. Renovation work inside the Community Lodge is in progress, to completely rehabilitate the restrooms. The City has relocated the Lodge activities to the former Library Building; and the renovation work in the Lodge will be complete in order to allow re-entry into the Lodge at the end of March. The Welcome Center addition is scheduled for completion by mid-June. The project will provide for improved heating, ventilating and air conditioning in the existing lodge; improved restroom facilities that comply with handicapped accessibility requirements; improved access to the lodge that also complies with handicapped accessibility requirements; and a complete addition of a Welcome Center. The project is the culmination of several years of public discussion about the need for a Welcome Center, as well as the need for continued utilization of the current lodge facility.

Improvements to T.I. Park – The contractor, Axios, Inc., has completed framing for the new decks and ramps and is in the process of installing the deck on the access ramps. The project involves replacement of all the ramp and pavilion decking with Timbertech (plastic material similar to that used at the Marina); replacement of the wood railing with aluminum; addition of a handicapped ramp at the southern end of the park; and other various improvements to the facility to ensure compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. Given the magnitude of the work and the removal of existing ramps and accesses, in order to ensure public safety, the park will be closed to public access while the construction takes place. The project is expected to be completed by early April.

Please see photos below of T. I. Park, taken March 6…

Lagoon Dredging – On February 14, City Council authorized award of a contract to Wickberg Marine Contracting, of Belford, NJ, in the amount of $719,336. Letters have been issued to property owners adjacent to the lagoons, advising them of the particulars of the project, and providing contact information for the contractor, in the event the property owners wish to participate in the project.

The current status of the project is as follows:

*The contractor has mobilized his equipment on site and has started construction of dike walls in the dredged material disposal area, located west of the library, adjacent to Rio Grande lagoon (Rio Grande is along 47th Place). Dike construction will take approximately 6 weeks.
*Dredging of Rio Grande Lagoon and a portion of Rio Del Isole (along Venicean Road) will take place from about mid-April through May.
*Dredging work will cease over the summer and re-commence after Labor Day, when the remainder of the lagoons will be dredged.

The lagoons to be dredged are as follows:
Rio Grande (south side of 47th Place)
Rio Delle Stelle (between 46th and 47th Place)
Rio Delle Luna (between 45th and 46th Place)
Rio Del Amore (between 44th Street and 45th Place)
Rio Delle Isole (along the east side of Venicean Road)
Rio Del Barache (between 43rd Place and 44th Street)
Rio Del Affare (between 42nd and 43rd Place)
Rio Delle Ponte (along Park Road on either side of 43rd Place)

The project provides for the ability of private property owners adjacent to the project area to enter into an agreement with the successful dredging contractor to dredge their private slips (at the private owner’s expense).

Please see photos below of the preparation efforts at the dredge disposal area adjacent to Rio Grande Lagoon, taken March 7…

Sewer and Road Reconstruction on Central Avenue (49th to 69th Street) – The project has been contracted to the firm of Lewandowski Construction Industries, Inc., of Waterford, NJ, and will be performed in two phases. The first phase is from 49th to 63rd Street (prior to the 2012 summer season) and the second phase is from 63rd to 69th Street (following the 2012 summer season). The project will rehabilitate or replace the deteriorated underground sewer system, as well as provide for reconstruction of the entire one mile stretch of roadway. The contractor has mobilized on site, and is currently working between 60th and 63rd Streets (traffic is currently detoured between 60th and 63rd on Central Avenue). Work will proceed through the spring, then be halted for the summer. The current plan includes installation of the required manholes and sewer lines, along with reconstruction of the street surface from 63rd to 49th Street, prior to the summer season.

Please see photos below of the construction on Central Avenue near 63nd Street…

Utility Reconstruction on Landis Avenue (54th to 69th Street) – The project has been contracted to F.W. Shawl & Sons, of Marmora, NJ, and will provide for water and sewer line replacement in advance of the County project to resurface Landis Avenue from 54th to 69th Street. The contractor has started to mobilize on site and work will start this week. The project is scheduled to be completed around mid-May. The County is scheduled to resurface Landis Avenue, from 54th to 69th Street, either in the fall of 2012 or spring of 2013.

Inflow and Infiltration (I & I) Remediation –The firm of Video Pipe Services, Inc., of Newfield, NJ, is in the process of performing work associated with internal repairs of sewer pipelines and manholes throughout the City. The portion of the project involving sealing of sanitary sewer mains has been substantially completed. Repair and lining of sewer laterals identified as needing corrective work is in progress, and that work is now scheduled to be completed in April, which will complete this phase of the I & I remediation. The need for this project was identified over the past several years through a comprehensive investigation and analysis of the City’s sewer system. Sewer systems are prone to both inflow (overland water entering the sewer system through manhole covers and other surface openings in the system) and infiltration (entry of groundwater into pipelines through cracks, deteriorated pipe, and pipe joints). The effects of I & I are symptoms of deterioration of the sewer system that must be corrected to avoid more problematic maintenance issues and potential failure of the sewer system. I & I is also costly, in that the City must pay for the unnecessary treatment of water that enters the sanitary sewer system. This is the first phase of a multi-year citywide sewer maintenance and improvement project that will ensure the continued viability of the City’s vital sewer infrastructure. As indicated above, this project is expected to be completed by April. The next phase of I & I work will involve replacement of sewer lines that cannot be corrected through internal, “no-dig” repairs, as are being performed in this phase. As those projects are engineered and prepared for bidding and construction, we will provide updates on the specific details of the projects.

Utility Reconstruction, Various Streets – The City is in the process of preparing plans and specifications for a project to replace deteriorated underground utilities (water and sewer) in several streets as part of its comprehensive road and utility program. The following streets are currently being engineered for utility work in order to put the project out to bid; and the City expects to advertise for construction bids within the next three weeks. The work will be completed in the spring, with a summer hiatus and a fall completion. Following utility work, the streets will receive new surface paving. The following streets are included in this project:
1. 50th Street, Landis Avenue to Promenade
2. 51st Street, Landis Avenue to Promenade
3. 60th Street, Landis Avenue to Central Avenue
4. 43rd Place street-end with guide rail barrier
5. 42nd Street, Landis Avenue to Promenade
6. 79th Street, Landis Avenue to Central Avenue
7. 60th Street, Landis Avenue to Beach End
JFK Boulevard Reconstruction, Bridge to Landis Avenue – The County has been working with the City for design of the project to reconstruct and reconfigure JFK Boulevard from the Bridge to Landis Avenue. The project limits also include reconstruction of Landis Avenue from JFK Boulevard to 40th Street. The project scope will include the addition of widened sidewalks, decorative lighting, streetscape improvements and landscaping, drainage improvements, and elevation of the road surface, which will assist during times of flooding. The County Engineer and the design engineering firm of Urban Engineers (which is under contract to the County), along with the City Engineer, made a presentation on the JFK Boulevard project on March 7, 2012 in council chambers, at which those in attendance were informed of the project details and the proposed timing of the project. The meeting was attended by approximately 30 members of the public and the media, with the opportunity for questions and concerns to be raised. The engineers addressed issues relative to drainage, traffic, the proposed elevation of the road surface, changes to the road configuration, and the new streetscape. The project involves federal funding, and the next step is for the County to obtain authorization from federal and state agencies to proceed to bidding. If authorization is received, the County will put the project out to bid by July in order to award a contract for a fall 2012 construction start. In this event, construction will take place between October 2012 and May 2013.

Paving of 43rd Street from Landis Avenue to Park Road – The City will receive bids for construction of the project on March 14. The work will involve final re-surfacing of the street. This paving project will finalize a complete reconstruction of this section of 43rd Street, which previously received new water and sewer lines. The paving work will be completed prior to the summer season.