Dune Project Moves Forward On Fire Island

Residents of Fire Island have signed contracts to allow for a federal dune project to commence on their land, which will be completed to control flooding in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy. The project will restore 12.5 miles of protective dunes that were destroyed by the storm. Suffolk’s public works commissioner, Gilbert Anderson, confirmed the project has been greenlit this month and will likely begin in September from Fair Harbor to Seaview.

The next step after homeowners signed off on the dune project was for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the state Department of Environmental Conservation to approve the contracts as well, which they have.

The $207 million project is finally getting underway after having been delayed for the past two years due to an array of issues, including real estate problems and poor weather conditions.

Bids to contract for this major project will start in May and the contract will be awarded the following month. Considering Fire Island’s busy summer months, the actual work won’t start until around September 19, 2016. The dune project won’t be finished until March 2017.

The dune project involves 13 beachfront homes in Davis Park having to be realigned or pushed back and in Ocean Bay Park, oceanfront homeowners are receiving offers for buyouts to clear the way for new dunes. In the Pines, around 12 pools and/or decks will have to be moved.

Due to the major renovations amongst the nine hamlets of Fire Island, real estate property values might be affected. As always, William J Newman is always available for help with selling or buying homes in the area, in addition to rentals. Contact us (http://www.williamjnewmanrealty.com/contact.html) at 631-312-7066 or 516-991-5717.