A Tradition Worth Reviving: Moving Houses in Ocean City

A recent article in OCNJ Daily titled Ocean City to demolish old homes for parking highlighted two 100+ year-old homes slated for demolition.

It got us thinking. Did you know that houses in Ocean City used to get relocated all the time, and we’re not talking a few feet? We mean blocks. A house on 3rd Street might end up on 23rd. That was just how things were done.

And size didn’t matter. Neither did the fact that in the early days, the power doing the moving was horses. The grand Victorian at 10th and Pleasure? It used to sit over on Wesley Avenue. They picked it up and moved it. The whole thing.

So what does any of this have to do with two older homes coming down to make way for parking?

Here’s a thought: what if the City offered those houses for free — and someone just had to move them?

Cities do this. It works. Here’s why it makes sense for everyone:

The City avoids the cost of demolition and disposal. The person willing to move the house gets an entire home — a cool, older one — for a fraction of what it would cost to build new, even after factoring in moving costs. No landfill. No waste. No loss of a piece of the city’s character.

There’s even recent local precedent. Not long ago, a house near Pleasure Avenue was moved to the mainland when new owners cleared the lot in Ocean City for new construction. Everybody won.

And if timing is an issue? The City owns land. A house can be set down temporarily while a permanent site is arranged. The demo savings alone make it worth the logistical effort.

Just an idea worth floating.

Do you know of a house in Ocean City that was relocated? We’d love to hear about it — reach out to us at friendsocnj@gmail.com!.