OCEAN CITY – The Ocean City Development Corporation (OCDC) recapped its past year for the Mayor and Council this week and provided a look ahead to upcoming initiatives.
OCDC President Bob Givarz and Executive Director Glenn Irwin presented OCDC’s Annual Report on Tuesday providing an update of its activities pertaining to its façade program, public art, organization and employee housing.
As part of the update, the OCDC requested the continued use of public right-of-way on Somerset Plaza for picnic tables, a bicycle rental business and a Segway/mobility, scooter/beach wheel chair rental business,
According to OCDC, the two leases generate $2,000 each year. For the past eight years, the OCDC has used these funds to pay for special events on Somerset Plaza, and the café pays the Town of Ocean City directly for the tables in the public right of way.
The Mayor and City Council voted unanimously to approve two leases of business use on public right-of-way on Somerset Plaza, funds from the two business leases be used for special event activities on Somerset Plaza and picnic tables in right-of-way for the café at 4 Somerset Plaza.
The OCDC is a nonprofit organization that was formed in 2000 and charged with revitalizing downtown Ocean City. The Town of Ocean City, Worcester County Commissioners, private contributions, membership dues, grants, and fundraisers fund the OCDC.
The OCDC’s 15-member Board of Directors is elected by its membership and is comprised of business owners, residents, and property owners of the downtown area and surrounding areas. The OCDC employs a full-time executive director and an administrative assistant. The OCDC also has 12 committees comprised of members who provide countless volunteer hours and remain the core of the OCDC organization.
According to the OCDC, as of March 1, a total of 147 buildings have been renovated using the OCDC Façade Program in downtown Ocean City south of 17th Street, and there are currently nine façade projects underway.
The OCDC Façade Program has had a tremendous impact on the appearance of many buildings. To date, over $4.8 million has been invested into downtown Ocean City through this program.
These newly renovated projects greatly increase the taxable value thus benefitting all Ocean City and Worcester County residents. Funding for the OCDC Façade Program is made available from the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development’s (DHCD) Community Legacy Program.
For the 2014 year, the DHCD has awarded the OCDC $175,000 for three projects — Façade Improvement Program, Business Assistance Program and decorative street lights for the second phase of St. Louis Avenue from 4th to 10th Street.
The OCDC Business Assistance Program targets vacant commercial spaces and attracts new or expanding businesses to assist with permanent interior improvements with financial assistance up to one third of costs not to exceed $5,000 from the Inlet to 17th St. there was three new businesses assisted in 2013.
OCDC Green Building Initiative Program pays one third of costs up to $5,000 for qualifying businesses to add Energy Star rated windows and doors, insulation, solar panels, wind turbines, etc. There have been 26 projects completed over the past three years with two projects currently underway. There has been over $400,000 in total improvements.
For the last seven years, the OCDC has provided and managed seasonal housing for Town of Ocean City seasonal employees. Since 2007, 13 employees have resided at the Tarry-A-While Guest House that was constructed in 1897 and fully renovated in 2007. Ten additional Beach Patrol employees are provided housing at 110 Somerset Street. Additional employee housing for season city staff for up to 26 people is provided at 105 Dorchester Street. Between its four managed buildings the OCDC manages 42 beds.
A mixed-use project that has been in the works for the past year and is near completion is Fat Daddy’s at 216 S. Baltimore Ave. where a $90,000 Predevelopment Grant was awarded by DHCD. The new Fat Daddy’s building will open in the spring of 2014. It will contain a larger restaurant space, retail bay and employee housing units on the upper floor.
New this year was the OC Clean Sweep held on Nov. 2, 2013 where 40 volunteers, including volunteers from the Ocean City Volunteer Fire Company, and local schools and organizations, walked through the downtown area picking up trash and litter. The OCDC intends to make this an annual event.
Through OCDC’s Public Art Program in 2013, a local artist completed a new wall mural on Washington Lane, north of 2nd Street. An additional utility box was painted at Baltimore Avenue and 15th Street.
Other programs the OCDC offers is a fence program that assists properties in replacing outdated fences, as well as the organization’s assistance in adding boardwalk business directory signs. There are currently five signs on the Boardwalk to help guide Ocean City visitors.