A New Development Could Transform One of Wildwood’s Largest Boardwalk Parking Lots
As the old song goes, “They paved paradise and put up a parking lot.” But in Wildwood, a newly filed development application is proposing the exact opposite.
Located at the corner of Lincoln and Ocean avenues, just steps from the Boardwalk, sits a pretty expansive surface parking lot formerly known as Smitty’s Parking.
A New Development Could Transform One of Wildwood’s Largest Boardwalk Parking Lots
This block has seen a ton of development over the past few years. You may recall that on the other side of the lot is The Point Tiki bar that opened up just a few years ago.
Prior to that, the Ocean Sands motel stood in the place of The Point.
For years, Smitty’s Parking property has served thousands of visitors looking for convenient parking near Morey’s Piers and the beach. Now, that parking lot could soon become the site of a new residential development.
According to a public notice filed with the City of Wildwood Planning/Zoning Board, the applicant is seeking approval to construct a 16-unit multifamily residential building complete with a private swimming pool and additional site amenities.
Also See: Restoration Begins on Wildwood’s Historic Tram Car #8
Here is what we know about the project so far.
The property is located within the city’s Tourism (T) Zone, where residential developments are permitted only if they meet specific zoning conditions.
Because the proposal does not meet all of those conditions, the developer is asking the Planning Board to grant a conditional use variance.
In addition to the conditional use variance, the application requests several bulk variances, including:
- Reducing the front yard setback along Ocean Avenue from the required 5 feet to just 1 foot.
- Reducing the front yard setback along Atlantic Avenue from 5 feet to 3 feet.
- Allowing a side yard setback of 5 feet where 10 feet is normally required.
- Increasing lot coverage from the maximum permitted 80% to 81%.
- Permitting a private swimming pool within a front yard, which is ordinarily prohibited.
Which, if you are reading that properly, sounds more like a motel, but this is not a motel.
If approved, the project would replace one of the larger surface parking lots in the Boardwalk area with residential housing, continuing the trend of redevelopment occurring throughout Wildwood.
Unlike many recent projects that involved demolishing aging motels, this proposal would instead redevelop an existing commercial parking lot into a new residential complex.
Side note: During the 1980s, there was a building of some kind on the Northern part of the block at the corner of Atlantic and Lincoln Aves. Does anyone remember what it was?
The application is scheduled to be heard by the City of Wildwood Planning/Zoning Board on Monday, August 10, 2026, at 6:00 p.m
What do you think of this project? Let us know