OCEAN CITY – The City Council has introduced a $6.3 million bond ordinance, with $3.3 million for the purchase of two parking lots adjacent to the municipal lot behind City Hall and $3 million for boardwalk improvements.
The purchase of the lots will add 44 parking spaces near the downtown Asbury Avenue shopping and dining district. Plans also call for reserving some of the spaces for the sole use of the Police Department while the public safety building is being renovated.
Mayor Jay Gillian said, “Opportunities like this are rare, and we will always be ready to take advantage.” Several council members at the Sept. 12 meeting where the measure was introduced called the proposal very good news.
The 44 spaces will augment the 77 available in the municipal lot.
The city is buying the land from Raj and Yogi Khatiwala of Crown Holdings, LLC. The brothers purchased the old Crown Bank Building and three adjacent lots in 2023.
The $3 million in the bond ordinance for boardwalk enhancements will be used in conjunction with $5 million for such improvements provided by the state.
The bond ordinance is scheduled to come up for a public hearing and final vote at the council meeting on Sept. 26.
Contact the reporter, Vince Conti, at vconti@cmcherald.com.
