What happens when a neighborhood disappears? That's the question officials in Woodbridge faced when 165 homeowners in one corner of the city took buyouts after their homes were flooded by Superstorm Sandy.

More than 800 homeowners in Sandy flooded areas statewide have taken buyouts through the Blue Acres program. But there are few models for what to do with that land once the homes are gone.

Residents who remained in Woodbridge were worried the area could turn into a neglected wasteland.

On today's edition of "Brian's Positively New Jersey,” we visit the Woodbridge project where a team led by a Rutgers University ecologist has created wetlands, woodlands, meadows and a mile of public trails.

The area along the Woodbridge River is becoming a national model for what happens when communities agree to retreat in the face of stronger storms and rising sea levels.