OCEAN CITY — The cheery, light and bright condominium at 810 Asbury Ave., Unit 305, is being offered fully furnished and equipped — just bring a bathing suit, towel and tooth brush for a fantastic shore vacation.
Located in The Asbury atop Stainton’s Gallery of Shops, the 1,250-square-foot home couldn’t be more downtown, with shops lining both sides of the street for blocks in either direction.
Shopping, dining, fitness studios and professional office space are literally just steps away from this home, which was part of a major remodel of the building, which has been a mainstay on the avenue for decades, in 2016.
“No detail was overlooked during the construction and design process completed in 2016,” listing agent Gray Haenn said.
Didn’t come to the island for shopping? No problem, as the boardwalk, beach and bay are just a couple of blocks away in America’s Greatest Family Resort.
Access to the property is via keypad-locked doors in the front off the street and rear off the alley, both leading into a tiled lobby with cathedral ceilings featuring cozy sofas and armchairs and Ocean City-themed art.
An elevator, along with stairwells on either end, provides access to the residences on the third floor, as well as professional office space on the second.
But don’t get the impression that the atmosphere is cold and unwelcoming — quite the contrary. Doors along the central hallway were decorated in fall themes during a recent tour, allowing each homeowner a little personal style and creating a pleasant space.
Inside Unit 305, which features two bedrooms, two bathrooms and an open great room, it is immediately evident why these homes are so popular.
“High-quality construction and custom finishes include central air and heat, a designer kitchen with quartz countertops and stainless-steel appliances,” Haenn said.
The door opens into a tiled foyer, offering an ocean-facing view through double windows that let the light flow into the space. The layout and abundant natural light, coupled with the 9-foot ceiling, creates a feeling of spaciousness.
Just to the right, the kitchen is both functional and fashionable, with white quartz counters atop black solid-wood cabinets. Frigidaire appliances include a dishwasher to the right of a deep stainless-steel sink with a garbage disposal, four-burner range with a glass cook top and oven, Microwave and refrigerator with crushed ice and filtered water in the door.
A counter with four stools separates the kitchen from the central dining area, where a table for four awaits the next great meal.
The tile flooring gives way to engineered hardwood in the living room, which takes up the front section of the space and features a sectional sofa and several chairs.
French-style doors open into the primary bedroom, which has two front-facing box windows, a queen-size bed and dual closets. Another set of French doors opens into the ensuite bathroom, which has a vanity with dual sinks and one-piece fiberglass tub/shower with sliding glass doors.
The second bedroom, set up now for children, has bunk beds and a twin but could easily be converted to accommodate older guests.
Conveniently located just off the dining area, the hall bathroom has a small vanity and fiberglass shower with a swinging glass door.
The final room in the home has a stacked washer and dryer and water heater, as well as room for cleaning supplies.
Off-street dedicated parking for one vehicle is provided in a lot off West Avenue, with convenient access to the rear of the building.
Additional amenities include a ground-floor bicycle storage room, an assigned cage storage unit on second level and the shared sky bridge with views of the ocean.
Ocean City is one of the most popular shore resorts on the East Coast.
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 Bay 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.
– By CRAIG D. SCHECNK/Sentinel staff