Owner Asks Public for Ideas for Lot at 9th and Wesley

The owner of a vacant corner lot at the heart of Ocean City is inviting citizens and city officials to a public meeting to share ideas for the property.

Matt Dice, a co-owner of a half-acre lot at the corner of Ninth Street and Wesley Avenue, is trying to sell the property and listing it at $3.25 million. But because of the lot's prominent location on the Ninth Street gateway to Ocean City and adjacent to the city's downtown shopping district, Dice is suggesting the future of the property is a matter of public interest.

At a public meeting Thursday, Dice showed City Council members a site plan that included 74 parking spaces. He asked the city to consider purchasing the lot as a way to address a lack of downtown parking.

"I know this would be a good long-term investment for the city," Dice said.

Dice invited City Council, the city administration and the public to a meeting 7 p.m. Thursday, July 19, in Room 116 at the  to share ideas for the future of the property.

Dice announced plans last summer for , a development of duplexes and triplexes on the lot, which was once home to the landmark Strand Hotel and Bookers Restaurant. One duplex unit was constructed, but the remaining lot — 201 feet by 120 feet — .

Tax records (2011) from taxrecords.com show an assessed land value for 832A B C D E F Wesley Ave (a 116-foot-by-120-foot portion of the property) of $895,300. It had been assessed at $1,074,400 between 2008 and 2010.