New Beginning for Residents Returning to Beach 12 Years After Sandy
Osborn Dunes at South Mantoloking
BRICK, N.J. (Oct. 8, 2024) — Osborn Dunes at South Mantoloking has begun welcoming back long-time residents and new arrivals, nearly 12 years after Superstorm Sandy whipped through the coastal community. With a smarter and safer approach to rebuilding, Barnegat-based developer Walters has completed almost half of the planned 67 duplex residences. The entire development is slated for completion by Memorial Day Weekend 2025.
Situated on a three-acre barrier island between Mantoloking and Normandy Beach, Osborn Dunes, formerly known as Camp Osborn, was once a small enclave of beachfront bungalows before being destroyed by flooding and fire following the devastating storm. For over a decade, the land remained vacant while the town and homeowners association navigated the complexities of rebuilding their cherished community. Top priorities included choosing a builder who would build the chosen designs that would withstand severe weather conditions while maximizing the use of buildable land.
To help bring the community back to its feet, Osborn Dunes selected Walters as their builder. With 40 years of experience, the local coastal developer has an excellent reputation, extensive knowledge of high-end sustainable design and expertise in building in flood-prone areas.
Osborn Dunes at South Mantoloking is designed to meet FEMA’s flood guidelines with each residence elevated above the floodplain. The new Osborn Dunes duplexes feature roughly 1,033 square feet of living space – double the size of the former Camp Osborn bungalows. In addition, the safer and more resilient two-story homes are designed for year-round use and to withstand severe weather and flooding.
“We worked closely with each homeowner to manage their individual budgets and made every effort to exceed their expectations with the final product,” said Austin Bocchicchio, sales manager with Walters. “Helping people through the recovery process is not just about rebuilding more sustainable homes; it’s also about fostering community spirit and getting people back to the beach they love.”
The Road to Rebuilding
Dale Parisi recalls Camp Osborn as an idyllic community where three generations of his family vacationed. “It was a peaceful, beautiful place; Sandy changed all that on October 22, 2012,” reflected Parisi. When the skies finally cleared and Parisi drove to see his family’s summer bungalow, he was shocked to find only rubble.
“It was a very sad day. We had no idea what the future held for any of us,” said Parisi. “While some people cashed in their chips, I believed that someday we were going to return and rebuild.”
Although the community leadership worked tirelessly over the years to move the rebuilding process forward, the challenges were far reaching. “But we were lucky to have the opportunity to work with Walters and to finally get back to our beach,” added Parisi. “Walters has an incredible team that works seamlessly together. They worked with our board’s architect and did an outstanding job maximizing the space and designing modern homes that satisfied everyone.”
Parisi, who moved into his new three-bedroom duplex at the start of summer,
shares his love of the beach community with his daughter, Jennifer Lukaszewski, her husband Adam, and their three children; the family purchased the adjoining duplex. “I can’t say enough good things about Walters and our new homes,” said Parisi.
Building Bigger and Safer Homes
Tony and Loretta Swanveld were understandably shattered when their summer home, which had been in their family for 45 years, was destroyed. “We had a little bungalow that we treated like a castle before Sandy,” said Tony Swanveld.
The Randolph, N.J., residents checked on the construction progress of their new summer home nearly every weekend and moved in before the start of Memorial Day Weekend this year. “Now we have a beautiful home. It’s beyond surreal,” said Tony Swanveld.
Loretta Swanveld added how impressed they were with the way Walters handled everything from start to finish. “Everyone from the architect to the design consultant cared so much about what they were doing and worked with us to get the most out of our new home,” she said.
“Our board had to choose the best builder, and everyone did their due diligence,” said Tony Swanveld who was part of the arduous decision-making process. “What stood out for us in particular was that Walters does a lot of work at the Jersey Shore and they have a very good reputation.”
Working with the Osborn Dunes’ homeowners, who were excited to be choosing their new home options after waiting so many years to rebuild, has been a pleasure for Walters’ Kristen Kocses, sales and design consultant. “To be seeing their houses built with everything put together is very special for all of us at Walters and the homeowners,” said Kocses.
With extensive experience building in a coastal environment, Walters is a leader in sustainable construction and has developed award-winning residential developments throughout New Jersey. The privately held firm is committed to the highest construction standards and environmentally responsible building practices. Since 1984, Walters has grown steadily, creating three divisions—Walters Homes, Walters Architecture LLC and Walters Apartments.
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