More Staten Island residents want Sandy buyouts

NEW YORK

The South Beach Civic Association tells the Staten Island Advance that 132 homeowners from the neighborhood have submitted paperwork saying they want to participate in the state's buyout program.

New York officials have already begun the process of purchasing large numbers of homes in the nearby Oakwood Beach and Ocean Breeze neighborhoods.

The communities were all built on wetlands that have flooded repeatedly since people first started building houses there.

Civic Association President Joe McAllister says some of those areas should be returned to nature.

A spokeswoman for the state's Office of Storm Recovery said the state looks forward to reviewing the proposals. ___

Copyright © 2024 WABC-TV. All Rights Reserved.