BRICK TOWNSHIP

BY ERIN McFEETERS

An Ocean County town known for more than just its scenic beach views, the Township of Brick encompasses a little bit of everything—from small town walkable streets near the beach to plenty of shopping to convenient access to major roadways.

Brick is “A big town with a small-town feel,” said Executive Director of the Brick Township Chamber of Commerce Danielle Kidney. “There are so many restaurants, shops, and destinations within Brick; there is very little you need to leave town to find.”

Before it was a bustling town, Brick Township was rural with farms, sawmills, and dairy herds. However, Brick began to undergo redevelopment after the State of New Jersey constructed the Garden State Parkway in the 1950s.

“Brick’s proximity to the Garden State Parkway and access to all that New Jersey has to offer makes it a convenient and safe place to live,” said Kidney.

“With beautiful beaches and waterways, parks and trails, Brick offers our residents a great place to work and play.”

The Yellow Brick Road Ice Cream Shop owner, Georgene Rose, is a Brick Township resident and chose Brick to open her small business.

“It’s great here, we’ve had this place for 28 years,” said Rose.

“My parents used to live down the street, and every time we would go out for ice cream, there was nowhere.” With no experience, Rose purchased an old deli and transformed it into the ice cream shop it is today. They serve ice cream cakes, sundaes, and more all summer long. Since opening her shop, she’s done countless fundraisers with the local schools and has created a small community amongst her summer employees. Employees come back each summer and even well into their careers post-grad. Rose noted one employee started scooping at age 16, became a teacher, and even scoops ice cream during his summer break more than two decades later.

“I have no complaints about Brick,” said Rose.

According to housing market data from New Jersey Realtors®, Brick Township was one of the top five-selling towns in New Jersey last year. Realtor® and broker/ owner of EXIT Realty Jersey Shore Sharon Miranda has lived in Brick her whole life. She attributes the higherthan-average closed sales to its proximity to New York City and the town’s redevelopment.

“Brick is a top-selling town because of everything it has to offer. You can live oceanfront, on the Barnegat Bay, on the Metedeconk River, or on a lagoon. It’s approximately one hour and 15 minutes from NYC. You can also commute via NJ Transit bus or train,” said Miranda “It was once known as a bedroom town but has since grown.”

Brick Township Recreation Superintendent Dan Santaniello has lived in Brick for 45 years. His favorite spot in town is “Our Ocean Beaches because our lifeguards are recognized for being some of the best-trained lifeguards at the Jersey Shore,” said Santaniello. “Between these guards and badge checkers, we will once again be able to provide our beachgoers with a clean, safe, and wellmanaged beach during the summer months.”

Beyond its beaches, Brick is a large township at 25 square miles and is home to nearly 75,000 residents, according to the U.S. Census. Despite its size, Brick feels like a closely connected community.

“We have first-rate programs and facilities that help promote a healthy and enriching lifestyle,” said Santaniello. “In Brick, we have created a small community feel with a large community presence to elevate the social, cultural, and physical well-being of the citizens of Brick Township and the visitors of our community.”

Brick Township also hosts several community events in its parks, which have been renovated in the last eight years according to Santaniello, to strengthen community ties. Annual events such as Summerfest, cultural art concerts, drive-in movie nights, golf outings, weekly farmers markets, and tree lights provide a variety of familyfriendly activities and bring residents together.

“Windward Beach is a center of the town’s activities,” said Miranda. “It is a very safe community with great schools and many activities.”

Brick embodies and embraces diversity in its residents and small businesses. “There is a lot of diversity on various levels, from shopping with a lot of family-owned businesses, as well as, corporate businesses, to different ethnic and socioeconomic backgrounds of the residents,” said Kidney. “Brick forms its own melting pot of cultures, a perfect microcosm of life in the United States.”

For clients looking for commercial space to open a small business, Brick Township helps support them by offering the Buy in Brick Program to encourage residents to shop locally. According to Kidney, residents can sign up for a free Buy in Brick card and earn credits toward their property taxes when they shop at a local participating business.

For clients looking for a home in Brick Township, “Brick stands out from other towns because of everything it has to offer,” said Miranda. “It is a waterfront community where houses range from $200,000$8,000,000 accommodating all different economics.”

According to New Jersey Realtors® February housing market data reports, the single-family median sales price is $438,000 year-todate and single-family homes are staying on the market for an average of 50 days.

“The current housing market in Brick is strong,” said Miranda.