60 units of affordable housing being built on Fourth Street
OCEAN CITY — The groundbreaking March 25 was symbolic for Pecks Beach Village, given that the ground is about as broken as it can get with scores of piling already pounded into it, but the officials saw plenty of reason for the celebration.
“This is a vision that has been 10 years in the making,” said Cape May County Commissioner Bobby Barr, who is chairman of the Ocean City Housing Authority.
The project is bringing 60 units of affordable housing to Ocean City for low- and moderate-income families to Fourth Street between West and Simpson avenues.
Barr said the project actually goes back to Hurricane Sandy that displaced residents of the housing project in 2012.
“These buildings are very low, they’re very old. We worry about these buildings even on a sunny day, where it floods here on a sunny day.”
He thanked Mayor Jay Gillian and members of Ocean City Council for getting the residents back home safely from the storm.
“That’s really what started all of this. It started a vision when I came on board at the Housing Authority in 2016 of how are we going to reimagine the Housing Authority.”
Barr said it began with the renovations at Bayview Manor, the construction of the Speitel Commons senior housing at Sixth Street and other scattered sites around town.
“This was a long time coming,” he said.
In turn, Gillian thanked Barr and the Housing Authority board “that has done so much.”
“I’m happy to see these new homes get started,” the mayor said. “I’ve always been proud of the fact that we always take care of each other. I remember when Superstorm Sandy hit and the Pecks Beach families were scattered.
“I want to get these families back in their homes,” he added. “We were able to provide 32 new units for seniors who lived here in Pecks Beach Village” and fixed up homes and residences at Bayview Manor.
“Now we’re breaking ground with 60 new homes for families here at Pecks Beach,” Gillian said. An important part of the new construction is making sure these new units blend into the whole community and match the rest of the neighborhood.
Assemblyman Antwan McClellan said his parents raised their family in Pecks Beach Village until they were able to move around the corner to West Avenue.
“Ocean City has always done a great job of preserving the history, preserving families,” he said, adding that’s the most important thing in America’s Greatest Family Resort. “I wish the people under that gold dome in Trenton worked together like we managed to work together around here with the county partners and our council.”
“Not only are we going to have 40 families that are going to get new homes, we’re going to be able to bring 20 additional families to this island,” McClellan said. “That’s families who want to have the dream and be closer to work, single parents who want the opportunity for their kids to go to the great schools we have here and maybe even veterans that are looking for a place to lay roots and learn what Ocean City is all about.
“These homes are going to be dreams for people … and make sure our schools continue to be successful,” he said.
“When you cross the bridge coming into here, that’s a guarantee that you will be taken care of. Whoever is your neighbor, your friend, your cousin, the administration, will continue to make sure that we reach to and look out for you,” McClellan said.
Melanie Walter, executive director of the New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency, marveled over the project.
“Knowing there’s new housing being built to provide access to families that have lived in Ocean City over the years, people who may have lost their homes during Sandy, it’s really a beautiful thing,” she said. Walter talked about the “momentum” in the community that included not just the affordable housing, but taking care of seniors.
“This idea is that this is a cohesive community. It’s not just scattershot development. It really speaks to the strength of the team here and the work that’s being accomplished,” she said.
On an island filled with million-dollar homes, this is creating an opportunity for families who would not otherwise be able to buy in Ocean City.
“Having the opportunity to live and grow and stay in this community is so incredibly impactful,” she said.
One of the wonderful things that came out of the Affordable Housing Production Fund, Walter said, is the program that supported this project.
“We often talk about what you can’t put a price on and you can’t put a price on the opportunity in your community,” she said. “But I can put a price on a building and we put about $25.7 million through HMFA through bond funding and tax credits and cash subsidy to make this project happen. And we were able to do that because of federal resources that came to bear after the pandemic.”
The total cost of the project is $31,099,387 according to Ronald Miller, executive director of the Ocean City Housing Authority.
Referring back to Sandy and the flooding that came with it, Walter said, “So when I see a project that’s taking that into mind, it isn’t just going to be beautiful today, but will be beautiful and safe for the next years. I can’t tell you how incredibly impactful that is.”
Dave Hanrahan and Gregory Matuson, presidents of the Century Savings Bank based in Vineland and Sturdy Savings Bank based in Cape May Court House, respectively, talked about their role in supporting the investment.
“This is such a good project, such a good example of a public and private partnership,” Hanrahan said. “We’re really happy to be part of it. Thank you for picking us to be your equity partner in this.”
He pointed out how Century reached out to Sturdy because of the size of the investment.”
“As everyone has said today, it’s taken years of vision and persistence to reach this milestone and we’re proud to stand with you as this project moves ahead,” Matuson said. “We’re breaking ground today on the most ambitious form of housing project in the city’s history.”
He said the project is particularly meaningful to him.
“I grew up here in Ocean City as an adult. I live just a few blocks down the road. Having walked these streets as a neighbor, I have a deep appreciation for the character of this area and for the people who call it home,” Matuson said. “At Sturdy Savings Bank, our success is tied to the strength of our neighbors. Being able to contribute to the revitalization of the very neighborhood where I live is a privilege.”
Miller wrapped up the speeches before the officials picked up gold-bladed shovels for the symbolic ground breaking.
He pointed out that Pecks Beach Village was originally built in the 1960s and served generations of families, but time, storms and changing conditions made it clear the old buildings didn’t meet the standards the residents deserve.
“This new development, 60 modern, duplex-style affordable housing units, is our answer to that challenge,” he said. “It stands as a testament to what can be accomplished when a community commits to doing what is right.”
He said when finished, there will be 15 buildings that will “blend seamlessly into the neighborhood” — safe, energy-efficient homes built to modern standards.
“When these homes open, they will not only be replacing aging structures, they will elevate the standard of affordable housing in our region,” Miller said.
He thanked all of the partners responsible for bring the project to fruition.
– STORY and PHOTOS by DAVID NAHAN/Sentinel staff
