This commercial building at 204 Seventh Street would have been renovated for the doggie hotel and daycare center if the project had received approval from the zoning board.
The developer of what would have been Ocean City’s first doggie hotel and daycare center has put the building up for sale just three weeks after the project failed to gain zoning approval.
The two-story commercial building at 204 Seventh Street in the downtown business district is listed at $879,900.
Goldcoast Sotheby’s International Realty, the company handling the sale, said the building offers about 5,500 square feet of space and is one of the largest warehouses in town.
“It’s hard to find storage space on the island. I think it’s a big place for storage,” said Pete Madden, who is broker-owner of Goldcoast Sotheby’s and also serves as City Council president in Ocean City.
Madden called the $879,900 sale price “fair.”
The building has hit the market following an attempt by developer Jake Gallagher to convert the site into a doggie hotel and daycare center.
Gallagher and his representatives appeared before the city’s zoning board on March 20 to seek approval of a use variance needed to develop the doggie hotel.
Culminating a lengthy hearing that elicited impassioned comments from both opponents and supporters of the project, the zoning board fell one vote short of granting the variance.
The vote was 4-3 in favor of the project, but five affirmative votes – a so-called “super-majority” – were needed for the use variance.
Gallagher could not be immediately reached for comment Monday. Madden said Gallagher was disappointed by the zoning board vote and apparently has decided not to appeal it.
“It was a good business idea. But you move on,” Madden said of Gallagher’s decision to sell the property after the doggie hotel project did not gain enough support.
The commercial building includes about 5,500 square feet of interior space and is one of the largest warehouses in Ocean City. (Photo courtesy of Goldcoast Sotheby's International Realty)As originally proposed, Gallagher’s project would have included 31 indoor dog kennels, interior dog runs and an outdoor synthetic turf area approximately 400 square feet in size.
Altogether, there were plans to handle 30 dogs per night at the hotel and 20 more at the daycare center, for a maximum of 50 dogs in the building at any given time.
Gallagher, who wanted to open the doggie hotel in partnership with his brother, Kevin, made two major concessions during the March 20 zoning board meeting in hopes of quelling neighborhood opposition to the project.
He said he would eliminate the outdoor play area for dogs to cut down on the noise from barking. He also said he would reduce the number of dogs allowed in the hotel from 30 to 25 per night.
However, opponents of the project, including residents and business owners in the area of Seventh Street, expressed concerns about excessive noise from barking, odor problems and the possibility of neighbors’ lawns being fouled by dog excrement.
There were also members of the public who turned out in support of the project. They said a doggie hotel is badly needed in Ocean City and would be another attraction to help draw tourists to town, especially the ones who have trouble finding pet-friendly vacation accommodations.
After scrutinizing the project and listening to the public comments, the zoning board fell just one vote short of granting the use variance for what would have been the first doggie hotel and daycare center in Ocean City.
A new ordinance approved by City Council on Jan. 23 has opened the door to the possibility of a dog hotel and doggie daycare center if the owner can first secure a zoning variance.
This aerial photo shows the gray-colored building's location on Seventh Street in Ocean City's downtown business district. (Photo courtesy of Goldcoast Sotheby's International Realty)
