BASEMENT WATERPROOFING IN Keyport

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Basement Waterproofing

The Healthy Way

Unlike other waterproofers in New Jersey, we provide our customers with a streamlined process for all of their waterproofing needs. Our goal is to get to the crux of your home's issues. If we spot signs of water in your basement, we go right to the source of the problem, working hard to fix structural deficiencies to prevent problems like mold growth and foundation damage. We are proud to be New Jersey's one-stop shop for all of your basement waterproofing needs. New Jersey homeowners choose Healthy Way because our experts are friendly, experienced, harworking, and fully certified. We won't rest until your waterproofing problems are solved. Because we specialize in both interior and exterior waterproofing services, you won't have to worry about hiring a laundry list of contractors to correct your moisture problems. Healthy Way provides all-inclusive basement waterproofing in Keyport, it's no surprise that New Jersey residents trust Healthy Way to make their homes more livable every day.

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The Healthy Way Difference

At Healthy Way, we strive to set ourselves apart from the competition by offering the best basement waterproofing services in New Jersey. We won't be happy with our work until you are 100% satisfied, whether you need a thorough moisture inspection or a large-scale waterproofing project. Our basement waterproofing experts are certified, trained, and have worked on more than 4,000 repairs. They understand that your moisture problems aren't like anybody else's, which is why all of our waterproofing proposals are created specifically for your home. You won't find any "one-size-fits-all" solutions here, and we wouldn't have it any other way.

  • Best warranties in the industry
  • Free initial inspection
  • Full-service basement waterproofing
  • Mold remediation
  • Foundation repair
  • Water management solutions tailored to your unique situation

Once your basement waterproofing project is complete, we make it a point to keep our staff available to address any questions or concerns you may have. Our goal is your 100% satisfaction, from the moment you call our office to schedule an inspection to the time you sign off on our work.

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Waterproofing Services in New Jersey

With more than two decades of experience and a team of fully certified and trained waterproofing professionals, there is no waterproofing project in New Jersey that we can't handle. When not addressed, water and moisture problems can cause serious health risks for your family. We're talking buckling walls, sinking foundations, and even toxic mold. With your home's value and your family's health on the line, you must attack these problems head-on, and the best way to do that is by bringing in the Healthy Way team. Some signs of existing water problems in your home can include:

  • Signs of rust or oxidation on metal fixtures
  • Mildew residue
  • Water stains on your foundation's walls and floors
  • Erosion of your concrete
  • Mineral deposits found on pipes
  • Flooded landscaping after heavy rain or snow
  • Pooling water around your foundation's interior
  • Humidity levels above 60% in your basement or crawlspace
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Basement Waterproofing in Keyport

Healthy Way has been providing the most trusted, effective basement waterproofing in New Jersey since 2007. Waterproofing your basement is crucial to protecting the value of your home and the safety of your family. That is why we only employ the best, brightest, fully-certified experts, who will treat your home like it was their very own. Taking shortcuts just isn't in our nature. We use innovative technology and time-tested techniques to discover and solve your basement's water-related problems.

Because basement wall leaks and water seepage are often caused by structural issues, external waterproofing is required. While some companies only seal the interior walls of your basement, Healthy Way goes the extra mile to fix your water issues inside and out. That way, your basement leaks stop for good.

Once we find the root of the water issues in your basement, we will get to work on a custom-designed solution that will exceed your basement waterproofing needs.

Our basement waterproofing services in New Jersey help prevent the following problems:

  • Mold growth, which can cause serious health hazards for your family
  • Basement flooding
  • Loss of valuables
  • Serious water damage to your home's walls and floors
  • Decrease in home value

Don't wait to address the moisture developing in your basement - call Healthy Way today for a customized solution to your water seepage problems.

What Causes Moisture in Your Basement?

It's easy to spot water leaking through a crack in your basement, but most homeowners don't know that there is a potential for water issues without heavy rains or obvious signs of standing water. At Healthy Way, we try to educate our clients on the real causes of water in your basement. Here are two of the most common reasons why you might need basement waterproofing in Keyport:

Clay Bowl Effect

The "Clay Bowl" Effect

It might not be evident on the surface, but many basements are built in a below-grade dip, which is surrounded by backfill. Because backfill is made up of soil that was removed during foundation digging, it creates an empty shape or "bowl" effect. Once the foundation is finished, this loose soil is placed back around the foundation. Unfortunately, soil of this consistency is more absorbent and porous than the undisturbed soil around it, which is hard-packed and less porous. When rain or thunderstorms occurs, the soil closest to your home becomes saturated, putting pressure on your basement walls.

Hydrostatic Pressure

Hydrostatic Pressure:

This kind of pressure affects homeowners with property built below the water table or on a hillside where water runs down a hill. When the soil around your foundation becomes saturated, it will expand and put intense pressure on the walls of your foundation and basement. This pressure can create cracks, giving water an easy route into your basement.

How Healthy Way Solves Your Basement Waterproofing Needs

Having a wet basement not only puts your health at risk, it lowers the value of your home and makes it more difficult to sell. The good news? We offer a number of waterproofing services and products to solve your problems fast. A few of our solutions include:

  • Sump pumps
  • Perimeter drainage systems
  • Doorway drainage systems
  • High-strength washer hoses
  • Floor and wall crack repair
  • Replacement windows
  • Flood protection for your water heater

When you use Healthy Way for basement waterproofing in New Jersey, you can rest easy knowing that all our systems come with a written, lifetime warranty. This warranty is transferrable, meaning you can re-establish your home's value and give future owners confidence knowing that their new home is protected.

The Healthy Way Basement Waterproofing Process

Because every home is different, your basement waterproofing solution could be vastly different than that of your next-door neighbor. Many factors play a part when it comes to keeping your basement dry and safe for living. As a general rule, we approach each issue with a "prevention over repair" mindset. By taking this stance, we give our clients a more cost-effective, long-term resolution. We're not in the business of putting a "Band-Aid" on your water problem - we want to fix your issue completely, so you don't have to worry about recurring problems. Our effective basement waterproofing systems include a mix of the following strategies:

Interior Waterproofing

Interior Waterproofing

Interior waterproofing methods usually start with our team ensuring that any holes or cracks in your basement floors, walls, and windows are sealed properly. Sealing cracks in your basement is an important first step since this is usually the first place where water can enter your home. Our sealants keep your basement dry and help prevent more moisture from finding its way into your home. Interior waterproofing strategies like these also help lower humidity levels in your basement. While sealants and other interior waterproofing strategies help correct initial issues, they don't usually solve the underlying problem causing leaks in your basement. Those issues are most often found outside your home.

Exterior Waterproofing

Exterior Waterproofing

Once our team is finished with your interior waterproofing, we will move to the exterior of your home. Waterproofing the outside of your home is often a more complex, nuanced goal. Because of the difficult nature of exterior waterproofing, we recommend you consult with our team of professionals before tackling the job on your own. Generally speaking, our team beings the outdoor waterproofing process by excavating the soil around your home's foundation. Once we remove the soil surrounding your foundation, our experts will apply a polymer-based sealant to any cracks we discover. This sealant is a long-term solution and should remain intact for the life of your home. While the Healthy Way team solves your outdoor moisture problems, we will also check your downspouts, to make sure they aren't clogged. An inefficient gutter system does a poor job of directing water away from your home's foundation, which can cause more moisture to seep into your basement over time.

Exterior Waterproofing

Drainage Systems

One of the most common reasons that people need basement waterproofing in cityname is because they have a poor drainage system. A proper drainage system is paramount in keeping your basement dry and your family safe. These systems are meant to direct water away from your home and come in many forms, from French Drains to simple systems like ground soil. If you're thinking of installing a complex drainage system, save yourself some time and check the soil around your foundation first to make sure it isn't retaining moisture. If a more complex system like a sump pump is required, it's best to work with certified professionals like those at Healthy Way, to make sure your drainage system is installed correctly.

WHICH WATERPROOFING SOLUTION IS RIGHT FOR ME?

Because every home is different, it's hard to say what kind of waterproofing solution is right for your situation. Most homeowners require a combination of interior and exterior waterproofing. There are dozens of factors that come into play when it comes to waterproofing your home, so the answer to your problem may be different than your neighbor's. The good news is that Healthy Way is fully equipped to handle whatever moisture issue you're having. We will work tirelessly to make certain your basement is dry, mold-free, and safe to enjoy. That way, you can get back to living life rather than worrying about mold growth or foundation damage.

Contact Us

GET IT DONE RIGHT, THE FIRST TIME

Other companies may offer temporary or partial solutions. At Healthy Way, we believe in correcting the problem completely, so you save money and have long-term peace of mind. Our goal is to fix your problem to prevent it from coming back, or we won't do the work!

If you require quality basement waterproofing, it all starts with a FREE inspection from our certified waterproofing experts. We will take as much time as you need to find your problem, develop a solution, and walk you through our process step-by-step.

Don't let water leaks and foundation damage create a dangerous environment in your home; contact the experts at Healthy Way today!

 Basement Waterproofing Keyport, NJ

Latest News in Keyport, NJ

CARC NJ: Community Affairs and Resource Center Opens in Keyport.

KEYPORT, NJ - On the morning of April 30, Community Affairs and Resource Center, known as CARC, officially celebrated their new location at 8 East Front Street in Keyport. CARC team members and community supporters, government officials, and members of the Monmouth Regional Chamber of Commerce and Keyport Bayfront Business Cooperative (KBBC), gathered together to celebrate and support the new CARC Keyport, NJ location and participate in the official ribbon cutting.According to CARC's website: CARC provides social serv...

KEYPORT, NJ - On the morning of April 30, Community Affairs and Resource Center, known as CARC, officially celebrated their new location at 8 East Front Street in Keyport. CARC team members and community supporters, government officials, and members of the Monmouth Regional Chamber of Commerce and Keyport Bayfront Business Cooperative (KBBC), gathered together to celebrate and support the new CARC Keyport, NJ location and participate in the official ribbon cutting.

According to CARC's website: CARC provides social services to economically disadvantaged individuals and families throughout Monmouth County with the goal of revitalizing the communities served. CARC is one of the very few service providers in Monmouth County that can effectively provide multi-lingual/multi-cultural diversity in its services. Through this multi-lingual and multi-cultural approach, CARC serves as proactive agent for individuals and families whose needs may otherwise go unmet.

Executive Director of CARC, Beatriz Oesterheld commented, "CARC's mission is to empower the community and strengthen youth and families by promoting self-sufficiency through education, advocacy, and collaboration. We are very happy to have this new location in Keyport and look forward to serving the Bayshore area. Oesterheld recapped the numerous services and programs CARC provides to community members who are suffering due to domestic violence, sexual assault, food insecurity, etc.

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VIDEO: Keyport Mayor Collette Kennedy thanked everyone for their support of CARC, and officiated the ribbon cutting ceremony with CARC Executive Director Beatriz Oesterheld who announced the free farmer's market beginning this month:

If you would like more information about CARC or to make a donation, click here. The free Farmer's Market will be held every Tuesday, from May 3 through October 25, at 11:00 a.m., and will be located at the Keyport Elks Lodge, 249 Broadway, Keyport. For more information about the free Farmer's Market or to pre-register, call 732.492.9500 supplies are limited.

Thank you for reading TAPinto Hazlet and Keyport, covering the Bayshore and more. Don't miss your daily news, sign up free today here. Have a news tip or story idea, text Jeanne Wall at 732.492.2500. This publication has thousands of local readers every day and is a fantastic way to provide unique marketing opportunities for your business or organization. Text Jeanne Wall 732.492.2500 for more information or email [email protected] Interested in franchising TAPinto in Monmouth County? Text or email Jeanne Wall. Have a great day!

Jeanne Wall, Owner/Publisher of TAPinto Holmdel and Colts Neck, TAPinto Middletown, TAPinto Hazlet and Keyport. Delivering Daily Community News for Monmouth County, while providing unique Marketing, Branding, PR and Community Relations for local businesses and organizations.

Keyport football player suffers serious neck & spinal injury in game, expected to recover

Keyport football player Logan Blanks suffered a severe neck and spinal cord injury during a game against Lakewood on Saturday, according to a statement issued by the Keyport School District.Blanks was taken by ambulance to Jersey Shore Medical Center where he had two extensive multi-hour long surgeries over the weekend to address the injury.According to the statement, Blanks “has feeling, movement and sensation in his limbs” and despite an expected, long recovery, the senior linebacker is “in good spirits.&rdq...

Keyport football player Logan Blanks suffered a severe neck and spinal cord injury during a game against Lakewood on Saturday, according to a statement issued by the Keyport School District.

Blanks was taken by ambulance to Jersey Shore Medical Center where he had two extensive multi-hour long surgeries over the weekend to address the injury.

According to the statement, Blanks “has feeling, movement and sensation in his limbs” and despite an expected, long recovery, the senior linebacker is “in good spirits.”

Logan’s father, Donnie Blanks, said Logan is expected to make a full recovery with ‘time and effort’ in a Facebook post Sunday night.

Unfortunately, this is not the first devastating injury this football season in N.J., it comes only two weeks after another Shore-area football player, Aaron Van Trease of St. John Vianney suffered a serious spinal cord injury during a game against Manasquan on Sept. 23. Van Trease.

Two days earlier, Xavier McClain, a 16-year-old sophomore at Linden High, died, nearly two weeks after he suffered a serious injury during a Sept. 9 game against Woodbridge High. Linden officials have released no details about McClain’s injury.

A fourth N.J. high school football player, Ali Muhammad of Rahway High, died in his sleep on Sept. 8, according to his father. No cause of death has been provided by the family, nor has it been linked to football.

Keyport head coach Jason Glezman was emotional as he described Blanks as a quiet leader whose actions speak louder than his words.

“Kids look at him as a big brother,” Glezman said. “He has a personality that can brighten the room. He’s everything you want as a coach. He’s a wonderful kid.”

The Keyport Football Alumni Association has set up a GoFundMe to raise funds for Logan and the Blanks family.

The Keyport School District released the following statement on Monday evening:

“Over this past weekend in Keyport’s football competition against Lakewood High School, senior linebacker Logan Blanks suffered a severe neck and spinal injury. Logan was taken to Jersey Shore Medical Center, where over the weekend he had two extensive multi-hour long surgeries to address the injury that had taken place. The doctors and Blanks family are relieved that at this time Logan is on path to a full recovery from his injuries. Logan has feeling, movement, and sensation in his limbs. Although he has a long recovery and rehabilitation in front of him, Logan is in good spirits.

“Despite the terrifying injury, the optimistic recovery is in large part due to the doctors who worked on Logan, but also possible because of the immediate care and handling that Logan received on the field from athletic trainer Kelly O’Donnell, Lakewood’s athletic training staff and Keyport First Responders. We as a district are lucky to have such a professional, well-prepared and thorough staff available to us on site.

“Logan Blanks embodies everything that the Keyport community takes pride in; hard-working, accountable, caring, and supportive. He is everything that a parent, coach and teacher would want in a young man in high school. The Blanks family extends their gratitude to the entire district and community for the overwhelming support they have felt since Saturday afternoon. There will be further updates provided on Logan, as well as the best way to reach and communicate with him and the family. We will also continue to provide updates on the best way to support and provide assistance to the Blanks family. Please keep Logan and the Blanks family in your thoughts and prayers as Logan starts to embark on his recovery. What we do moving forward we do #4Logan.”

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VIDEO: Keyport High School Class of 2022

KEYPORT, NJ - It was quite a sendoff for the Class of 2022 in Keyport NJ. Principal Michael Waters started off the ceremony and introduced Graduate Madison Reynolds to lead them in the Pledge of Allegiance.The National Anthem was then sung by Graduate Abigail Borrelli. Waters welcomed everyone to the event including leaders from Union Beach. He expressed his thanks to a number of different members of the staff and board of education for all the work they do all year long. "There's so many people I want to acknowledge for their ef...

KEYPORT, NJ - It was quite a sendoff for the Class of 2022 in Keyport NJ. Principal Michael Waters started off the ceremony and introduced Graduate Madison Reynolds to lead them in the Pledge of Allegiance.

The National Anthem was then sung by Graduate Abigail Borrelli. Waters welcomed everyone to the event including leaders from Union Beach. He expressed his thanks to a number of different members of the staff and board of education for all the work they do all year long. "There's so many people I want to acknowledge for their efforts in making tonight possible." stated Winters before reading a long list of important leaders for the school.

Waters had special recognition for students that graduated early from Brookdale. "Those students wearing blue and white cords can you please stand? These students are our rising stars and early college graduates. These students have already graduated from Brookdale Community College a few weeks ago, and they earned their Associates Degree in Social Sciences prior to graduating from High School - congratulations guys!"

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He also honored students from other disciplines. "Our students wearing the red, white and blue cords for earning their seal of bilteracy, please stand up." stated Winters. "in joining them, our students wearing the black and silver cords have completed our global logistics and supply chain management program. And our students wearing the traditional gold cords represent students who are members of our National Honor Society. Thank you so much for your countless hours of volunteerism." stated Winters.

"it's been a rough road created by things completely out of your control. Your high school career consisted of a freshman year - that's always a rough one. Two years in quarantine and up until March 2022 I didn't even see your faces. I saw some your faces for the first time I think it was March 15 of your senior year. There's a saying 'what doesn't break you makes you stronger' you're all the epitome of this. No matter what was thrown at you, you took it on and persevered like no other. Although your careers were sidetracked by the pandemic you didn't let it stop you from anything. You succeed academically, socially and athletically."

"As you prepare to move onto the next chapter of your lives remember Red Raiders are tough, smart, resilient and kind. We thrive in tough situations, and we always support others. You all have learned so much and display the strongest in character. I urge you to take from these experiences and the tools that you have gained and when you're in adverse situations use it and I promise you will persevere." stated Winters."

Dr. Lisa Savoia, Superintendent of Schools, shared uplifting words with the new Grads as well.

Watch the entire video here to hear from the Salutatorian, the Valedictorian and more!

Thank you for reading TAPinto Hazlet and Keyport, covering the Bayshore and more. Don't miss your daily news, sign up free today here. Have a news tip or story idea, text Jeanne Wall at 732.492.2500. This publication has thousands of local readers every day and is a fantastic way to provide unique marketing opportunities for your business or organization. Text Jeanne Wall 732.492.2500 for more information or email [email protected] Interested in franchising TAPinto in Monmouth County? Text or email Jeanne Wall. Have a great day!

Jeanne Wall, Owner/Publisher of TAPinto Holmdel and Colts Neck, TAPinto Middletown, TAPinto Hazlet and Keyport. Delivering Daily Community News for Monmouth County, while providing unique Marketing, Branding, PR and Community Relations for local businesses and organizations.

Abandoned cemetery’s care falls on families who ask why N.J. law bars them from $130K trust fund

Armed with only a weed wacker, the cigar-smoking 75-year-old Dave Kite does his best to battle the ever-growing grass that overtakes the gravestones of Cedarwood Cemetery in Hazlet.For 30 years, Kite has been caretaker of the three-acre burial ground along Florence Avenue, which is home to 2,000 souls that include veterans as far back as the Revolutionary War, and politicians and local residents from Hazlet and Keyport.But for the last three years, he hasn’t gotten a paycheck. A handful of people pay him out of their own ...

Armed with only a weed wacker, the cigar-smoking 75-year-old Dave Kite does his best to battle the ever-growing grass that overtakes the gravestones of Cedarwood Cemetery in Hazlet.

For 30 years, Kite has been caretaker of the three-acre burial ground along Florence Avenue, which is home to 2,000 souls that include veterans as far back as the Revolutionary War, and politicians and local residents from Hazlet and Keyport.

But for the last three years, he hasn’t gotten a paycheck. A handful of people pay him out of their own pockets to maintain their families’ plots, but Kite feels obligated to keep up with the rest as well.

“I just don’t like to see it like that and I don’t like people to have to go through that,” he said.

Cedarwood Cemetery is considered abandoned by the New Jersey Cemetery Board, after the last of the Cedarwood Cemetery Board of Trustees members resigned in 2020, citing an ongoing dispute with the township over a crumbling wall that the board said it couldn’t afford to fix, according to one of its former members and records between Hazlet and the former board.

Since then, many families said they’re left to wonder why it’s wasting away if not for their own desire to keep it looking respectable. They question why more than $130,000 that remained in two of the cemetery’s trust funds as recently as 2018 can’t be used to pay for the needed maintenance and repairs. But no one — not the state nor the township — is stepping up to solve it, they said.

“We want to know what happened,” said Barbara Leone, who has family members buried in Cedarwood. “We all have perpetual care and then you know, all of a sudden, just everything stopped.”

“I just think it’s disrespectful to see a cemetery overgrown and neglected,” said Sue Wilbur, who also has family at Cedarwood.

Leone and Wilbur were two of approximately 30 volunteers that gathered on an October Saturday morning for a cleanup day, armed with rakes, leaf blowers, garbage bags, and lawnmowers, looking for trash while cutting waist-high weeds and grass.

Like many of the other families, they say they are at their “wit’s end” trying to cut through the red tape of finding answers from state and local officials.

Robert Laughlin, the former president of the Cedarwood Cemetery Company of Keyport’s board of trustees, resigned in 2020. In an interview with NJ Advance Media this month, he said it all started when sections of a retaining wall along Florence Avenue started to deteriorate and collapse.

Issues with the wall date back to at least 2008, according to meeting minutes from the New Jersey Cemetery Board, which regulates non-religious, private cemeteries like Cedarwood. In 2017, a notice was sent to the board of trustees by the assistant code enforcement officer of Hazlet Township citing a complaint the township received about the wall, according to copies of the letter obtained by Dennis Fotopoulos, a former councilman, and given to NJ Advance Media. Fotopoulos was another volunteer putting in a good sweat during the cleanup day.

The board of trustees said in a response letter it received three quotes to repair the 200-foot wall with the lowest coming in at $36,757. Without the funds to pay for it, the board applied and was rejected for a grant because it had lost its non-profit status for not filing the proper paperwork with the IRS, according to the letter.

Money set aside in a legally required trust fund could have easily paid for the wall’s repairs, Laughlin said, but state law bars them from using it. Laughlin said the board of trustees asked the township for help getting the wall repaired and even asked if they could reach out to the New Jersey Cemetery Board for assistance in releasing the funds. Instead, he said, Hazlet threatened to fine the board members $3,000 a month.

Laughlin added, “(Our lawyer’s) advice to us was that everybody resign. Send me your resignations, you’re done. You can’t fix this.”

According to records filed with the state Cemetery Board in 2018, Cedarwood’s Maintenance and Preservation Fund was valued at about $82,000. Additionally, Cedarwood had an endowment trust fund from the wife of someone interred in the cemetery, valued at about $48,000. Her will stated that the income from her estate was to be used first for her husband’s mausoleum and then second, for “the care and beautification” of the cemetery, according to meeting minutes from the New Jersey Cemetery Board in 2008.

The board’s treasurer and the secretary asked the state whether money from either fund could be used toward repairing the wall, according to the meeting minutes. The state advised that only the bank that maintained the endowment fund left through the will could approve the use of those funds.

But the maintenance fund can’t be used without a court order, the state says. State law regulating non-religious cemeteries like Cedarwood requires a certain percentage of cemetery sales to be put toward the Maintenance and Preservation Fund, and only the interest earned can be spent on upkeep. Since the cemetery is no longer generating any income through the sale of plots or other services, no funding was being added to the account to help it grow, Laughlin said.

In the last eight to 10 years of his service on the board, Laughlin said he remembers not one vacant plot was sold.

“Over a probably six or more year period, we contacted every politician and everyone we could to get them to release the money that is in the repair and replacement account for the cemetery that they refuse to release,” said Laughlin.

According to the New Jersey Cemetery Board, when a cemetery no longer has sufficient funds to operate and is without a governing body, it is considered abandoned.

“When, as is the case here, a cemetery is abandoned, the Cemetery Board encourages the municipality in which the cemetery is located to apply to the court and obtain authority to maintain the grounds,” a spokesperson from the state Cemetery Board said.

NJ Advance Media sent multiple questions about the cemetery to Hazlet Business Administrator Rob Bengivenga but he instead deferred to the state Cemetery Board.

“The Township was aware that the trustees of the cemetery were trying to get the state to take over responsibility for the cemetery,” Bengivenga said. “The cemetery trustees were apparently successful in that effort.”

The New Jersey Cemetery Board said it could file an application with the court to appoint someone to manage the cemetery until a new board is established — but “this option is only viable if the cemetery is active and has sufficient income for maintenance and other expenses. Such is not the case here.”

However, family members of plot owners may voluntarily raise funds to maintain the cemetery as much as possible.

Laughlin said it still bothers him to see the cemetery in the condition that it is in and that if he had the money he would fix the wall, help organize a new board of trustees and turn around its finances.

He believes that there are millions of dollars sitting in maintenance funds from other abandoned cemeteries that state law blocks from being used, but until there is an uproar nothing will change.

“It’s gotta be somebody from way at the top that says this has got to change,” he said.

Without the state’s or township’s help, the maintenance falls on Kite, the families and other volunteers who are determined to keep the cemetery looking the best it can with limited resources.

According to Leone and Wilbur there have been discussions about forming a new cemetery board, however they would face the same problems that the previous board did — the wall has to be repaired and there is no money to do it.

“Why would somebody step up to do something when they’re telling us there’s no money there?” said Leone. “We realize they’re not going to hand the money over to us.”

Fotopoulos said the broader aspect of Cedarwood’s story is the fact that there are other cemeteries in the same kind of disrepair that just aren’t getting the perpetual care that was promised.

“The tragedy I think is that it’s left into the hands of nobody, except for people like us, that are going to do this kind of thing once or twice or three times a year.”

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Bethany Manor: Keyport senior affordable housing new owner could double some rents

KEYPORT - Diane Andrews has been living in Bethany Manor, an age-restricted affordable housing complex, for eight years in an apartment building that comes with security guards and a weekly croquet game with her fellow tenants.But she and other residents were in for a surprise last spring when Capital Realty announced it had bought the 50-year-old property. The private-equity company was getting ready to adjust their rent. And it needed their income statements."I think it was about two weeks, and we had to g...

KEYPORT - Diane Andrews has been living in Bethany Manor, an age-restricted affordable housing complex, for eight years in an apartment building that comes with security guards and a weekly croquet game with her fellow tenants.

But she and other residents were in for a surprise last spring when Capital Realty announced it had bought the 50-year-old property. The private-equity company was getting ready to adjust their rent. And it needed their income statements.

"I think it was about two weeks, and we had to get everything together," said Andrews, 75.

Now, some of the Bethany Manor residents are facing huge rent hikes, potentially more than doubling what they must pay now, leaving elected officials and advocates to untangle a complicated real estate deal that has left seniors in a lurch.

For now, officials say Capital Realty has agreed to hold off on rent increases until next year. But it still is asking the town to extend a tax break that the previous owner, a nonprofit, used to operate the complex.

Observers aren't surprised by the dust-up. Private-equity companies have increasingly been snapping up affordable housing units, they say, finding a steady stream of revenue and the potential for profit.

"Regardless of what happens with the economy, people are still going to need a place to live and continue to pay rent," said Jordan Ash, research director for the Private Equity Stakeholder Project, a consumer advocacy group.

Here is a closer look at the issue:

What is Bethany Manor?

Bethany Manor is one of the tallest structures at the Bayshore. It's made up of two towers. The larger, at 11 stories, has 231 units. The annex has 100 units. They are open to people at 62 and older. And residents paid $440 a month for an efficiency and $528 a month for a one-bedroom, Keyport Council President Kathleen McNamara said.

Its history dates to the late 1960s, when St. John's United Methodist Church in Hazlet surveyed its members and found a need for affordable housing.

Members of the church, including its pastor, Rev. Norman R. Riley, formed a nonprofit corporation and received a low-interest $2.7 million loan from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, repaid over 50 years, to build Bethany Manor on property in Keyport that was adjacent to the church.

The company reached a deal with Keyport to pay the borough 15% of its net income from rentals in lieu of property taxes, known as a PILOT.

Capital Realty bought the complex in March for $24 million, according to property records.

It isn't clear why the previous owners decided to sell, or even who they are. Property records show the company had a mailing address in a Matawan shopping center, and it listed James Unterberger as Bethany Manor's executive director. He couldn't be reached for comment.

St. John's apparently didn't reap the windfall. "St. John's United Methodist Church has no affiliation with Bethany Manor," church officials said in a statement.

How did it get so convoluted?

Residents living in Bethany Manor were part of an affordable housing program in which they paid no more than 30% of their adjusted gross income on rent, with HUD making up the difference.

Bethany Manor's previous owner, however, hadn't raised rent for several years. It gave residents breathing room. And it gave Capital Realty a chance to reset rent for residents who were paying less than 30% of their income.

This summer, Keyport's council was asked to vote on an ordinance that would have extended a PILOT agreement for Capital Realty by seven years. The agreement, approved in 2015, was set to expire in 2050. It calls for the borough to receive 10.5% of rent in lieu of taxes.

Meanwhile, elected officials started hearing complaints from residents that their rent was about to skyrocket to market rate — $1,201 for an efficiency and $1,353 for a one-bedroom.

Not all residents were in the same boat. Out of 331 units, 146 qualified for a HUD program that left their rent unchanged. But 185 were at risk of seeing rent hikes, officials said.

McNamara said tenants were paying artificially low rent, but they are now being penalized for something that wasn't their fault. Some, for example, used their extra money to buy cars and have auto loans to contend with. And they were having trouble getting answers.

"They've left people in a precarious situation," she said.

The council has postponed its vote on the PILOT extension.

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Who is Capital Realty?

Capital Realty owns and operates close to 17,666 affordable housing units in 27 states. Among them are at least 10 complexes in New Jersey, including the Eleanor Levovitz Senior Apartments in Lakewood.

The company came under fire in Chicago and Washington, D.C., last year after tenants complained about substandard living conditions. But Keyport and housing officials say the company likely has deeper pockets than the previous owners and could bring much-needed capital improvements to Bethany Manor.

One reason Capital Realty is asking Keyport to extend its PILOT agreement: The company is in line to receive a $34.8 million HUD loan from Gershman Investment Corp., which is designed to facilitate new construction or substantial rehabilitation of a multifamily building, according to property records. But HUD requires a tax exemption as a condition of the loan.

Capital Realty officials didn't respond to calls and emails seeking comment.

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Where does that leave residents?

Keyport doesn't have an affordable housing agency of its own. So HUD signed off on arrangement to have the Perth Amboy Housing Authority administer the program.

Kristi Duffy, director of staff operations for the housing authority, said that after buying the property, Capital Realty needed to assess which tenants remained eligible for subsidies. But it wasn't an easy task; the original HUD loan was paid off in July 2020, so residents who moved in after that didn't necessarily qualify for affordable housing.

When all is said and done, 31 tenants are left without affordable housing vouchers, Duffy said, which puts them at risk of seeing rents climb to market rate.

"So conceivably, this is why people are so upset. Their rent could be going from $440 to $1,201 (for an efficiency), or $528 to $1,353 (for a one-bedroom)," Duffy said.

Yet even that isn't clear. McNamara said the current PILOT agreement might require all units to be affordable.

Bethany Manor residents say they remain confused. Several attended the council meeting Tuesday night, where they were told Capital Realty agreed to postpone the rent increases for the remainder of the year and officials from the Perth Amboy Housing Authority would meet with them later this month.

Not all of the tenants are getting a bad deal. Capital Realty's assessment worked out for Andrews.

"I made less at my job than I made last year, so (my rent) went down," Andrews said. "I was one of the fortunate ones, I really was."

Michael L. Diamond is a business reporter who has been writing about the New Jersey economy and health care industry for more than 20 years. He can be reached at [email protected].

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