Dear Friends,
City Council last night gave final approval to an ordinance that authorizes the city to negotiate to buy or to take by condemnation the former car dealership lot next to the Ocean City Community Center. This is only the beginning of a process that I hope will result in our acquisition of this land for public use.
If we are able to purchase this land, I will hold a town hall meeting to discuss options for how best to use it. But the immediate goal is to protect the city block being developed with housing before it’s too late. We are not currently considering this location as a potential site for a new public safety building. It will be reserved for open space, recreation or some other public use.
Council also approved a resolution to seek bids on bringing permanent electrical infrastructure to Roosevelt Boulevard at the 34th Street gateway to Ocean City. That will create reliable electrical service for the lights in the trees along the roadway. This started as a holiday display, but the decorations were popular enough the residents and guests have asked that they be lit year-round.
I want to let everybody know about an open house at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 27, at the Howard S. Stainton Senior Center within the Ocean City Community Center at 18th Street and Simpson Avenue. Experts with Ørsted’s Ocean Wind project invite the public to learn more about the environmental, economic and technical aspects of offshore wind in the region. The state recently selected the company for incentives to build a 1,100-megawatt wind project off the coast of southern New Jersey.
I also want to let you know about two great events coming up at the Ocean City Music Pier. The Ocean City Music Pier’s first-ever country music concert will feature the Swon Brothers and Josh Gracin at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 30. And two former Miss America winners, Miss America 2002 Katie Harman Ebner and Miss America 1998 Kate Shindle, will perform as special guest vocalists with the Ocean City Pops on Sept. 4. Tickets for both shows are on sale now at oceancityvacation.com/boxoffice .
I hope you all have a great weekend with family and friends.
Warm regards,
Jay A. Gillian
Mayor
