By Maddy Vitale
Picture this: You’re sitting in a comfy chair, sipping a fresh brewed latte at a bayfront coffeehouse in Ocean City, taking in a spectacular sunset, while a musician sings a tune and strums on an acoustic guitar.
The location, 200 Bay Ave. in Ocean City, boasts a large lot and deep-water boat slip and awaits the perfect buyer. There are residential, rental and commercial possibilities in this mixed-use property, so there is something for all buyers seeking bayfront property.
Architect Chris Halliday, from Halliday Architects in Ocean City, drew up plans for a Nantucket-inspired boathouse, to give potential buyers an idea of what could be built on the property, called “The Boathouse,” because of the rendering.
“You could make it a coffee house, a restaurant, a boating supply business – the options are endless on what you can do there. It is anywhere your imagination takes you,” said Ray Clark, a real estate agent from Keller Williams in Ocean City, handling the sale.
He said the plans, a little like staging when a home is decorated and furnished to give a potential buyer an idea of what to do with the space, helps potential buyers see what can be done with the property.
“It helps educate people and gives them a visual of what they can do,” Clark said of the plans from Halliday Architects. “We can show the potential buyer the artist’s rendering.”
The rendering is for a 2½-floor building on a 50 foot-by-100 foot lot. On the first floor, is 1,350 square feet of commercial space and 2,100 square feet of spacious living on the upper 1½ floors. The residential area has three bedrooms and 2.5 baths. There is also a 1,195 square foot deck.
A buyer can also opt for another style home and use it for residential only, but would need zoning board approval, Clark said.
The parcel, owned by Scarborough Properties of Ocean City, was listed in October for $1,050,000 million as “a unique waterfront opportunity.”
Clark said there has been a lot of interest in the property since it was listed, and it certainly is a special piece of land, in part, because of the various things a buyer can do with it.
There are panoramic views of the bayfront that unfold from the property. The deep-water boat slip really adds to the property’s appeal and is a big selling point, Clark said. “It is so deep, you don’t have to worry about the dredging,” he noted.
In addition to commercial use, the property has an abundance of opportunities for residential living.
“Imagine if you owned a fishing boat. This property is great for someone like that. They can hang all the fishing stuff on the bottom floor and also have a space for cleaning their fish,” Clark said. “It would be their boathouse.”
Clark’s wife, Sara, is also a realtor for Keller Williams handling the property. As a lifelong Ocean City resident and former paddle board instructor, Sara Clark believes the project is something needed for a long time.
“It is the perfect spot for a bayfront activity,” she said. “You can go fishing, paddle boarding, kayaking. It is a great way to fill a void. Ocean City doesn’t have enough for the bayfront.”
The Clarks said the plans are perfectly suited for the 200 Bay Ave. parcel. However, a buyer purchases the land. From there, the customer can do what he or she wants with the property so long as it fits into zoning and planning regulations.
The Clarks also agreed there are many kinds of buyers out there. But this property is suited for many tastes.
People can use it for rental income, or own the business on the bottom floor and live on the top floors.
“It’s perfect for people who want to live on and work on the bay,” Ray Clark said.
“This is a unique property,” Ray Clark said. “There are so many great possibilities for a buyer.”
Anyone interested in touring the property should call Ray Clark at 609-226-0267 or Sara Clark at 609-385-8031.
