The Startling Sight of Raised Houses
Port Monmouth's evolving landscape is something to behold.
In Port Monmouth, the houses tell the Hurricane Sandy story.
In a drive through the streets of this section of Middletown that got swamped with severe flooding from Compton and Pew's Creeks, there are plenty of fine, neatly kept homes where folks appear to be getting on with life as they knew it before Oct. 29.
But on the edges are some lonely houses that sit bruised and broken, their insides piled up in soggy piles at the curb. And then there are the handful who seem to be triumph in the face of adversity, homes hoisted high up off the ground by owners who are determined to meet the rules that will allow them go back to their home by the water.
A photo of a one-story house we posted on the Middletown-NJ Patch Facebook page sparked various startled responses from some readers. "Holy moly!!!!" said one.
"Gives new meaning to the term 'raised ranch'" said another.
The ranch is up so high that you can see the houses behind hit, framed in the space between the floor and the earth. "hahaha," said one reader. "Cool picture, tho, it looks like the house is balanced on that center pier....just want to go and spin it around hahaha"
But others couldn't help wondering how the disabled could be accommodated. "Hope nobody is handicapped. Will be possible to get in or out," wrote one reader.
An EMS volunteer questioned how volunteers would help people in emergencies. "...it is going to be very difficult getting patients out of these homes. We may need lift assistance at all of the calls. Two people aren't going to be able to get a patient down by themselves."
Another reader said, "I'm sorry but I think these houses look so weird like this. I understand the flood factor but they don't look safe to be honest."
A number of people expressed their thoughts about the changing landscape, so alien from the old Port Monmouth. "The future of Bayshore housing," quipped one.
"This is up the block from me & is what they want me to do! It is over kill!" said one reader. "How do you get groceries up there let along furniture & appliances! I say Stop filling in & building on the marsh & ocean! Get those flood gates going! We need some protection here!"
JoAnne Capuano
7:47 am on Wednesday, March 13, 2013
I've seen quite a few homes like these in my neighborhood. Its starting to see. Its great they are able to do something to preserve their homes from future floods but sad that the landscape we once knew is gone forever. And even sadder to think of all the families that lost their homes to this storm.
Vincent Alu
8:43 am on Wednesday, March 13, 2013
what we need to do is connect the sewer lines thru-out the country...have 6-12 huge water treatment plants...send the flood waters there to be treated than send water where it is needed...this will solve our water problem which is becoming a bigger problem everyday...this will solve our crop problem and we can do away with fema...you see we dont need flood emergency...we need flood managment
Shoregal
10:42 am on Wednesday, March 13, 2013
If you go down to the Outer Banks all the homes close to the water are raised like this. But they were built this way so they don't look as odd as these houses do. The other thing that many of the homeowners do down there is install elevators that bring you from the ground level up to the living space. These people at the Shore will certainly be getting their exercise that's for sure!
Diana Sutton
11:42 am on Wednesday, March 13, 2013
They do this in other places and create a living space underneath the houses with access from underneath.
tom nemec
3:22 pm on Wednesday, March 13, 2013
A house with a higher set of stairs is nothing new. It would work the same as any 2 family home or apartment building. There is nothing wrong with exercise. Its the same a a 2 floor home. If you drive through Port Monmouth you will see other houses that were already elevated in the past years. This is nothing new. I do think that so many people are in such a rush to comply they don't take esthetics and that is what makes the houses look awkward. Its not advisable to make a living space underneath anything you have there can be ruined in the next storm.
sbk
4:45 pm on Wednesday, March 13, 2013
This was a freak storm, with all the right conditions. We may never see the likes of such a storm again. It is fear that has made individuals rush in and raise their homes. Fear of increased flood insurance premiums, fear of not being able to return to normal, fear of "What if?"... I understand, I am enduring the same fears, but we need to take a breath before we react. Port Monmouth is a beautiful area, tucked away amongst the crow-weeds, where you can see a variety of wild life. Don''t ruin the "your" town's image with haste, there must be a better way.
debbie
10:52 pm on Wednesday, March 13, 2013
I know the people who own the home in the first picture. They have no disabled people. Two kids in their teens. Nice family, they've been waiting a long time for this and they still have awhile before they can move in.
grace rosner
7:31 am on Friday, March 15, 2013
I am a 28 yr resident of this Port Monmouth area. I was 25 when I moved here. Do the math do I want to raise my house 12 feet off the ground? Of course not, I have never seen water in all my years here. I had almost 2 1/2 feet in my ranch house. We have not raised our home. They have changed our flood zone 3 times since the storm. They have continually changed the building guidelines in the town. I missed 1 month of work just trying to figure out where to start and trying to figure out which way to go. I always thought of myself as a fairly intelligent woman. These days I can hardly walk and chew gum. Our 4 vehicles were also destroyed. I am recently back in my home. I looks beautiful but not as homey. It was heartbreaking to watch 28 yrs of my life loaded into a dumpster. I still dont sleep. I could raise the house 25 feet but dont think I will ever be the same.
Coleen Martorelli
8:27 am on Saturday, March 16, 2013
Maybe if they stop sacrificing Port Monmouth for North Middletown and leave those flood gates open on pews creek we would be ok! I have a young family and just want to get back in my home regardless of how high we need to go.
South End
11:50 am on Sunday, March 17, 2013
Now let's see. My estimate for engineering, lifting, and masonry is ~$70k.
Here's my questions. 1) If there are 30000 or 70000 homes needing this treatment, how are most going to afford it?
2) If my house "only" had 60k damage, I dont raise, and is under that 50.1% threshold, where are my rates going? (NOBODY CAN ANSWER THAT SO FAR).
3) What do the schlubs do with their $140000 ranch, say down in Bayville. Pour $70000 of lifting into a $140000 house? I DOUBT IT.
DBS
12:21 pm on Sunday, April 7, 2013
I own a home in Port Monmouth that has been in my family since the 1920's. Up until Sandy, the worst we saw was Donna and the Noreaster in 93. Never had water in the house even despite the Core of Engineers project along Pews Creek.
Well along came Sandy. Three feet of water in the house and now the house has to be raised to 13'+1'=14'. Hello??
I can do this but need to find companies who are not out to scalp homeowners.
I am glad to see the pics of houses that have been raised and hope those folks can move back soon.