Abandoned Wildwood Lot Could Become Parking Garage
Finding a parking spot near the Wildwood Boardwalk could look very different in the future.
Cape May County is taking its first steps toward what could eventually become a multistory parking garage just off the Boardwalk.
During the Sept. 22 Cape May County Board of County Commissioners meeting, officials introduced a bond ordinance to purchase the property located at 321 E. Cedar Avenue in Wildwood.
Abandoned Wildwood Lot Could Become Parking Garage
The property, which sits on the beach block just steps from the Boardwalk, is a little over an acre and had been listed for sale for $4.5 million.
Right now, the county is only looking to purchase the property. A parking garage has not officially been approved, and there are currently no plans showing what one could look like or how many vehicles it could hold.
But county officials say they needed to move now before the property was sold and potentially developed into something else.
Wildwood Is Losing Parking Lots
This is an issue we have been following for some time here at the Wildwood Video Archive.
Over the past several years, we have watched many of the Wildwoods’ surface parking lots disappear as properties are sold and redeveloped. (we are possibly seeing a few lots going away next year)
And there could be more on the way.
According to Cape May County, private parking in the tourism district has dropped by about 20% from its peak.
The county says roughly 60% of parking in the tourism district is still located on privately owned surface lots. Four parking lots are currently listed for sale, and one is already under contract for housing.
Also See: The Rook Wildwood Listed for Sale for Nearly $4 Million
This becomes a much bigger issue when you consider just how many people visit the Wildwoods every year.
The county estimates the Wildwoods can see as many as 14 million visits annually.
Could Wildwood Finally Get a Parking Garage?
Parking garages have been talked about in the Wildwoods before, but nothing has ever made it past the discussion stage.
This time, there is at least a specific property on the table.
Along with introducing the bond ordinance, Cape May County created a committee specifically to look at parking options for the Wildwoods and what could potentially be done with the Cedar Avenue property.
The committee will bring together representatives from Cape May County, the City of Wildwood, the Greater Wildwoods Tourism Improvement and Development Authority and the South Jersey Transportation Authority.
The South Jersey Transportation Authority is an interesting addition since it already has experience operating parking garages, including the multilevel garage at Atlantic City International Airport.
Still, there is a long way to go before anyone starts building.
There is currently no timeline for a parking garage, no design and no construction price.
One of the biggest things officials will have to figure out is how to pay for it.
County officials say they want any future parking operation to make financial sense, with money collected from parking helping cover the cost of purchasing the property, operating the facility and paying off debt.
You May Remember This Property
If you have been coming to Wildwood for a long time, there is a good chance you already know this property.
The Cedar Avenue site once had a go-kart track on its elevated portion and has also been used for arcade and parking operations over the years.
Today, it sits in an extremely valuable location only steps away from the Boardwalk.
That location is also exactly why county officials believe they have to act now.
With the amount of development taking place around the island, there is no guarantee that a property like this would remain available for very long.
The next step comes on Oct. 13, when the county is expected to hold a public hearing and final vote on the bond ordinance connected to purchasing the property.
After that, the bigger conversation begins.
Does a parking garage make sense here? How large should it be? How much would it cost? And most importantly, can it generate enough money to pay for itself?
Those are all questions that still need to be answered.
But with more parking lots disappearing throughout the Wildwoods, it is clear why officials are trying to address the problem now rather than waiting until there are even fewer places left to park.