Historical relics delay Sandy family's return

A Union Beach family trying to get home again after Sandy has been hit with a stop work order by the state to search for historic relics. "Why is this coming up now? Why didn't it come up even when

News 12 Staff

Mar 31, 2015, 5:23 AM

Updated 3,312 days ago

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Historical relics delay Sandy family's return
A Union Beach family trying to get home again after Sandy has been hit with a stop work order by the state to search for historic relics.
"Why is this coming up now? Why didn't it come up even when we bought the house?" says Michele Best.
Best was surprised to get a letter from the state demanding an archaeological study on her property in Union Beach before construction could continue. The work stoppage left the four members of her family and their two dogs living in a trailer.
"All these other obstacles came in along the way and just delayed everything," says Best.
The family rebuilt their home back in 2013 and lived in it for a short time. Then, they had to raise it, but discovered the foundation was unstable and the home had to be knocked down. They moved into a trailer. Soon after, they heard from the state that Indian artifacts could be buried in the ground.
"They poked 12 holes on this property to see if there was anything they were looking for and there wasn't, so we just had to wait," says Best.
The family had already spent their flood insurance money, so they enlisted Gateway Church for help. Volunteers knocked down their home.
Gateway Church built the family a shed so they can move their possessions out of a portable storage container and have one less bill to pay.
They're still paying a mortgage and rent on the trailer. People belonging to the St. Bernard Project have now offered to rebuild their home.
"We're told the period is 10 months, but we're praying it's before that; that means we'll be in here another winter," says Best.
Construction is set to begin on the new home later this spring.


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