OCEAN CITY — Located midway between Wesley and Ocean roads, the traditional two-story single at 331 E. Seabright Road is in the heart of the Gardens section of America’s Greatest Family Resort.
That means it’s set among the winding, pedestrian-friendly streets of the popular neighborhood, which is a destination rather than a thoroughfare.
Encompassing the island’s north end, the section grew from a migration of the Great Egg Harbor Inlet that wiped out the first 10 streets in Longport on the other side.
Set in the shadow of the iconic Ferris wheel at Gillian’s Wonderful Pier, its location gives the area a sense of privacy, a feeling of separation from the comfortable chaos going on just a few blocks away on the world-famous boardwalk.
Yet its close enough that the scent of caramel popcorn, pizza and other treats wafts by on the gentle breeze.
The front of the three-bedroom home features a grassy yard with a long concrete drive to the left leading to the rear, where there is a two-car attached garage — a basketball net firmly secured overhead.
Jutting out on the right, the living room shelters the covered porch from an east wind, creating a cozy spot. The awning adds to the appeal.
Mulched beds with seasonal shrubs line the front while a concrete walks lead up to the porch, where a door with a leaded-glass window opens onto the foyer.
Inside is original narrow-plank hardwood flooring and a handsome set of oak stairs. A closet to the left has double sliding doors.
The first floor of the 2,630-square-foot home has a good flow, allowing access to the kitchen via a hallway to the left, where there is a powder room, or through the formal living and dining rooms to the right.
The carpeted living room is like a peninsula, but in this case bordered on three sides by windows, bathing the space in natural light. It has a couple of sofas and chairs, with plenty of space for other furnishings.
“There’s a spacious living room for entertaining opportunities with loads of natural light flowing throughout,” the write-up on the property states.
A wide doorway leads into the dining room, where there are oak crown molding and chair rail. A sideboard is within reach of a long wood table that seats six.
Just steps away, the eat-in kitchen features abundant solid-wood cabinets and a deep garden window. A Frigidaire Gallery dishwasher is to the left of the stainless-steel sink, while a four-burner gas range is set in the countertop beneath a microwave. To the left are a built-in double oven and two-door refrigerator with freezer drawer. A walk-in pantry closet in beneath the stairs, next to a glass table with four chairs below a lighted ceiling fan.
Back in the foyer, the hallway leads to a T, leading left to the master bedroom and bath and right to the kitchen.
The bedroom has wall-to-wall carpeting, a king-size bed and floor-to-ceiling mirrored closet doors. Next door, the bathroom has tile on floor, halfway up the walls and inside the tub/shower.
Back in the kitchen, another doorway leads in to the office/laundry room, where there is a built-in desk as well as a full-size washer and dryer, cabinets and a utility sink.
There also is a doorway into the family room, which has a brick wood-burning fireplace with a wood mantel and built-in curio cabinet.
A sliding glass door opens onto the sunroom, which is completely planked in wood — walls and ceiling — where there aren’t windows, which include six casements plus four skylights.
The wooden stairs in the foyer ascend to the second floor, where there is a bedroom to the left and right of a bathroom.
The rooms are identical, each having two full-size beds, except in their décor. The right one is painted with an undersea motif.
There’s also a walk-in cedar closet across from the bathroom.
Extras include a three-zone gas-powered hot water baseboard heat and two-zone central air conditioning, as well as an oversized garage with loft storage.
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, stretching from Second to Fourth streets 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 property is listed for $2,299,900 with Dean Chorin and Leslie Harshaw of Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices, Fox & Roach Realtors. Call (609) 602-0313 or (609) 685-4951 for more information or to set up an appointment to see this wonderful home.
By CRAIG D. SCHENCK/Sentinel staff