By Lauren Wanko
NJ Today
With one last swing of a hammer, Gov. Chris Christie joined Lavallette local officials to celebrate the opening of the new boardwalk.
“This is the first symbol for us of making sure this week that everyone across the state, across the region and across America knows that the Jersey Shore is open for the summer and ready to receive our customers,” Christie said.
An enthusiastic crowd huddled around Christie as he strolled the boardwalk. Contractors finished the $1.3 million job before the June 20 deadline.
“It just is wonderful seeing that we’re coming back. And it’s very important to the people of New Jersey to have our blessed shore being restored,” said Annmarie Kradenski.
“It’s the best thing that’s happening. We’re on our way, we’re on our way to having people visit the Jersey Shore, and it’s just great,” said Joanne Crivello.
“It’s a milestone for the community in that we’ve got the boardwalk complete and that’s a major step, but it really is symbolic of the recovery of the entire Jersey Shore,” said Lavallette Mayor Walter LaCicero.
Lavallette’s mayor says only about 5 percent of businesses in town won’t be open by Memorial Day weekend. He expects everything to be up and running by the summer. Still he estimates the rental market is down about 20 percent this season.
“The rental market is softer than it was last year, but of course it is. I mean was there anybody here who thought that it wouldn’t be? We had a devastating storm that wiped out huge parts of the Jersey Shore. And so what we’re trying to do now through the advertising campaign that we’re doing, through the public events that I’ll be doing is to let people know that things aren’t nearly as bad as they were in November,” Christie said.
That’s welcome news to local real estate agent Brenda Campagna of Toms River. “When people start coming and see that it actually is up and running, there will be a lot more rentals,” she said.
Still, Campagna insists the rental market isn’t that bad post-Sandy. “I did have a lot of my season booked already from last year,” she said.
As for homeowners, Christie says grants will become available this Friday.
“Up to $150,000 grants that you can apply for to help to renovate, rebuild or elevate your homes. We’ll have that website up and running on Friday for you to begin your application process so as we go into the summer you can begin to house your homes and rebuild,” Christie said.
Christie will be spending a lot of time along the Jersey Shore in the coming days. He told the crowd today he’ll be up and down the Jersey coast this week and throughout the weekend, reminding folks that the Jersey Shore is open for business this season.