Eighteen new single-family homes were listed for sale this week, and the modest structures — “coastal cottages” — are part of a new concept to attract more year-round families to Ocean City.
Instead of building eight duplexes (16 units) on eight vacant lots, the “coastal cottage” plan calls for small houses to share single lots — some accessed by an alley, others by the street.
The properties will be constructed on a vacant tract on the 1200 block of Haven Avenue with asking prices between $499,900 and $649,900.
City Council paved the way for the concept by approving a zoning change in May 2013, and the Planning Board approved the site plan in February 2014.
The board sought to revitalize a block of vacant commercial properties and to test a new offering for year-round families in a town that has seen its year-round population fall as high-priced new duplexes get purchased by investors and wealthy summer residents.
The new “Costeria Cottages” will be very affordable by Ocean City standards for single-family homes and will meet all new flood elevations requirements, according to Gary Jessel of Fox Real Estate, the broker for the properties.
A grassy common area — a “plaza” with a sidewalk — will separate some houses. A new alleyway parallel to 13th Street will separate others.
Architect George Wray Thomas told the Planning Board earlier this year that the impervious coverage (the amount of ground covered by buildings) will be no more under the plan for 18 coastal cottages than it would be under a plan for eight duplexes.
“It’s nice to see more green space around buildings,” Planning Board Chairman John Loeper said at the time.
Each house will have a single-car garage for off-street parking. Living space in the homes ranges from 1,300 square feet to 1,500 square feet.
The homes will be constructed on lots formerly occupied by the Car Caress car wash and Coggins Waste Management). The 42,500-square-foot area has a 370-foot frontage on Haven Avenue and 115 feet on 13th Street.
A homeowner’s association has been established for joint maintenance of the common areas and alleyways.
Jessel said construction on four homes will begin early in the new year and are expected to be complete by summer. New units will be built when properties are purchased. Duncan Homes At The Shore and Costanza Builders (Carmen Costanza) will be the contractors for the job.
The PDFs below show the site plan, facade varieties and pricing, as well as floor plans for different units.
Anybody interested in more information, can call Jessel at 877-626-5369.
