OCEAN CITY — The Ocean City Development Corporation (OCDC), a quasi-public organization charged with directing the revitalization of the historic downtown area of the resort, presented its annual update to city officials last week.
Among other things, the OCDC’s mission is to oversee several aspects of the ongoing revitalization of the resort’s downtown area. It obtains grants for various initiatives, most notably the highly successful façade program, and holds sway over many major redevelopment projects in the downtown area, such as the new Ocean City Beach Patrol headquarters that opened last year for example.
The OCDC also reviews site plans for private sector new development projects proposed downtown, helping to ensure they fit in with the larger goals in the various sections of the downtown area. The organization also oversees demolition and renovation projects and often secures grants and other funding sources to help finance the project.
The OCDC also conducts an extensive public art campaign, has been instrumental in the model block program, which went completed will revitalize and rejuvenate an entire block in the downtown area, and also sponsors various successful special events. In short, the OCDC is essentially the eyes and ears for the city on the revitalization of the downtown area.
OCDC Executive Director Glenn Irwin and President Chris Trimper provided the council with its annual report during last Tuesday’s work session. The presentation included an outline of the many initiatives completed in the last year as well as a host of ongoing programs and projects expected to be completed in the coming year.
From modest beginnings years ago, the OCDC now boasts 139 members serving in 12 different committees, all focused on achieving the organization’s revitalization goals. In 2015, the OCDC was selected as the Non-Profit of the Year by the Ocean City Chamber of Commerce.
Perhaps the signature initiative for the OCDC is the highly successful façade program. To date, 117 aging and dilapidated buildings in the downtown area have been revitalized through the program, resulting in $5.8 million private sector investment in the downtown area. Through the façade program, the OCDC has been able to leverage private to public investment at a ratio of 6:1. Currently, there are three façade projects underway.
There is also a green element to the OCDC’s efforts. The organization has been able to successfully implement several environmental initiatives with its many projects including Energy Star-rated doors, windows and “cool” roofs. To date, 33 environmentally friendly projects have been completed with five more already underway. Irwin said he was particularly pleased with the progress of the “cool roof” program.
“That has been very successful,” he said. “We’ve seen a lot of really terrible roofs in the downtown area being replaced.”
The OCDC also oversees a strategic demolition program in the downtown area with many projects completed or underway. For example, under the OCDC’s direction, the old Fat Daddy’s property on Baltimore Ave. was demolished and remodeled. In addition, the old Royalton Hotel just last month was demolished and a new and improved Royalton will rise in its place.
The OCDC is also involved in many projects that don’t involve development and redevelopment downtown. For example, the organization is the primary sponsor of a variety of special events including the popular Sunset Park Party Nights. Events this year include a Summer Kick-Off Concert on June 23, a new Air National Guard Concert on July 3 and the O.C. Cruzer events on Somerset Plaza. In addition the wildly successful first-ever Shore Craft Beer Fest last October will return again in 2016.
The OCDC also sponsors various public art projects in the resort, including the successful utility box painting project and most notably the dolphin statue at the entrance to the resort at Route 90. The OCDC also sponsors the annual OC Clean Sweep program each fall with residents joining a cleanup of the downtown area.
“As you can see, not all of our projects area brick and mortar,” said Trimper. “We’re getting people downtown excited about cleaning up and pitching in.”
The OCDC has been successful in finding creative ways to fund many of its initiatives. For example, on Tuesday, the organization was granted permission to renew the leases for several private enterprises on the Somerset Street plaza. The OCDC leases space in the town’s right-of-way on Somerset Street for various businesses such as bicycle, Segway, mobility scooters and beach wheelchair rentals on the plaza.
In addition, one existing restaurant on the Somerset Street plaza leases space for outside tables and chairs, and Irwin said two new food service operations are seeking similar leases. The revenue generated from the leases on Somerset Street is reinvested in the OCDC’s various programs and initiatives. The council approved renewing the leases for 2016 last week as well.