Ocean Bridge Work
A single lane on the free bridge at the south end of Stone Harbor will be closed for cleaning, repairing and painting. During this time the open lane will be controlled by a temporary traffic signal. Expect the northbound lane to be closed until about April 23^rd. Bridge repair is expected to be completed by the middle of June.

Flood Insurance Deadline Extended
Congress extended the nation's flood-insurance program through July 31 as part of a federal spending bill. The National Flood Insurance Program is the sole source of flood insurance for more than 5 million homes and businesses across the U.S. The National Realtors Association cited the flood insurance extension as a key reason for encouraging the Senate to pass the spending bill. "This avoids another lapse and provides several more months for the Senate to act on the five-year reauthorization and reform legislation adopted by the House last November," the group said in a statement Thursday. [Daily Comet]

Avalon Property Reassessment
Avalon Tax Assessor just published a document detailing Avalon’s recent property assessment. Read here about why the borough does reassessments, true market value and the difference between reassessment and revaluation. Just over 6% of property owners requested an informal review of their assessment once the property assessments were completed. Avalon Property Reassessment March 2018 (PDF).

Stone Harbor's Pump Station
Stone Harbor's plans to rework the pump station involve a lot owned by Our Saviour Lutheran Church. The church was approached by the borough for the use of the lot and the church is requesting $150,000 while the borough has offered $50,000 for a 20-month period. While the lot is not in use, the church requested the "fair market value" of the land.

Swimming Pools for Stone Harbor HomeOwners
According to Cape May County Herald's report of the borough council meeting, the Planning Board is considering a change in the ordinance to address the issue of the invisible bulkhead line the "established bulkhead line". The change would allow homeowners to install swimming pools on their adequate land. The line was created to maintain uninterrupted sight lines for any construction of new bayside structures. Should pools be considered structures subject to these bulkhead restrictions? Should the invisible line be the reference point for pool construction codes? The invisible line varies greatly from the actual location of the bulkhead making the impact on the pool construction random. As of the April meeting there are several opinions and concerns expressed by council members with no resolution proposals offered.

Hawkers Out - Peddling In Avalon
Changes are being considered to the borough code regarding hawking and peddling. The current long-standing restrictions cover street peddling on certain streets and certain times. Only ice cream, water and soda are permitted. Anyone hawking, selling, goods for sale by shouting, is to be banned if the changes are adopted. All street vendors selling to minors are required to have a criminal background check before working in Avalon. [Cape May County Herald]

Avalon and Stone Harbor Market Trends
More Inventory Than Demand
Our sales trend continues to be impacted by the lack of inventory. In the first three months of 2017 there were 118 properties placed under agreement - 82 in Avalon and 36 in Stone Harbor. For this same time frame in 2018 we have placed under agreement 83 properties- 49 in Avalon and 34 in Stone Harbor. This is a 42% decrease in units going under agreement all due to lack of inventory.

March had 32 sales on the island - 11 condos (7 in Avalon/4 in Stone Harbor); 5 townhomes (4 in Avalon, 1 in Stone Harbor); 15 single homes (7 in Avalon and 8 in Stone Harbor). There were 24 sales under $2.0 million; 5 between $2.1- $3.0 and 3 over $3.0 million with the highest sale being on the ocean for $8,695,000 in Avalon. This is one of 5 sales over $3 million this year, far from the highest priced sale of $10.5 million for Seven Mile Island.

Through the end of March our single home sales are off 60%. This year sales over $3 million were 6, last year 1st quarter, 10 homes sold. Although most of the inventory is in the upper end of the price range, we are not seeing the level of buyer interest in the upper end. Sales in the $2-$3 million price range sat at 20 in 2017 as compared to 16 in 2018. Again, the tally is largely a function of inventory levels. Sales under $2.0 for the first three months of 2017 are 37 as compared to 19 in 2018. As you can see below the inventory does not meet the demand! READ MORE

• April 14^th - HLOA Community Connections, Avalon Free Public Library, 9:30 am
• April 14^th - Free tree seedlings for residents, Avalon Community Hall, 9:30 am-Noon
• April 14^th - Band Dance/Rick Martin Swing Band, Avalon Community Hall, 7 pm, $8
• April 14^th - Stone Harbor Job Fair, Coffee Talk, 10 am - 2 pm
• April 17^th - Stone Harbor Borough Council Meeting, 4:30 - 6 pm
• April 17^th - Story Time, Avalon Free Public Library 10 am
• April 18^th - Stone Harbor Senior Fund Day, Bridge & Card Games, 1-3 pm, American Legion Post
• April 19^th - Story Time, Avalon Free Public Library 10 am
• April 21^st - Free Grass Planting/Clean Ocean Action Beach Sweep, Avalon Community Hall, 8:30am
• April 22^nd - Stone Harbor Ocean Drive Marathon, 9 am - 2:30 pm. Ocean Drive Run Club, starts in Sea Isle City
• April 22^nd - Ocean Drive Marathon, 9:00 am start in Sea Isle City, passes through Avalon twice, 9 am
• April 24^th - Story Time, Avalon Free Public Library 10 am
• April 25^th - Stone Harbor Senior Fund Day, Bridge & Card Games, 1-3 pm, American Legion Post
• April 26^th - Story Time, Avalon Free Public Library 10 am
• April 27^th - Avlon Garden Club Arbor Day Celebration, 37th Street and Dune Drive, 10:30 am
• May 1^st-31^st - Avalon Historical Society Photography Contest and Exhibit, Avalon History Center, 1 pm
• May 1^st - Story Time, Avalon Free Public Library 10 am
• May 1^st - Stone Harbor Borough Council Meeting, 4:30 - 6 pm
• May 3^rd - Story Time, Avalon Free Public Library 10 am
• May 3^rd - Cape May County Senior Jamboree, Avalon Community Hall, 10 am
• May 4^th - Brendan Borek Annual Golf Tournament, Stone Harbor Golf Club, 12 pm
• May 5^th - Avalon Garden Club Plant and Bake Sale, Avalon Community Hall, 10:00am-4:00 pm
• May 5^th - Stone Harbor Spring Tide Festival, Downtown Shopping District, 11 am - 5 pm
• May 6^th - Avalon Garden Club Plant and Bake Sale, Avalon Community Hall, 10 am - 3 pm
• May 9^th - Stone Harbor Senior Fund Day, Bridge & Card Games, American Legion Post, 1-3 pm
• May 11^th - Avalon Wine & Spirits Festival, Avalon Community Hall, 6:30 - 9 pm
• May 11^th - Wetlands Institute Native Plan Sale, 9:30 am - 4:30 pm
• May 12^th - Stone Harbor Garden Club Plan & Back Sale, Stone Harbor Firehouse, 8 am - 2 pm
• May 12^th - Wetlands Institute Native Plan Sale, 9:30 am - 4:30 pm
• May 12^th - Avalon Lions Club Yard Sale, Helen L. Diller Vacation Home for Blind Children, 9 am
• May 12^th - Avalon Annual Paper Shredding Day, Avalon Public Works, 9 am
• May 12^th - Avalon Fire Department Hoagie Sale, 10 am
• May 12^th - Avalon Police Department Bicycle Auction, Avalon Public Works, 12 pm
• May 12^th - Avalon Annual Yard Sale, Town Wide, 9 am
• May 12^th - Avalon Volunteer Fire Department Ladies Auxiliary Plant Sale, Avalon Fire Department, 8 am
• May 12^th - Big Band Dance - Star Band, Avalon Community Hall, 7 pm
• May 13^th - Stone Harbor Garden Club Plan & Back Sale, Stone Harbor Firehouse, 8 am - 2 pm
• May 13^th - Wetlands Institute Native Plan Sale, 9:30 am - 4:30 pm
• May 15^th - Stone Harbor Borough Council Meeting, 4:30 - 6 pm