As a former Ocean City resident, This Is Getting Harder to Ignore for New Jersey visitors

For over 100 years, Ocean City has been known as "America's Greatest Family Resort", with hundreds of thousands of visitors coming to the popular South Jersey Shore Town every summer.

But I am someone who knows more about Ocean City than just being a visitor to the renowned OC Boardwalk. I used to live in Ocean City for six years, and have family who lived on the island for over 15 years as well. So I have personally seen the shore town transform over the last three decades.

I understand change is a part of life, and Ocean City, like many Jersey Shore Towns, are no different:

*No longer is there a SuperFresh SuperMarket at 16th Street and Simpson Avenue
*I miss Wards Pastry on Asbury Avenue between 8th and 7th Streets
*The 34th Street Market was were you could rent bikes to ride around Ocean City, then bring come back to get some fresh produce to bring home with you afterwards
*I remember the "Gasoline Alley" with Shell, Sunocco, Mobile, Getty, Exxon, Hess, and BP gas stations between West Avenue and the bridge on 9th Street

But the reality is that nothing lasts forever, and I understand Ocean City is no different. Many New Jersey Shore Towns have seen major changes in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy and the business of the Jersey Shore had to make hard pivots because of the COVID-19 Pandemic Lockdowns.

I don't mind change and evolution as long as they are a win-win for the South Jersey community. But in 2026, Ocean City is dragging their feet to bring the Shore Town into the modern age.

There are three redevelopment projects that are in limbo on the island:

*Soleil Resort on Ocean Avenue and 11th Street is maybe, hopefully beginning construction later this year after decades of rumors and speculation
*The Seaspray Condominium is an eyesore at the corner of 34th Street and Bay Avenue, with plenty of motorists driving past this condemned property each day wondering when it will get torn down
*City Council will have a closed-door meeting to discuss the latest litigation about the potential redevelopment of the abandoned Wonderland Pier at 6th Street and the OC Boardwalk. The drama has negatively impacted both boardwalk businesses and the community as a whole.

While other Jersey Shore communities have embraced the new age of resort hotels, Ocean City has potentially three different projects dragging their feet. The seasonal rentals market has outpriced many potential vacationers, and some have turned their attention to these "all-inclusive" resort properties.

Don't get me wrong, I am not a "fan" of Shore Jersey Coastal Communities changing from quaint, small town vibes into endless cookie-cutter properties and buildings. But I also understand how important the seasonal economy is for the Jersey Shore, and essential for so many small business owners.

Ocean City needs to stop letting petty politics, litigation based on circular reasoning, and self-aggrandizement keep getting in the way for what is best for the Shore Town. And any reasonable person who has lived in Ocean City or frequently visited OC can all agree that abandoned buildings and vacant businesses are no good.

From the permanently closed McDonald's on 9th street to the condemed Seaspray Condo on 34th street, do better Ocean City, because many of us want to love you again. Until then, I've been spending most of my summer elsewhere.