The Long Beach Island Trailer Park was home to 141 trailer homes on the south end of Long Beach Island since 1963. The site is a stone’s throw from the Edward Forsythe Wildlife Refuge, home of the many endangered birds native to this area. It was not until after super storm Sandy destroyed the trailer park in 2012 that owner Bob Muroff and his family decided to sell the property.
At the time, the Lennar Corporation (US Homes) tried unsuccessfully to obtain approvals for 51 homes, most of which would have been smaller lots with not much space between homes. Then the project was brought to Michael Pagnotta, a local architect and builder who has been working on LBI since 1987. The Pagnotta proposal was for 42 lots, with all of them being a minimum of 50’ wide except two existing 40’ wide sites. Needless to say, a unanimous approval was granted by the Long Beach Township Land Use Board in the fall of 2017.
Recognizing that off-street parking was a concern for area residents, the Pagnotta proposal will feature five off-street parking spots for each home. “Our lots are fairly good sized, and the ability to provide ample parking for people and their families is paramount in the layout of each site plan,” the architect notes of his carefully thought out plans.
Storm water run-off was another concern and great care will be taken to retain all storm water run-off within each new property. This will be done through the use of bio-swales, a system of below-surface retention pipes. Native vegetation will be used throughout the project and LBI’s own local Alliance for a Living Ocean will be consulting with the Island’s End team in determining the best vegetation to use for the site conditions.
CAFRA approvals were obtained and formalized in the spring of 2018. The new homes will feature similar designs and construction quality of the many homes created by the MPA+C team since the Sandy “re-boot”. The project will feature a completely furnished and staged model home from which sales and selection swill be conducted. The grand opening will be in the spring of 2019. The model will feature standard materials as well as available options including wide plank engineered hardwood floors, ship-lap, V-groove and bead board wall finishes, and the latest design offerings in terms of cabinetry and countertops.
The design of each home will represent an amalgam of the best ideas gleaned from thirty years of experience with 50 and 60’ lots here on LBI. Reverse living open plan concepts with roof decks will welcome breath taking views of the Atlantic Ocean and Barnegat Bay as well as the Bird Sanctuary. A view that is unique to Holgate is the city scape of Atlantic City which comes to life every evening with a display of lights.
The homes will also feature low-maintenance materials and the latest in coastal construction practice. Solid vinyl exterior trim with stainless steel fasteners, cultured stone and Certainteed Cedar Impressions are featured as the main exterior materials, chosen for their beauty as well as ability to withstand the harsh coastal climate. “We’re excited to have this opportunity to bring new homes to Holgate. At the same we also understand the challenge of working in such a beautiful and environmentally sensitive area and we will do our best to be good neighbors and responsible stewards of the land,” notes Pagnotta. His passion for design and dedication to preserving LBI’s integrity have us looking forward to seeing what is to come on Island’s End in Holgate.