Massive 111-Unit Luxury Condo Project Could Transform Ocean City Beachfront

Massive 111-Unit Luxury Condo Project Could Transform Ocean City Beachfront

OCEAN CITY — A massive luxury condominium project more than a decade in the making could soon change the face of Ocean City's Boardwalk district.

The proposed Soleil Resort, planned for a nearly two-acre property at 1101 Ocean Avenue, has received final site approval and a state CAFRA permit, clearing major regulatory hurdles for a six-story, 111-unit condominium-hotel development.

The property sits directly across from the historic Flanders Hotel and just steps from the Ocean City Boardwalk and beach.

For now, however, the site remains a parking lot.

That could change soon.

The property is being marketed for sale, with an asking price of $25 million. But representatives for the current owners have indicated that if a buyer isn't found, they could move forward with construction themselves, potentially breaking ground as early as September 2026.

A six-story luxury resort

Plans call for 111 two- and three-bedroom condominium units, each measuring approximately 1,100 square feet. The units would include private balconies, with covered porches planned for first-floor residences.

The development would be constructed in three phases.

The first phase would include 35 units in an east tower built above a roughly 400-space parking garage. A second phase would add 29 units in a west tower, followed by 47 additional units in a north tower.

The project is being designed as more than a traditional condominium complex.

Plans include a swimming pool and sun deck, rooftop space, a fitness center, spa, concierge services, room service, 24-hour security and an on-site café or restaurant.

The development would also offer a managed rental program, allowing condominium owners to rent their units to visitors when they are not using them themselves.

That could create a different type of short-term rental option for Ocean City, where many visitors traditionally rent entire homes or apartments for a week at a time.

Project broker Eric Booth told the Philadelphia Business Journal that the individual units could sell for approximately $1 million to $2 million, depending on the unit and its location within the development.

A project years in the making

The Soleil proposal has had a long and sometimes contentious history.

The Ocean City Planning Board rejected an earlier version of the development in 2016. A subsequent court ruling found that the denial was unreasonable and determined that the proposal met the requirements of the redevelopment area.

The project subsequently received approvals, with the Ocean City Planning Board granting final site-plan approval in 2021. A state CAFRA permit was also obtained, clearing another major hurdle for construction.

Despite those approvals, the property has remained undeveloped.

In 2025, the owners placed the property on the market, offering a potential developer the opportunity to purchase the site along with the already-approved project.

The listing described the development as a rare "shovel-ready" opportunity in one of the Jersey Shore's most valuable locations.

A dramatic change for the Boardwalk

If built as proposed, Soleil would be one of the largest new developments in the heart of Ocean City's Boardwalk area in decades.

The six-story building would also stand considerably taller than the typical low-rise development found throughout much of Ocean City, making it highly visible from the beach and Boardwalk.

The project would replace a large surface parking lot with a resort-style development featuring private residences, hotel services, restaurants and recreational amenities.

It is also located next to Playland's Castaway Cove and across from the Flanders Hotel, placing it directly in one of the busiest areas of the city's tourism district.

The Soleil proposal comes as Ocean City considers other major changes to its Boardwalk area, including plans for a new hotel at the former Wonderland Pier site.

For Soleil, however, the immediate question is whether a buyer will step forward to take over the approved project.

If not, the current owners have indicated that construction could begin as early as September.

After years of approvals, legal battles and delays, the long-discussed Soleil Resort could finally be approaching its next major milestone: construction.

For now, though, the site at 1101 Ocean Avenue remains a parking lot — with an approved 111-unit luxury resort waiting for someone to build it.

South Jersey NewsBeat will continue to follow the Soleil Resort project as its future develops.