'Bittersweet' Demolition Project Begins at Camp Osborn

Demolition work has started in Brick’s Camp Osborn neighborhood following a vote by the township council earlier this week authorizing a demolition program to go forward.

Crews from T. Fiore Demolition of Newark began bringing in equipment early this week once they were informed they were the low bidder of the program, said Mayor Stephen C. Acropolis.

Work to begin removing the remnants of destroyed homes began in earnest on Thursday. By Friday, some of the debris left in the oceanside portion of the neighborhood had already been removed and additional debris had been fashioned into a large pile at the northwest corner of the lot.

The neighborhood, which is made up of two homeowner associations plus a tract of land owned and rented out by Robert Osborn, of Maryland, runs from the ocean to Barnegat Bay.

The entire neighborhood burnt down during Superstorm Sandy, with fires continuing for several days before crews could reach the area due to the inaccessibility of roads from the south and an ocean breach at the Mantoloking Bridge which prevented firefighters from mainland Brick Township from being able to douse the flames.

The start of demolition and debris removal was bittersweet for residents, who told Patch they are looking forward to rebuilding, but sad to see the last remnants of their neighborhood hauled away.

“Obviously it is a step in the right direction to begin the clean up process, but it still hurts to watch 36 years of happiness get bulldozed away,” said Lauren Nolan, whose family has been Camp Osborn residents since 1956.

“I want all of my neighbors to know that I am thinking of each and every one of them tonight as I cry thinking about the machinery taking away the last remains of our homes,” said Katie Tamborini, another Camp Osborn resident.

“I watched the machinery pick up debris,” said Cheryl Lucky. “I wondered if there were items insignificant to the men working and yet precious to any one of us. I know we must accept our past treasures are gone, but it is difficult seeing them being displaced. Maybe this removal will help us to move on, knowing we will gather new treasures to pass on to our families.”

Camp Osborn is the first neighborhood to be covered under the township’s Private Property Debris Removal Program, sponsored by FEMA. Under the program, the township awards a debris removal contract for private land deemed unsafe and is then reimbursed by the Federal Emergency Management Agency and homeowners’ insurance policies.

For Tamborini, the first step in what will be a long rebuilding process is a reminder of what made her neighborhood so great.

“I have made everlasting friendships at Camp Osborn that no storm, no fire, no sadness can't steal from me,” she said. “Our friendships and our families are connected by a mutual love and respect for each other and for the beach. Hopefully that will be the driving force behind better days to come for the Camp and all of its residents.”