Luxury Oceanfront Condos Approved by Long Branch Planning Board

By Jeffrey Steele, Contributing Writer

Long Branch, N.J.—The planning board of Long Branch, N.J., has granted approval for South Beach at Long Branch, a luxury oceanfront condominium project to be developed by Montville, N.J.-based FEM Real Estate LLC.

The approval for the luxury oceanfront condominium project, which will add 47 two-and three-bedroom units at the most southern edge of the Beachfront South redevelopment area, is another step forward in the city’s redevelopment.

Planned is a pair of eight-story tiered towers featuring units extending in size from 1,400 to 2,359 square feet.

They will rise on a 1.8-acre property two blocks from the retail mixed-use center Pier Village. Situated between Ocean Ave. and Ocean Blvd. at the intersection of North Bath Ave., South Beach at Long Branch was designed by James Monteforte of Ocean Township-based Monteforte Architectural Studios, who drew on the opulence of Miami’s South Beach as inspiration for the property.

“The interest in having luxury second homes on the ocean has grown substantially in recent years,” Mimi Feliciano, CEO and founder of FEM Real Estate LLC, tells MHN. “Long Branch is ideal as it has redevelopment plans, an already established and successful oceanfront mixed-use development, and a progressive governing body that is working toward positive redevelopment.

“The area in particular that we have secured has direct ocean views and is in a central location walkable to shopping, restaurants and recreation at two prime locations: north at Pier Village and just southwest at West End. That means year-round residents will have plush, private oceanfront homes with abundant amenities both onsite and in the surrounding area. For second home buyers, South Beach at Long Branch likely will become a year-round retreat.”

The developers have been mindful of concerns raised by Superstorm Sandy. Flooding and wind obviously were the biggest issues in many beachfront areas.

“However, the location of South Beach at Long Branch is well above the flood plain–about 25 feet above sea level–so flooding here has not been an issue,” Feliciano reports. “As far as the wind, the building is designed with the highest, most recent and most stringent standards for oceanfront properties to withstand severe storms.”

Luxury common-area amenities are focused on outdoor enjoyment. An infinity pool will serpentine across the property and feature a waterfall, sandy areas and raised sundecks. Upscale landscaping will imbue the property with a Miami Beach ambience, and will even showcase Windmill Palm Trees, a salt-water tolerant palm adaptable for weather conditions in the Northeast.

What will this development mean to the area? “For Long Branch, it will bring a new distinctive luxury option for buyers either already located here or for those interested in moving to the area,” Feliciano says. “It will offer a boutique luxury lifestyle that currently doesn’t exist in the city.”