| 2012: | Jan. | Feb. | March | April | May | June | July | Aug. | Sept. | Oct. | Nov. | Dec. |
October 25, 2012
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| Even the busiest among us should take time to enjoy our beaches during this wonderful Indian Summer weather! Happy Halloween! |
THE $200 MILLION project to replace the Garden State Parkway Bridge over Great Egg Harbor Bay will include a new fishing pier and bike path. The existing southbound bridge, which carries the Parkway from Atlantic County into Cape May County, has structural problems and will be demolished. The nearby Beesley's Point Bridge, which used to carry Route 9 between Atlantic and Cape May Counties before being closed several years ago, will also be demolished. A contract for the work will be awarded in January 2013, and work is to be completed in late 2016.
AVALONEMERGENCY.ORG: Whether you're on the island or off, Avalon's new emergency website is a great source of information regarding weather events, storm planning, and other incidents. From approaching storms to power outage maps to emergency preparedness guides, you'll find everything in one spot. It's a great site to bookmark for easy reference.
STONE HARBOR CENTENNIAL BOOK PROJECT: have an old Stone Harbor photo? Share it with the Stone Harbor Centennial Book Project which will commemorate Stone Harbor's 100th Anniversary in 2014. Old photos are needed, especially from the 60s, 70s, 80s, and 90s. You can find the Centennial Book Project on Facebook, or email your photos to stoneharbor100@gmail.com.
PAVING WORK on Avalon Boulevard continues. Also, in Stone Harbor a two-block section of First Avenue from 97th Street to 99th Street is closed for three weeks for construction.
2013 RENTALS: if you're planning a vacation in Avalon or Stone Harbor next summer, please call or email me to get started! Rental rates are coming in every day, so this is a great time to begin your search. Property owners: get your rates to me as soon as you can!
October 18, 2012
CAPE MAY COUNTY'S BID for the Bank of America building in Stone Harbor was accepted, meaning Stone Harbor's new library will be built on the site in the center of town. Mayor Suzanne Walters announced the development at the start of last night's council meeting. The county expects to take possession of the property by the end of the year. Stone Harbor and county officials will meet to discuss the selection of an architect.
AVALON has earned a "Sustainable Jersey" certification for ongoing efforts to make the borough environmentally friendly. Reducing the borough's carbon footprint, water conservation, and the installation of an electric vehicle charging station were all factors in receiving the certification. Avalon will receive a plaque in Atlantic City on November 13th at the New Jersey League of Municipalities Conference.
AVALON BOULEVARD paving continues, and lanes are being shifted as needed to accommodate construction equipment.
100 YEARS! Stone Harbor Fire Company celebrated its 100th Anniversary this past Saturday, complete with a parade, a housing ceremony for its new ladder truck and ambulance, and food for all guests. The parade ran the entire length of the town and included more than 30 fire trucks. Watch the parade here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=njvbvrfMCfE (Parade footage begins at 1:08). I was pleased to have my antique American LaFrance in the parade--catch it at 5:59 and 10:45! Congratulations to all the members of the Stone Harbor Fire Company!
Onlookers gather as members of the Stone Harbor Fire Company push their new ladder truck into the fire hall after Saturday's parade.
DUNE GRASS will be planted in Avalon on Saturday, October 20th. Volunteers should report to Avalon Community Hall at 8:30am for donuts, coffee, and a demonstration on proper planting methods. A complimentary lunch will be served afterward. Rain date: Sunday, October 21st. Aerial dune grass fertilization will take place the week of October 22-26.
CLEAN OCEAN ACTION: On Saturday, October 20th, Clean Ocean Action, the Wetlands Institute, and partners statewide will hold a "clean-up" of New Jersey's beaches. The Wetlands Institute will be at the 96th Street parking lot in Stone Harbor from 9:00 am - 12:30 pm. Trash bags, gloves, and water will be provided (please bring a reusable water bottle). Help clean our beaches and join the Institute for a morning of environmental stewardship!
RETURNING SOON! New listings and properties sold will return soon! Our web developer is working on a new interface to allow us to provide you with links to new listings and recent solds, as we always have. In the mean time, should you want any property information, please email or call me!
October 11, 2012
SIXTY-NINE FAMILIES are taking the plunge! There are currently sixty-nine properties 'under contract' in our local market, with closing dates as far out as March of 2013. You can bet those sixty-nine families are looking forward to summer in their very own shore home! How about you? Ready to take the plunge? Call me and we'll get started!
AVALON BOULEVARD is being repaved right now. Traffic is currently flowing in both directions, thanks to lane shifts. The partially completed road surface looks like it will be a treat to drive on once completed.
THE CAPE MAY-LEWES FERRY has marked fifty years since its first trial run across the Delaware Bay. The 'Pocahontas' left Delaware and docked at the Cape May Coast Guard base, since the ferry terminal had not yet been built. The first passenger carrying run occurred two years later, and ferry operator Delaware River Bay Authority will officially celebrate its fifty-year anniversary in July 2014. The ferry now carries 5,000 people a day between its terminals in New Jersey and Delaware.
FEWER POWER OUTAGES will be the result of electrical infrastructure upgrades in Avalon. Atlantic City Electric will replace 90 utility poles and install larger wires to carry higher loads and more effectively route power. The work will occur in the northern and central sections of town, but will benefit all residents.
PLAN TO WINTERIZE! As cooler weather approaches it's time to think about winterizing your shore home. Whether you shut down your entire house, or simply turn off the outside water, call your plumber now to get on the schedule. (If you need a good plumber, call me for a recommendation!) Also, closing foundation vents reduces the amount of cold air in your crawlspace, minimizing the risk of frozen pipes. Foundation vents can be opened in the spring to allow for ventilation.
NEW LISTINGS & PROPERTIES SOLD: Our popular property links that appear each week will return soon, having been temporarily interrupted by changes to the database used to access Multiple Listing Service information. In the meantime if you should have a question on a new listing or a recent sale, please call or email me!
October 4, 2012
DRIVING THE MARKET? Reasonable prices, extremely low interest rates, and rising demand on the part of buyers. Two charts below demonstrate the increasing strength in the Avalon/Stone Harbor market.
MARKET STATS: through the first nine months of the year 267 sales occurred in Avalon & Stone Harbor, an increase of 78% over 2010, and up 32% over the same period last year:
DOLLAR VOLUME: an increase of 73% over 2010, and up by 19% over last year:
READY TO GET INVOLVED? There's something for everyone in our market, from small, low maintenance condos to luxurious waterfront homes. Whatever your preference, call me and we'll get started!
ENJOY SOME SEAFOOD, WATCH THE GAME: Avalon's Seafood Festival is known for it's great seafood, but this year, visitors can stop by the "Sound Advice Lounge" and watch televised football games. Sound Advice will be airing college football on Saturday, October 6th and the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday, October 7th.
CATCH THE "CAPE MAY COUNTY REPORT" on NBC 40 on October 7th at 11am. Freeholder Will Morey and County Engineer Dale Foster will be guests on the show, and will discuss various county projects with host Lenora Boninfante.