Ocean City Breaks Ground on 60 New Affordable Homes

Pecks Beach Village project aims to revitalize aging housing and provide modern, energy-efficient units for low- and moderate-income families.

Apr. 1, 2026 at 5:38pm

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Ocean City officials and community leaders gathered on March 25 to break ground on the Pecks Beach Village project, which will bring 60 new units of affordable housing to the city's Fourth Street neighborhood. The $31 million development will replace aging, flood-prone buildings with modern, energy-efficient duplex-style homes that will blend into the surrounding area.

Why it matters

The Pecks Beach Village project is a significant investment in affordable housing for Ocean City, which has struggled with housing affordability and displacement, especially after the impacts of Hurricane Sandy in 2012. The new development aims to provide safe, high-quality homes for low- and moderate-income families who might otherwise be priced out of the resort town.

The details

The Pecks Beach Village project will feature 15 new buildings with 60 total units, replacing the original 1960s-era structures that had become outdated and prone to flooding. The $31 million development is being funded through a mix of state and federal resources, including $25.7 million in bond funding, tax credits, and cash subsidies from the New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency. The new homes will be built to modern standards for energy efficiency and safety, providing an elevated level of affordable housing in the region.

  • The groundbreaking ceremony took place on March 25, 2026.
  • The original Pecks Beach Village housing was built in the 1960s.

The players

Bobby Barr

Cape May County Commissioner and chairman of the Ocean City Housing Authority.

Jay Gillian

Mayor of Ocean City.

Antwan McClellan

New Jersey State Assemblyman.

Melanie Walter

Executive director of the New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency.

Ronald Miller

Executive director of the Ocean City Housing Authority.

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What they’re saying

“This is a vision that has been 10 years in the making.”

— Bobby Barr, Cape May County Commissioner and chairman of the Ocean City Housing Authority

“I'm happy to see these new homes get started. I've always been proud of the fact that we always take care of each other.”

— Jay Gillian, Mayor of Ocean City

“Ocean City has always done a great job of preserving the history, preserving families. That's the most important thing in America's Greatest Family Resort.”

— Antwan McClellan, New Jersey State Assemblyman

“Knowing there's new housing being built to provide access to families that have lived in Ocean City over the years, people who may have lost their homes during Sandy, it's really a beautiful thing.”

— Melanie Walter, Executive director of the New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency

“This new development, 60 modern, duplex-style affordable housing units, is our answer to that challenge. It stands as a testament to what can be accomplished when a community commits to doing what is right.”

— Ronald Miller, Executive director of the Ocean City Housing Authority

What’s next

The Pecks Beach Village project is currently under construction, with the new affordable homes expected to be completed and ready for occupancy by the end of 2027.

The takeaway

The Pecks Beach Village development represents a significant investment in affordable housing for Ocean City, providing modern, energy-efficient homes for low- and moderate-income families and helping to address the city's longstanding challenges with housing affordability and displacement, especially in the wake of natural disasters like Hurricane Sandy.