By David Cruz
NJ Today
It was a feel-good moment in a town that has needed a feel good moment for months. Gov. Chris Christie announced that help for those looking to get out was on the way. Up to 300 homes in Sayreville will be targeted. The governor says appraisals would begin in June, offers to the willing would follow in July and the first closings by Labor Day.
“What I want to do is eliminate those neighborhoods, so that we don’t have to worry about it again,” he told the audience at his town hall event in the city yesterday. “We turn those areas into open space, we work with them to make sure they can handle flood waters and you get the fair value for your house so you can buy something else and go someplace else.”
But Sen. Bob Smith, who chairs the Senate’s Environment Committee, says the governor isn’t being totally honest with residents in Sayreville, or the other flood-prone areas around the state.
“It’s not going to be solved in a year and anyone who thinks that can put their tooth under the pillow and wait for the Tooth Fairy,” said Smith. “It’s just not that simple … [but] it’s the truth. Somebody’s got to tell New Jersey residents the truth.”
Smith says a plan like this will take decades and billions of dollars to complete. He said residents will be in for a big surprise once they start to get the details.
Over on Weber Street, many residents have owned their homes for decades. They say they were happy to see the governor and happy that he was offering help, but they’re not sure the help will be enough to make them whole.
Mary Skwara shows us how the storm destroyed the home where she’s lived on her own since her husband died 17 years ago.
“How much do I need? For this house? Maybe $350,000,” she answered when asked what “fair market value” means to her. “You know, before the water came, the real estate person said it was worth $350,000.”
We ask if she thinks she’ll get that now. She says she just doesn’t know.
Six months after the storm, her home in shambles, the emotions are still raw.
“I worked 36 years, saved money, built the house,” she says, choking back tears. “I pay it off, now I lost everything. I’m 76. I have nothing. No money in the bank. Only a check month to month.”
Arthur Utter’s home of 60 years is also a total loss.
“I’m 68 years old,” he says. “Nobody’s going to give me a mortgage for 30 years. I’m screwed.”
We ask if he’s ready to let the state come in and buy his house and what price he’d want to get for it.
“Well, they’re talking fair market value,” he says. “Fair market value before this house went down was $328,000. The way the state works, I don’t know [if I’ll get that].”
The governor says there’s a second round of funding coming in the fall to help homeowners in other parts of the state. How the first phase of the buyout plan works here will determine what other towns across the state can expect.