OCEAN CITY — The three-story home at 101 W. 14th St. combines the benefits of life on the bay with those of living off the beaten path just a clam shell’s toss from all of the action.
“This home is ideal for a family who truly loves life on the water,” listing agent Tim McLaughlin said. “Enjoy seamless indoor/outdoor living and entertaining with views of stunning sunsets from the kitchen, living area and decks and direct access to the bay from your backyard.”
Set on the corner of Pleasure Avenue and 14th Street, the modern single was designed to let natural light flow in from three sides as the sun makes its way across the summer sky.
The handsome home has a variety of exterior features — brick pillars and border walls, stucco and cedar-impression siding — that combine for a cohesive look, as well as multiple facets that take advantage of the sights and sounds of the sea.
Off 14th Street, a set of slate and concrete steps ascends to the entrance, where a door with leaded-glass and side panels opens into a tiled foyer.
A glass door to the left leads out to the shady veranda with space for dining and relaxing after a long day of play on the bay. Steps lead up to the bulkhead and dock with four slips, including two boat lifts, while a spiral staircase leads up to the bayfront porch overlooking 68 linear feet of frontage on Great Egg Harbor Bay.
Back in the foyer, there is access to the garage as well as a hall leading to a powder room with a pocket door.
Wood stairs with a carpet inlay rise to the second floor, where three double sliders in the great room provide a panoramic view of the bay.
Light from the sliders as well as windows on both the 14th Street and Pleasure Avenue sides combine with the 9-foot-high ceiling to make for an open, welcoming space to gather for meals and discussion of the day’s adventures. The sliders open onto the covered waterfront porch with an unobstructed view of the bay.
The dining area in the back corner features a table that seats eight and a bar with a Sub-Zero beverage refrigerator. It is just steps away from the kitchen, where more seating is provided at the large center island.
The kitchen features abundant white KraftMaid cabinets with granite tops, including the island with its two-basin sink and pendant lights.
High-end appliances include a Bosch dishwasher, Wolf induction range with a hood, double Wolf wall ovens and Sub-Zero refrigerator/freezer.
A hall leads back to the first of four ensuite bedrooms, as well as a second powder room and the laundry facilities.
Just off the kitchen, a second set of stairs rises to the third floor, where there are three more bedrooms.
The primary suite is in the back left, where a double slider combines with windows on the side and front to fill the room with light. The doors open onto a private sun deck with a view of the open water and Cowpens Island, which shelters the docks from the worst storms. The room features a king-size bed, walk-in closet and full bathroom.
In addition to two other bedrooms, the third floor features a built-in deck in the hall on the way to the front bedroom — even on vacation some people need to work.
Ocean City is one of the most popular shore resorts on the East Coast, featuring an oceanfront boardwalk filled with hundreds of shopping, dining and entertainment venues, as well as miles and miles of pristine beaches.
A great location doesn’t only mean beachfront or bayfront on this 8-mile-long island — there are 10 distinct neighborhoods, each with its own characteristics.
The beach and boardwalk — 2.5 miles of oceanfront entertainment, restaurants, thrill rides and souvenir shops — get most of the attention in this seaside resort, but the island has much more to offer.
An award-winning downtown stretches from Sixth to 14th streets along Asbury Avenue and has expanded onto other nearby streets, offering more than 100 shops and cafes.
There’s also the popular watersports district around Third Street on Bay Avenue, where the brave can rent powerboats, go parasailing, join the crew of a pirate ship and take a kayak tour of the back bays. Private and party boat fishing tours are also available.
The Gardens is popular with many for its slow pace, huge beaches and winding, pedestrian-friendly streets. The Riviera, stretching from 16th to 23rd streets along Great Egg Harbor Bay, is a boater’s paradise with many Mediterranean-style homes set right on inland lagoons. The Central neighborhood is bustling with businesses both downtown and on the boardwalk, while the Northend contains many of the island’s historic homes. The Southend is narrow with fewer homes and room to stretch out, while Merion Park and OC Home feature wetlands and wildlife along with wonderful sunset views. The Goldcoast has some of the best beachfront homes on the island, set behind a mighty system of dunes for protection.
Located in the Central neighborhood, the home is just blocks away from all of the action downtown and just a short bike ride away from the boardwalk.
Bonuses include two sources of heat — two new HVAC systems and a six-zone hot water radiant heat system throughout.
Even in the high summer, parking is no problem since there is room for two cars on the concrete pad accessed from two sides, as well as one inside the garage and multiple spots on the streets.
– By CRAIG D. SCHENCK/Sentinel staff
