NJ Approves Sandy Buyouts

State officials have approved nearly 200 flood-prone homes in Woodbridge for buyouts under a Superstorm Sandy program.
 
The Blue Acres program seeks to buy homes from willing sellers in areas that have been plagued by flooding and return the land to open spaces.
 
A home on Crampton Avenue became the first in the Middlesex County community to close for $228,000. It was purchased by the state at pre-Sandy market value.
 
The state has identified 946 properties for buyouts in 10 municipalities. So far, 151 homes have been purchased and 48 homes have been demolished.
 
None of the money so far has gone to Monmouth and Ocean counties, which were hardest hit by Sandy. The state says the coastal communities have not expressed a serious interest in participating.