The process of rebuilding Margate’s boardwalk. Here’s how this works from the State’s position.
If Margate wants to apply to the State of NJ for an application to build a boardwalk on the beach, it has to make a pre-application. A sit-down meeting with CAFRA (Coastal Area Facility Review Act) agency. It has to do this first.
Building a “new” boardwalk in the coastal zone is considered a MAJOR development request.
An application to request such a sit down with CAFRA is available. Once this application is filled out, a meeting can be arranged for it’s review. The City of Margate would then send a representative or representatives to this meeting. I imagine from there, CAFRA either approves of this preliminary plan, or it rejects it, which would end the process.
If approved, a much more complete application has to be submitted for approval.
If all that takes place, I’m sure there are other Gov’t agencies that’ll also have to be contacted and dealt with. CAFRA is on first base for any coastal zone development, private or public.
This is the process… or at least the mechanics of the process. A future post will discuss the ‘politics’ of the process.
PRICE. Cost to rebuild the Margate Boardwalk?
After Hurricane Sandy hit the northern NJ coastal town of Belmar, that city decided to rebuild it’s totally destroyed boardwalk. Belmar is roughly the size of Margate. It has roughly the same size yr. round population.
The new Belmar boardwalk is 1.3 miles long and 25 feet wide, made of wood on pilings. It cost, according to this article, $9.1 mil. to rebuild.
Fun Fact: Former Mayor of Belmar, is now head of the CRDA in Atlantic City.
I’m assuming the Federal Gov’t and the State paid 100% of that cost from the Federal Sandy relief fund. I’m not sure of that. Nevertheless, Belmar gives us a rough estimate of what Margate at 1.62 miles for a new boardwalk would possibly cost. I would even add 50% to that number. So it would likely cost $13 to $15 mil. to build one here. That’s a very rough guesstimate based on the Belmar rebuild.
I’m publishing this because the number one question being asked of me is how much might this cost? Of course, an actual estimate would only be available if the City planning Dept. was tasked to develop one.
Questions or comments? Leave one below. Join the conversation.
I believe it would be money well spent. Margate needs a boardwalk.
I think it is a WONDERFUL IDEA!
As a 38 year homeowner the attraction of Margate was that it was a residential community- not as quiet as Longport and not as “animated” as Atlantic City or Ventnor. The recent approval for miniature golf and current prospect for a boardwalk would change the character of Margate that encouraged so many to buy homes in this particular shore town. We have easy access to the crowds of Ocean City and Atlantic City if we want boardwalks.
A Margate boardwalk would NOT be a commercial boardwalk like AC or OC’s. It would be like Ventnor’s boardwalk completely built in a residential district giving us back our easy access to the Ocean now gone no thanks to ex-Gov. Christie and Cong. Lobiondo. It would also give us back the use of the large dead zone created by the Beach Project and allow people the amenities of safe ( unlike on Margate’s crowded streets) walking, jogging/running riding bikes, and just sitting and enjoying the ocean view and the sea breeze. It’s the unwanted Beach Project that has changed the character of the town a boardwalk would change it back again closer to what it was.
Totally agree. The building of the boardwalk would not take that long.
I was under the impression when the Margate boardwalk was destroyed, the government set aside dollars to rebuild. Margate chose not to rebuild. Where is that earmarked money now? It sure would be a good start. I am all for a boardwalk in Margate.
Thinking it might give the teens a safer place to hang out.
If the boardwalk is built atlantic ave side of the dunes it will be like the AC boardwalk close to the sea wall. We can look in and see what the beach front owners are doing . Until now I thought it would be nice to have an ocean front property .but with dunes , ramps to beach over dunes, and a board walk , not so much. Those poor people.
Love the idea!!!
I am interested in hearing more about the project. How would it impact the community
I think the homeowners of Margate would help pay for the boardwalk with an assessment on property taxes
A Margate boardwalk is 100% a waste of resources and money. It’s $15mil in taxes that we don’t want to spend. I could see it working if the intent was to partner with the rest of the island and bring local business to the boardwalk it but it seems like the current plan is to make a $15mil glorified sidewalk. If you want to walk and see the beach then walk on the beach. These dunes everybody complains about will be the one thing that stops your house from being wiped away by a hurricane, because when we get another storm as bad as Sandy it’ll be the dunes that will keep your house from going under. In my opinion it seems like the only reason that Margate wants a boardwalk is a superiority complex combined with the fact that Ventnor and Atlantic City have one when Margate does not. Margate can hardly afford to keep both schools open and instead of merging school districts with the rest of the island (lowering taxes across the board and providing a better chance for education) they want to build a useless boardwalk that nobody will use because there’s nothing to do on it.
I think it’s a terrific idea!