Seasonal housing project moving a little further with support of Worcester County Commissioners

OCEAN CITY, Md.- Financial help from the state of Maryland could make a workforce housing project in West Ocean City a reality.

“We are going to lose a tremendous amount of employees, possible employees I should say due to the fact that J1 students can’t find a place to live,” Joe Mitrecic, President of Worcester County Commissioners, said.

“It is an ever impending need and one that I mentioned that cannot be continually pushed down the road,” Lachelle Scarlato, the Executive Director of the OC Chamber of Commerce, said.

Holtz Companies is trying to bring a dormitory-style housing project to the area to make up for the lack of seasonal housing options for J1 workers. This project could cost up to $80 million and the company is asking Worcester County Commissioners to get on board, as they request assistance from the state, Secretary Kenneth Holt, of Housing and Community Development, to float a bond issue.

Commissioners ended up voting 5-2 to to support Holtz’s request.

“We support this, we support student housing for the county and for the town of Ocean City,” Commissioner Mitrecic, said.

Scarlato said this is a necessary step to solving the local housing crisis, and bringing more revenue to the resort town, and as real estate costs soar this could keep housing prices affordable for J1 workers.

“The cost of real estate acquisition, build out, management of such a facility would provide for a challenging return on investment for anyone who would build that out in trying to keep the seasonal housing affordable,” Scarlato said.

“We know that we are at a time and place where if this issue is not rectified the regionally economy as whole will suffer,” Scarlato said.

Putting this bond package together is something that’s going to take months, if the state approves. It will also be done through a non-profit entity.