OCEAN CITY – The Ocean City Development Corporation has received a total of $350,000 from the state to fund several projects in downtown Ocean City from decorative lighting along St. Louis Avenue to demolition of the Model Block to make way for a fresh start.
Ocean City Development Corporation (OCDC) Executive Director Glenn Irwin announced on Thursday the OCDC is receiving a total of $150,000 through the State of Maryland’s Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) Community Legacy program and $200,000 though the DHCD Strategic Demolition and Smart Growth Impact Fund program.
The OCDC was awarded $100,000 to fund decorative street lighting in the third phase of the St. Louis Ave. Street Enhancement Project and toward installing LED lighting in the downtown area.
OCDC also received $50,000 to fund the continuation of the organization’s Façade Improvement Program and also increase energy efficiency of older buildings in downtown Ocean City between the Inlet and 17th Street.
“The OCDC is very pleased with the two grants just announced from the State of Maryland. The $50,000 grant for the Façade Improvement Program will allow us to continue this very successful program. The $100,000 grant for the purchase and installation of decorative street lights to be placed on St. Louis Avenue is the largest amount of funding that we have received of these three phases of construction. These concrete spun decorative street lights with LED lighting add a lot to the appearance of St. Louis Avenue,” Irwin said.
To date, over 150 downtown buildings have been renovated using OCDC’s Façade Improvement Program. The OCDC Green Building Program has been merged into the Façade Program and that allows energy efficient products such as Energy Star rated windows and doors and “cool roofs” to be made part of the overall improvements.
Phase III of the St. Louis Ave. project commenced this fall and the total project will be completed over the next two years. The grant will fund decorative lighting fixtures that will pay for the third phase lighting from 4th to North Division streets.
The OCDC believes this decorative pedestrian light is a better fit than the much taller cobra head lights for the residential character of St. Louis Ave. The street light fixtures from the earlier phases have been an enhancement to the overall street project. It is also consistent with the OCDC goals of improving the pedestrian environment in the downtown area.
In addition to just adding decorative street lights to St. Louis Ave., the total figures also include adding LED heads to existing lights between the Route 50 Bridge and Somerset Street as well as the 1st Street parking lot. These LED heads are more energy efficient than the existing street light heads and thus will be less costly to operate.
The Community Legacy Program is a highly competitive funding mechanism for local governments and community development organizations for important projects that will strengthen local communities, supporting housing and homeownership goals and attracting and retaining businesses.
A few hours later last Thursday, OCDC received word it had been granted $200,000 though the DHCD Strategic Demolition and Smart Growth Impact Fund program for demolition funds towards a Model Block project located between Somerset and Dorchester streets.
DHCD Strategic Demolition and Smart Growth Impact Fund are awarding $7.5 million to benefit 27 projects in 12 counties and Baltimore City. Those funds are expected to leverage an additional $178 million in public, private and philanthropic investments.
“This award gives the OCDC the funding to commence demolition of several buildings in this inner block. The consolidation of properties to attract an anchor project in the inner blocks of downtown Ocean City was one of the OCDC’s earliest envisioned projects in 2000. This award for demolition of several buildings allows this project to move forward. This will be a joint project of the OCDC and Town of Ocean City,” Irwin said.
The grant for OCDC will fund demolition of nine structures on the Dorchester/Somerset block between Baltimore and Philadelphia avenues commonly referred to as the Model Block.
Currently, the Model Block holds the Ocean City Beach Patrol (OCBP) headquarters and employee housing. Recently the town approved the construction of a new headquarters to be built across the street on the corner of Talbot St. and Philadelphia Ave., which broke ground a few months ago.
The OCDC, working with the Town of Ocean City, has long envisioned the assemblage of several properties with the intent of attracting a redeveloper to construct a mixed use project in the core of the downtown area.
The OCDC anticipates demolition of these buildings in Fall of 2015 once the OCPB moves into the new headquarters, and will be seeking development interests for this future redevelopment project.
The grant will prevent the organization from having to use Inlet Parking Lot funds, which are allocated to OCDC for revitalization efforts, and if a developer doesn’t come along right away OCDC plans on using the properties for paid parking following demolition.