Former US Coast Guard station hits the market for $5 million: Single-story New Jersey riverside property dating back to 1871 boasts communication tower, boat basin and observation platform

A former US Coast Guard station in New Jersey has hit the market for a staggering $5 million.

The quaint property rest on Shark River, close to the beach in Avon-by-the-Sea, Monmouth County.

The 19th century property comes with almost one and a half acres of surrounding land with waterfront access.

Dating back to 1871 the property was shuttered in 2020 by the Government Accountability Office as redundant.  

Also on the property is a single-story, 4,735-square-foot structure built in 1967, including a maintenance and storage shed.

A former US Coast Guard station in New Jersey has hit the market for a staggering $5 million

The property boasts unrivalled riverside access straight into Shark River 

There is also a boat basin and pier, an observation platform, sea wall, a communications tower and a paved driveway that leads to a parking lot

There is also a boat basin and pier, an observation platform, sea wall, a communications tower and a paved driveway that leads to a parking lot. 

The borough has zoned the Coast Guard property as suitable for single-family homes. 

Under borough code, a home requires 7,000 square feet of land, so it’s possible up to eight homes could fit on the site.

Interior shots of the property show an old control room, large canteen-style kitchen area 

It is being sold alongside eighteen other decommissioned Coast Guard boat stations.

The building was most most recently used as a satellite station to support the station at Manasquan Inlet.

The 19th century property comes with almost one and a half acres of surrounding land with waterfront access

The quaint property on Shark River, close to the beach in Avon-by-the-Sea, Monmouth County.

The borough has zoned the Coast Guard property as suitable for single-family homes.

Also on the property is a single-story, 4,735-square-foot structure built in 1967, including a maintenance and storage shed

Interior shots of the property show an old control room

The property also includes a  large canteen-style kitchen area

However, a federal notice issued in February 2020 declared the station redundant as it was established when boats lacked engines and were powered by oars and paddles meaning there needed to be more stations in close enough proximity to key areas to perform rescues. 

Now modern, high-speed boats equipped with GPS can respond to calls for Coast Guard help much faster than when stations like Shark River opened.

At the same time, the number of rescue calls has dropped because of boating safety improvements across the country.

The property is being sold via auction, open now, and the closing date has yet to be set.