MIDDLE TOWNSHIP, N.J. (AP) – A Jersey shore home that washed into the bay during a weekend storm was a structurally unsound nuisance and was bound to fall into the water, neighbors said.
The Grassy Sound home started falling apart long before it was swept off its pilings on Saturday and local officials ignored repeated complaints about it, neighbor Jim Mooers said.
“All of this could have been prevented if somebody had taken the right action when all of these issues were pointed out, but nothing was done,” Mooers told NJ.com. “Yes, they might be cleaning up the stuff, but me and all of my neighbors will be cleaning up the rest over the years.”
The home’s owner, Stuart Tait could not be reached for comment Tuesday.
Next-door neighbor Haldy Gifford said he spent the weekend using a pole to push Tait’s floating piles so they wouldn’t smash into his home’s supports.