OP Beach Club Renovations Move Forward

OCEAN PINES – Ocean Pines Association leaders agreed to move forward with plans to renovate the second floor of the Ocean Pines Beach Club.

On Saturday the Ocean Pines Association (OPA) board of directors approved a motion to issue a request for proposals for improvements to the second floor of the beach club. The board will review the proposals at its December meeting.

“I’m 100 percent behind this,” said Doug Parks, president of the board. “It’s been deferred too long.”

The motion to move ahead with improvements was introduced by Director Slobodan Trendic, who said that the first step would be to have Matt Ortt Companies, which runs the beach club, develop a desirable scope of work for the project. He said improved second-floor conditions would make the club more marketable.

“Much of the poor condition of the second floor is caused by years of neglect and deferred maintenance,” Trendic said. “Many of the original windows are inoperable and some are leaking, causing water damage to the floor. An outdated room design and the overall layout presents a challenge for Matt Ortt Companies to market this beautiful space to the OPA membership.”

Director Ted Moroney asked whether Matt Ortt Companies should provide a business plan before renovations were done.

“What is the return on investment?” he said.

Director Esther Diller said the company was eager to supply a business plan. Director Frank Daly said the work needed to be done regardless, as windows were leaking and the décor dated to the 1960s. He said that when he visited in August the club wasn’t even busy.

“No resident was in there because it’s not usable,” he said. “This is ridiculous.”

Parks agreed that the work was needed and that any improvements would only make the amenity more successful.

General Manager John Bailey said Matt Ortt Companies was eager to see improvements made but needed sometime to develop a scope of work. At Bailey’s suggestion, the board agreed to approve plans to have proposals in by the end of October. He will review the proposals with the board at the regularly scheduled December meeting.

About The Author: Charlene Sharpe

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Charlene Sharpe has been with The Dispatch since 2014. A graduate of Stephen Decatur High School and the University of Richmond, she spent seven years with the Delmarva Media Group before joining the team at The Dispatch.