Demolition of Sandy-ravaged Sea Bright apartments clearing way for state land deal

SEA BRIGHT One of the most visible reminders of Hurricane Sandy's destruction in Sea Bright is about to be a footnote in history.

Demolition of the Anchorage Apartments, a riverside condominium complex that sat empty behind a chain link fence for two years, began Saturday morning to make way for a park.

The site has been vacant since Sandy's fierce storm surge put nearly the whole town along a narrow peninsula under water in October 2012. Many borough residents are still out of their homes.

Preparation for demolition, which included capping off utilities and obtaining permits, took several weeks, said Ronnie Carrdine of Farmingdale-based Sakoutis Brothers Disposal, which is handling the demolition.

Carrdine said crews also spent days leading up to the actual demolition removing as much metal as possible from the building for recycling. He said there were still appliances such as washers and stoves in the building that had to be taken out.

With a strong west wind blowing, making temperatures outside feel near zero, Carrdine sat in the heated cab of the track hoe, nearly isolated from the sounds of twisting metal and crashing wood and bricks outside.

Demolition started at the north end of the two-story brick faade structure. Operating an 85,000-pound track hoe, Carrdine first smacked the hoe against the brick, knocking the blocks to the ground to expose the wood sheeting underneath. Then he methodically worked his way into the building by having the hoe claw at and crash through the walls, floors and roof.

Within 30 minutes, the first two units were reduced to rubble.

"We dissect the building. It's not just crash, crash, crash," Carrdine said.

The winds sent dust and debris flying. Most of it became trapped against the fence but some blew onto Route 36.

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Demolition of Sandy-ravaged Sea Bright apartments clearing way for state land deal