OCEAN CITY — Magnificent beach views from three levels, custom tiled bathrooms, marble kitchen countertops and stainless steel appliances are just some of the fantastic features of the condominium at 3730 Wesley Ave. in the Southend neighborhood.
With five bedrooms — each with a private deck — and five bathrooms, plus a spacious great room with a lofty, multi-angled ceiling and lighthouse cupola, the home is set to host a large family and friends for a visit to America’s Greatest Family Resort.
Featuring gray cedar shake siding and roofing, the home has curb appeal aplenty, even from the boring street side.
Wesley Avenue is little more than an alley in this part of the island, so the traffic is limited to neighbors waving as they slowly roll by. The home features off-street parking for two cars on the concrete parking pad outside the oversized two-car garage.
The quality of craftsmanship and materials is immediately evident in the stacked-stone foundation that wraps around the home and the square pillars that flank the garage door — a feature repeated on the oceanfront decks.
A concrete walkway leads around the south side, where a small patio includes access to the garage and the home’s main entrance with a keypad lock.
Inside, the quality continues with a chair rail and other custom millwork in the tiled foyer, where the elevator starts its three-stop trip.
Around the corner and to the right is a fantastic cabana room with glass doors opening onto the shady veranda overlooking the beach. Set up as a workout room, it could be known as Oceanfront Gym. The full bathroom is convenient for those exercising or stepping in from a lazy afternoon on the veranda.
Back in the foyer, wood steps slowly wind their way up to the second level along a wall of windows, creating a light, bright space that hints at what’s to come.
The second level includes three well-appointed bedrooms, the first of which offers a beautiful view without having to get out of bed.
Like all of the bedrooms, it features 8-foot-tall solid-core wood doors with faux glass knobs and black hardware and a 9-foot ceiling. Unlike all of the bedrooms, it has a sweeping view of the ocean, a gas fireplace and king-size bed. Double sliding glass doors open onto the private waterfront deck.
There also is a walk-in closet and full bathroom with a two-sink vanity, tiled shower and deep a soaking tub with space alongside for a wine glass.
Heading toward the back of the house, there are two more bedrooms linked by a Jack-and-Jill bathroom. As noted, each has a private deck but the one in the rear features multiple windows filling it with light.
Also on this level is a laundry room with a full-size washer and dryer, cabinets and a stainless-steel sink.
Atop another winding stairway is the great room, with a dining area to the right, kitchen in the middle and living room along the beach.
The kitchen has a wrap-around marble countertop creating barstool seating on the living room side of the space. It has abundant solid-wood cabinets and a tile backsplash.
Thermador appliances include a six-burner range/oven with a hood, side-by-side refrigerator/freezer, dishwasher and wall-mounted microwave.
Beneath a lofty cathedral ceiling with a lighthouse cupola and offering a panoramic view of the beach and ocean, the living room features a sectional sofa and cozy armchair arranged around a gas fireplace with a television above. Double sliding glass doors open onto the sun porch.
Moving toward the rear of the house, the final two bedrooms are identical to those below.
Yet another set of stairs winds it way up to the top level, where a rooftop deck provides a 360-degree view of the island.
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 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.
The Southend neighborhood, from 34th to 59th streets, is narrow with fewer homes and businesses than the center of the island, which makes it the perfect getaway.
Everything needed for a beach vacation is located on the 34th Street business corridor or scattered throughout the neighborhood at mom-and-pop shops.
The Garden State Parkway provides access just across the bridge in Upper Township, so there is no need to schlep through downtown to get there, and all of the attractions that make Ocean City America’s Greatest Family Resort are just a couple of miles away on foot or bicycle.
– By CRAIG D. SCHENCK/Sentinel staff
