Luxury home builders zero in on Long Branch's Franklin Avenue as older homes give way
LONG BRANCH - Little by little, the older houses on Franklin Avenue are giving way to new luxury homes as construction, which is at a breakneck speed in this oceanside city, has zeroed in on this quite residential street.
Two years ago, Franklin Beach Townhomes, a four-unit building designed in nautical blue cedar shake siding and white trim, was completed. The asking price on those three-bedroon homes started at over $1.1 million.
Just a couple doors down construction has started on Beach Walk, which will have nine three-story luxury homes starting at $1.5 million, according to the Curran Group, the real estate agents marketing the homes. The homes will feature private garage, elevators, rooftop decks and full basements. The first homes should be on the market by the fall.
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The developer, Franklin Properties LLC, received Planning Board approval in January 2023. The developer consolidated two half-acre lots in one lot and then cleared two older homes from the property. The developer will be adding new landscaping that will consist of 89 new trees, including emerald and green giant trees.
Lastly, on the opposite side of the street from Franklin Beach Townhomes and Beach Walk, is the future site of Ocean Acre. Construction has not started there yet. The developer, Franklin Avenue LLC, received board approval in November of last year.
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The developer is approved to consolidate two lots into a single, roughly one-acre property. The properties have two homes on them but the developer is only going to knock down the home at 119 Franklin Ave., which was built in 1910. That home at 129 Franklin Ave., which was built in 1907, will be saved and incorporated into the plan
The developer will build eight new single-family townhouses, and make additions to the circa-1907 home, for a total of nine homes. The Asbury Park Press has not learned the price for the homes.
Cross Custom Builders is the builder for both Beach Walk and Ocean Acre.
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Franklin Avenue is a short walk to the beach across Ocean Boulevard, but it's also located in the city's Transit Village District, which is centered around the NJ Transit train and bus station.
The Transit Village that is currently experiencing a round of redevelopment as new apartments and townhouses are going up on several streets and restaurants have located there. The city's vision for the neighborhood is to bring in more housing and businesses while creating bicycle routes, pedestrian activity and easy access to goods and services that are all centered around mass transit.
Last year the city and its partner NJ Transit secured over $13 million in federal and state funding to build a tunnel at the train station to reconnect the east and west sides of the track which have been blocked off since a sound barrier wall went up in 1988. Even more upgrades are planned as part of a $26 million plan to spruce up the station.
When Jersey Shore native Dan Radel is not reporting the news, you can find him in a college classroom where he is a history professor. Reach him @danielradelapp; 732-643-4072; dradel@gannettnj.com.
This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Long Branch's Franklin Avenue sees round of luxury home building
