OCEAN CITY — Few homes anywhere can boast 200 feet of bay frontage like the fantastic Mediterranean-style mansion at 283 Bayshore Drive in the popular Riviera section of America’s Greatest Family Resort.
Calling it a boater’s paradise — with its unimpeded views, three boats slips and easy access to the open ocean — would be a disservice to the home, which would be simply amazing anywhere it was located.
“This absolutely spectacular bayfront mansion sits on one of the most desired waterfront properties in South Jersey with … a complete 180-degree panoramic view capturing its breathtaking water and sunset views,” listing agent Patrick Halliday said during a recent visit.
While the bay side of this home gets all of the attention, it has curb appeal aplenty from the cul-de-sac out front, with its terraced gardens bursting with colorful flowers, paver brick walks, towering front doors and terracotta shingles.
Running up the right side, the driveway leads to a two-car garage with a tile floor and access to the three-stop elevator.
Beyond is a gated fence, ensuring children and pets do not wander off from the grassy backyard.
A raised boardwalk runs the length of the property along Great Egg Harbor Bay and provides access to the dock and boat slips. The extensive yard includes multiple seating areas on the paver patio and an in-ground swimming pool.
Just steps away is the expansive screened-in patio more than 120 feet long that is outfitted with a large bar for entertaining. As though one deck measuring more than 120 feet long were not enough, there’s a matching deck along the second floor living area.
Back out front, the tall mahogany double doors swing open into a stately foyer with a 20-foot-high ceiling that extends into the living room with custom coffered detail. The open floor plan of the 4,923-square-foot home offers a bay view from the front door.
“This home is a true masterpiece, offering an unmatched level of detail including custom-laid tile flooring with radiant heating, incredible trim work from floor to ceiling, rich Brazilian cherry flooring and more,” Halliday said.
Featuring a gas fireplace, the living room has glass doors leading out to the screened porch, providing abundant natural light.
The kitchen and dining area are to the left, separated only by a bar with stools for overflow seating. Abundant Wood Mode cabinets line one wall and make up a center island with a stone top and stainless steel sink. A dishwasher is to the right.
Other appliances are a Sub-Zero refrigerator, five-burner range, double oven and under-counter microwave. The backsplash is a rustic tile.
Also at this south end of the home a bedroom, laundry room, pool cabana kitchen and a full bathroom that opens to the back yard. This area was also designed to accommodate in-law’s quarters if needed.
On the north side of the living room are a powder room, large parlor and another bedroom currently set up as an office.
The parlor features a large bar with seating for four, along with an ice maker, wine refrigerator and beverage cooler. A door opens directly to the bar in the screened porch, where there’s room for another group to belly up to the bar.
The bedroom at this end of the house features a coffered ceiling and multiple windows overlooking the bay.
Back in the foyer, a handsome curved staircase custom built from Brazilian cherry with a carpet inlay rises along the front wall, lighted by the multiple windows overlooking the street.
On the north side of the home, the primary suite boasts a large bed chamber, two walk-in dressing rooms and a spa-like bathroom with double vanities, a walk-in shower and soaking whirlpool tub overlooking the water.
The opposite end of the second floor offers three large bedrooms and the second laundry room. Each of the bedrooms has a king-size bed and a private bathroom with custom tile flooring and showers.
Ocean City is one of the most popular shore resorts on the East Coast, featuring a 2.5-mile-long oceanfront boardwalk filled with hundreds of shopping, dining and entertainment venues, as well as miles and miles of pristine beaches. There also is an award-winning downtown business district centered on Asbury Avenue and a watersports district around Third Street on Bay Avenue.
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 Riviera, stretching from 16th to 23rd streets along Great Egg Harbor Bay, is a boater’s paradise with many luxurious homes set right on inland lagoons, providing a safe anchorage for pleasure boats as well as a great place to go kayaking or paddle boarding. It’s a destination rather than a throughway, meaning traffic is limited to neighbors and guests.
The home is perfectly positioned to take advantage of the island’s most popular event, the Night in Venice boat parade and house decorating contest held in mid-July each year.
– By CRAIG D. SCHENCK/Sentinel staff
