OCEAN CITY — Those looking for a spacious shore getaway close to all of the action need look no further than the pristine second-floor condo at 1002 Central Ave.
Sporting two suites and three guest rooms, a hall bathroom and an open great room for gathering to talk about the happenings of the day — and plans for tomorrow — the home is perfect for a growing family and a couple of friends.
“Five bedrooms and three full bathrooms provide plenty of room for guests, making this the ultimate beach retreat or investment property,” listing agent Burt Wilkins said.
Standing tall on the corner of 10th Street and Central Avenue, the home is just one block from the southern side of the downtown business district along Asbury Avenue.
Known as the Central neighborhood, the area is bustling with businesses both downtown and on the boardwalk just a couple of blocks away, making it a highly walkable part of the island.
Parking the car and leaving it there in favor of walking, biking or driving an electric vehicle is advisable — certainly in the summer months when the city is teeming with tourists — as everything and anything wanted or needed is right around the corner.
Ocean City is one of the most popular shore resorts on the East Coast, featuring an oceanfront boardwalk and 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 water sports 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.
Built in 2016, the duplex features everything sought after by today’s discerning buyers.
“This home offers modern living with classic shore charm,” Wilkins said.
A well-maintained grassy yard with extensive shrubbery and other landscaping borders the home. Around the corner, a private entrance off 10th Street features an enclosed staircase and direct access from the garage.
A steppingstone path leads from the main walkway around to the enclosed outside shower, the perfect place to wash sandy bodies and bathing suits.
Inside the main entrance, a tiled foyer provides a place to sit and remove shoes, hang wet towels and shake off loose sand. One door opens onto a closet that was custom-built for installation of an elevator, while another leads to a second tiled area outside the garage.
Wood steps double back on themselves as they rise to the home, a window lighting the final flight.
A solid door opens into the light and bright great room, where the 12-foot-high ceiling slopes down to each side.
Wide-plank flooring runs east and west throughout the space, so the only delineation is the furniture and lighting.
“The large great room flows seamlessly between the living area, dining space and gourmet kitchen,” Wilkins said.
The sitting area is to the left and takes up about half the space. A large sectional sofa wraps around a gas fireplace with a wood mantel and large-screen television, if one can find time to watch it in America’s Greatest Family Resort.
Windows flank the fireplace and a double set overlooks the front porch, which is accessible through a sliding glass door on the ocean side of the home — but more on that later.
Clearly set up to feed a crowd, the dining area in the other front corner features eight pendant lights hanging from high above two wood tables butted up against each other to form a large square with eight handsome wood and leather seats.
Overflow seating is available just steps away at the large granite-topped island, where three pendant lights hang above.
Wood Aristokraft cabinets are situated along two walls, with more granite countertop and a rustic tile backsplash. Stainless steel Frigidaire appliances include a dishwasher to the left of the sink, a five-burner gas range/oven with a microwave oven above and a two-door refrigerator/freezer.
The home also features storage space, as there is a pantry closet and coat closet in the great room, along with the large walk-in that would hold the elevator cart.
Looking to get outside? The fantastic front porch offers plenty of space for dining and relaxing. As a bonus, the section along 10th Street is open to the sky for those who want to have fun in the sun.
“Enjoy the wrap-around balcony and covered porch, ideal for morning coffee and cocktails after the beach,” Wilkins said.
Down the hallway toward the rear are two spacious bedrooms plus a tiled hall bathroom with a dual-sink vanity, tub and shower.
The third standard bedroom is sandwiched between the two suites in the rear.
On the right, the junior suite has a queen-size bed but could accommodate a king is desired, while the bathroom has a tiled shower with frameless sliding glass doors.
The primary bedroom on the left features a king-size bed and bathroom with a dual-sink vanity, as well as a sliding glass door opening onto a private rear deck overlooking the business district.
– By CRAIG D. SCHENCK/Sentinel staff
