Editorial: Business community’s narrative worked
Council didn’t want to appear indifferent to business fears Some in the audience at the Dec. 4 City Council meeting were surprised by the reversal of the August vote on the Wonderland Pier property that is home to a defunct amusement park. Others were shocked. We weren’t shocked. We didn’t know exactly how it was […]
Mita’s hotel thrown a lifeline
After marathon meeting, Ocean City Council reverses course from August, sends Wonderland to planners Editor’s note: This is an updated version of the story that appeared online Friday at ocnjsentinel.com OCEAN CITY — After three hours of public comment Thursday night, City Council members spent another hour providing excruciatingly detailed rationales before they voted 4-3 […]
Ocean City Council throws lifeline to hotel project, boardwalk merchants
4-3 vote reverses 6-1 decision in August; Wonderland parcel will be sent to Planning Board for review OCEAN CITY – After three hours of public comment Thursday night, City Council members spent another hour providing excruciatingly detailed rationales before they voted 4-3 to refer the Wonderland Pier parcel to the Planning Board to determine if […]
Last-minute Wonderland effort: Business leaders ask City Council to act
Mita says if referral vote not approved, hotel project is done OCEAN CITY — Developer Eustace Mita and representatives of all of Ocean City’s business groups made a last-minute pitch to have City Council vote Thursday evening to refer the Wonderland Pier site to the Planning Board to determine whether it’s “an area in need […]
Our View: Will council change its mind on Wonderland?
Is City Council going to change its mind Thursday evening over the future of the former Wonderland Pier amusement park site? In spite of what seemed a definitive vote in August and subsequent support for a comprehensive study on that property, this is a resolution that just won’t die. Critics allege shady backroom dealing and […]
Wonderland property back for a vote Thursday
Mita believes silent majority speaking up; venue moved to Music Pier to accommodate expected crowd OCEAN CITY — City Council expects another big crowd Thursday when members will have the opportunity to vote again on whether to refer the Wonderland Pier amusement park property to the Planning Board to determine whether it is an area […]
Levchuk: Revisit City Council vote on Wonderland site
Asks for support to get resolution on upcoming agenda OCEAN CITY — The longer the former Wonderland Pier site sits empty, the worse things are going to be for merchants in the north end of the boardwalk and around the city, Councilman Jody Levchuk said. “I think we need to discuss putting this back to […]
Norcross family puts in $25 million bid for Wonderland site
Second offer coming from major homebuilding company OCEAN CITY – Eustace Mita confirmed Friday afternoon that the Norcross family has put in a $25 million offer to buy the Wonderland Pier amusement park site and that he is expecting another offer from a national home-building company. Mita purchased the site for $14 million in early […]
Mayor asks for public comment session to be respectful
Gillian also calls out critics who threatened him politically, questioned transparency OCEAN CITY — Before Thursday night’s public comment to precede a vote on the former Wonderland Pier property, Mayor Jay Gillian asked the people packing Ocean City Council chambers to be respectful. He used the occasion to fire back at critics who he said […]
Citizens support hotel at Wonderland Pier site
OCEAN CITY — The following are some of the comments, mostly paraphrased, by citizens supporting the Ocean City Council resolution to refer the Wonderland Pier property to the Planning Board at the Aug. 21 meeting: — Caitlin Quirk, a downtown business owner, said city business groups voted overwhelmingly to support Eustace Mita’s proposed hotel, noting after […]