Ocean City Theatre Company Gets New Home at 15th and West

A city-owned property at the corner of 15th Street and West Avenue in Ocean City, NJ, is the new home for the Greater Ocean City Theatre Company. In a unanimous vote on Thursday, City Council gave final approval to leasing a city-owned building at 15th Street and West Avenue to the the nonprofit Greater Ocean City Theatre Company (OCTC) for $1 a year. The property is a vacant building used by the city in recent years only for the storage of records and city equipment. The theater company will create a performing arts facility used to run its youth theater camps for the city, to stage rehearsals for its full calendar of productions throughout the year, and to create a base for costuming and props. It would not be a location for live performances — which would continue to be staged at the Ocean City Music Pier, Performing Arts Center at Ocean City High School or other locations on the island. Council on Thursday approved the second and final reading of an ordinance that authorizes the five-year lease. The vote was 6-0 with Council President Tony Wilson recusing himself because he is a member of the OCTC Board of Directors. Councilman Pete Guinosso said he had toured the facility with Assistant to the Mayor Jim Mallon and said "it looks pretty good." The property had been remediated for minor flood damage after Superstorm Sandy and was tested again for mold. The proposed lease (see Agenda Packet for the full text of the lease and ordinance) requires OCTC to accept the property “as is,” and pay for utilities, repairs and maintenance of the interior. The city will maintain the exterior and roof of the building. At Guinosso's request, Mallon to met with OCTC representatives to make sure they were aware of the condition of the building. At Thursday's meeting, OCTC President Aimee Schultz thanked Mayor Jay Gillian and City Council "for giving us the opportunity to continue our mission." "We're super-excited," she said. The lease will allow OCTC to consolidate “four different locations on the island under one roof and to function with a little more financial stability,” according to Artistic Director Michael Hartman. OCTC is funded entirely through ticket sales and donations. The company produces musicals with professional talent, and it runs a junior company that features area youth. OCTC performers are a staple of parades and events throughout the year, and OCTC runs educational programs in the local schools. The lease also requires OCTC to provide emcee services at parades and city-sponsored events throughout the year.