FIRST LOOK at Proposed Wildwood Hotel

FIRST LOOK at Proposed Wildwood Hotel

It was first revealed last month that a new hotel might be coming to Wildwood, New Jersey, following the submission of a new application to the city’s zoning and planning board.

The application pertains to 5200 Ocean Avenue, the former site of the Windward Motel.

Over two years ago, the motel was severely damaged by a fire that began in one of the second-story rooms on the southern wing of the building.

High winds and rain made it challenging for crews to extinguish the flames.

The Wildwood Video Archive documented the event, capturing drone footage of the crews working hard to put out the fire. You can watch that video at the bottom of this article.

Since then, the building has remained abandoned. The only significant work done during this period was the erection of a fence to keep out unwanted visitors and the removal of mattresses.

A “For Sale” sign eventually appeared on the property, stating, “Opportunity! 23 Unit Motel. 120′ Ocean Ave – X 100 Deep Lot.”

Many speculated that the building might be converted into condominiums or refurbished to become a condotel.

A condotel, or condo hotel, is a type of real estate development that combines the features of a condominium and a hotel.

The property sold for $1,725,000 but then sat idle again, with no activity besides the removal of the fence.

However, there is good news. According to new filings, the space will be demolished to make way for a new hotel.

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The application specifies “the intent of the applicant to construct a 24-unit hotel building over a 26-space parking lot,” with a pool located on the second level.

Although the application was scheduled to be heard on May 14th, it was postponed to a later date.

The WVA decided to visit the planning and zoning office to get a glimpse of the new hotel’s design.

One of the latest trends on the Jersey coast is the construction of covered parking on the ground level. This design maximizes parking within the building’s existing footprint.

For this project, 26 parking spaces will be provided on the ground level, indicating that each unit will have one space, with two additional spaces for employees of the proposed café.

The ground floor will also feature a hotel lobby, a service area, storage units, and bike storage.

Since E Bennett Ave is a one-way street heading east, the driveway entrance will be on Bennett, with the exit on Ocean Ave.

On the first floor above the ground level, there will be four units and a pool and entertainment area. Each floor above that will house five units.

This hotel will break away from the traditional L-shaped design typical of many hotels. Instead, all rooms will be located on the western side of the lot, with most offering ocean views. The building will feature a mix of 2-bedroom and 1-bedroom units.

Those who appreciate Doo-Wop design will be pleased to see that this building will incorporate mid-century modern aesthetics.

The south elevation will include a building flare, where a portion of the building extends outward or widens as it rises, creating a distinctive visual effect. This, along with other features, will help maintain the Doo-Wop feel.

At this time, there is no name officially on this property. The drawings only indicate “5200,” which is just the building number.

Please note that this application is not final yet, and changes could still occur. The WVA will keep you updated on any developments.

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