By MADDY VITALE
A home at 615 Wesley Ave. in Ocean City may have been spectacular years ago. Built around 1902, it may have been stately and demanded a second look with a presence of three stories of Edwardian-era architecture that rivaled any other home on the block.
Now, the deteriorating home in the city’s Historic District may one day be demolished if it isn’t sold. The asking price is $899,000.
The house has five bedrooms and 4.5 baths. It has been classified by the city as a “key building” in the Historic District, the highest ranking for historically significant structures.
For over a year, a group made up of neighbors, historians and others interested in preserving history have fought for the owner to clean up and maintain the property. They held a meeting to discuss their concerns in the last month.
The city heard their concerns and cited the owner, RJGVB LLC of Shippensburg, Pa., with a litany of violations. And this week the owner responded, saying that the property will be cleaned up, according to an email exchange between city official Michael Allegretto, aide to Mayor Jay Gillian, and Historic District resident Jay Hogan.
Hogan sent an email to the city, dated Aug. 20, saying, “To date, our neighborhood has seen no action on the continuing need for clean up at 615 Wesley.”
He further stated his appreciation with how the city has handled the matter.
“We are all thankful for the steps taken last week by the city administration in notifying the owner of the city’s expectations regarding their responsibility in this regard,” he said in the email. “We trust that you will continue to pressure the owner to end the unsightly blight in our community.”
Hogan received a quick reply from Allegretto stating that “the property owner has acknowledged receipt of the 08/12/21 Notice of Violation citing numerous outstanding property maintenance violations.”
Allegretto informed Hogan that the owner has “verbally advised code enforcement that he is willing and able to take corrective action.”
RJGVB LLC has until Thursday, Aug. 26, to clean up the property. Avery Teitler, an Ocean City attorney representing RJGVB, could not be reached for comment this weekend.
Some of the items within the violation notices include removal of grass and weeds from sidewalks and gutters and repair and maintain the front stairs, front deck, rear deck, side stairs, overhang extensions, fence and chipped and peeling paint. In addition, the city wants the owner to repair and maintain shingles as well as roof repairs.
On Saturday, it appeared that the owner has started working to clean up the property. The grass was mowed and a tree looked as if it was recently cut back.
The city’s code enforcement office will re-inspect the property on Thursday to check that all of the items have been addressed, Allegretto said in his email to Hogan.
“If items are not addressed, code enforcement will take the necessary next steps for compliance,” Allegretto said.
Hogan shared Allegretto’s email with the group, noting the positive news after a yearlong battle.
“I believe we’re on the way to a satisfactory solution. Hooray!” Hogan said.
The Historic District stretches between Third and Eighth streets and Central and Ocean avenues. Homes from the late 19th and early 20th centuries line the streets.
The district is governed by ordinances designed to preserve the character of the neighborhoods near the Ocean City Tabernacle, where Ocean City was founded and first settled.
