Tall Houses of Keansburg & Union Beach:
A great many homes have been raised above the FEMA flood plain after Hurricane Sandy to prevent future flood damage. Many of these houses were once Summer bungalows but are now being raised well above their original foundations. Some houses have been simply demolished to make way for entirely new constructed homes.
These tall houses vary in elevated height from two to more than twenty feet high. Many insurance carriers provide incentives for homeowners to raise their homes to the maximum allowable height as a hedge against future flooding. However, some residents have had difficulty collecting from their insurance companies regarding these elevation expenses.
While raising houses above the floodplain is a popular solution, a number of homes have collapsed during the process due to structural weakness and improper lifting.
Home Slides Off Foundation While Being Raised
Houses are classified according to flood zones. Houses in Velocity or V zones (purple) are directly impacted by tidal waters and must have wood or concrete pilings & breakaway walls. Houses in A zones (green & blue), while still required to elevate, can use standard block wall foundations. X areas (gray & yellow) are exempt from any change in elevation.
There is a considerable cost difference between elevating a house in a V zone and and A zone according to building codes. Any house classified in a V zone is subject to these stricter building requirements and their associated construction costs.
The map below shows FEMA flood zones after 2012 in Keansburg and Union Beach.
Click here to determine your flood zone: Base Flood Elevation Tool
When a house is raised, the public utilities (gas, electric, water and sewer) are disconnected and isolated from the structure. The building is checked for structural damage, before temporary beams are put in place, to aid in lifting.
Large hydraulic, house jacks are used to slowly elevate the structure. Railroad ties are often utilized in a cross hatched square pattern to secure the house temporarily.
Once raised to the proper point, permanent supports are added, depending upon the flood zone classification. Concrete or wood pilings are more expensive than a simple block foundation to install.
Keansburg Tall Houses:
One of the first houses to be raised after the storm, the Andalora family used personal savings while waiting on their insurance company. The house on the corner of Evergreen Place and Forest Avenue, is raised to a total height of 32 feet, at nearly 16 feet above sea level. This is an area historically prone to surface water and storm flooding. Keansburg Family Pays For Raising Home
A home raised on Beacon Blvd near Shore Blvd. The front deck and fencing obscure the elevation of more than 7 feet. A great many homes are raised to the maximum but this owner chose a minimum height.
A home being raised on Beaconlight and Shore Boulevard, near completion in a V zone with concrete pilings.
A large multi family house on the corner of Bayview and Center Ave. This newly constructed house features extensive stairs & decking, found on many raised homes. The original structure was raised but partially redesigned with a new roof and side entrances. The same yellow bungalow can be seen in the background of both photos.
A modest home on the corner of Campview and Center Avenue on concrete pilings, nears completion after more than a year.
This home is located off Seeley Ave in the Waackaack Creek section of town. The structure appears to have no floor because it was originally set upon the concrete slab, set below it. Exposed beams are painted white to prevent mold and rot. The finished product is almost unrecognizable below with a porch in front & back and a small garage.
Two homes being raised on the corner of East Shore and Fox Avenue across from one another. One is nearly complete and the other still adding to the block foundation.
A new elevated home on Park Avenue.
A new home on the dead end of Woodside Avenue.
A raised house on Twilight Avenue near Grove Place.
A small raised home on Grove Place. A street which is known to flood on even light, rainy days.
One of the first homes to be lifted after Hurricane Irene in 2011, on Brookside avenue.
Two new elevated homes on the dead end of Raritan Avenue.
A small home is raised on Center Avenue near Raritan.
An elevated home on Birchwood Avenue.
Another raised home on Brookside Avenue.
An elevated home at 88 Saint Mark's Avenue.
A new raised home on Forest Avenue near Lawrence Avenue.
A modest seasonal bungalow "Summer Salt" elevated on Seaside Place.
Several raised houses on Bayview Avenue near the beach.
Several houses in Beaconlight section of town have been raised above the flood plain. The elevated house at 21 Beaconlight was built from scratch after suffering from storm damage.
Two raised houses on the corner of Beaconlight and Birchwood Avenue, across from one another.
There are a number of elevated new homes on Lawrence Avenue, near Shore Boulevard.
An elevated home on Lawrence Avenue near Twilight Avenue.
An elevated foundation awaiting the construction of a new home on an existing site on the corner of Lawrence and Woodland Avenue. Often, it is cheaper and easier to build an entirely new home than to lift and renovate an existing structure. Many families are faced with this emotional and financial decision.
Three newly constructed houses in a row on Woodland Avenue are elevated above the flood plain.
This existing structure was lifted above flood plain.
The existing structure was demolished and a new two family house constructed in its place at #62 Woodland Avenue.
Two additional raised homes on Woodland Avenue near Beaconlight Avenue.
Multi family new home construction on the beach at Ocean Boulevard. Owner was unable to save existing building after damage.
Another home being demolished on Shore Boulevard due to storm damage.
New home construction on an existing site 71 & 73 Bayview Avenue. Both are elevated platforms on a narrow footprint lot. Vinyl fence and an adjacent bungalow can be seen in both photos.
Elevated house at 17 Oceanview.
An older bungalow awaiting vinyl siding after being lifted on Pineview Avenue.
Another small home being raised on Pineview Avenue.
An existing home is raised on Campview Place, at the dead end of either street.
An interesting new design for a raised home on the corner of Campview Place & Ave. This house features concrete pilings and a small enclosed garage. Apparently, the house is available for rent. The original structure is obscured by a tree below.
A raised house at 22 Belleview Avenue.
A home being raised on Neptune Place.
A home being raised at 129 Seeley Avenue.
A home being raised at the dead end of Saint James Place. The original white block pilings can be seen in the photo for comparison.
Union Beach Tall Houses:
While Keansburg suffered a great deal of flooding in Hurricane Sandy, the structural damage to homes in Union Beach was far greater, in many instances.
A new home was to be constructed on the site of this famous photo, which was featured on the cover of Newsweek. This historic home, more than 100 years old was originally a sea captain's house. Hurricane force winds sheared the house in half which teetered for many weeks before being demolished.
Currently, an empty lot awaiting development. The original hurricane fence can still be seen in both photos.
There are several new homes on Front Street.
One of the first homes to be raised after the storm near the corner of Dock Street and Second Ave. This house used a combination of a block wall foundation in the back and concrete pilings in the front to support the enclosed porch area.
The Harris Avenue section of Union Beach was particularly devastated by the Hurricane Sandy. However, this street is now a showplace of raised and renovated homes. Nearly every home on this street received some sort of storm damage and has been subsequently, repaired extensively.
A modern looking, elevated home on wood pilings at the corner of Willow Street and Harris Avenue.
A new home with masonry and stucco accents on Harris Avenue. The original brick staircase can be seen in the photo below for a height comparison.
A new home being constructed on Harris Avenue.
A new home built on wood pilings on the corner of Harris and Asbury Avenue.
A home that has been lifted at 1021 Harris Avenue.
Two elevated homes on Patterson Avenue.
A frustrated homeowner on Patterson Avenue with a message for their insurance company. The sign on the garage door reads "Give me my money! I want to fix my house!"
An elevated home on Isabella Avenue.
Two raised houses on Jersey Avenue.
A raised home at the dead end of Brook Avenue.
A reminder of the looting policy in Union Beach after Hurricane Sandy on Brook Avenue.
A number of raised homes on Brook Avenue.
A raised house on the corner of Bayview & Union Avenue.
Two raised houses on wood pilings Union Avenue, in between Brook and Prospect avenue.
A small house that has been raised on the corner of Bayview & Union Avenue.
A raised home on the corner of Union and Brook Avenue.
There are a number of raised homes in the Dock Street section of Union Beach.
Two newly constructed homes elevated on a narrow footprint.
Another new elevated home, built on an existing site on Dock Street.
A raised home on Fourth Street.
