Ocean City Business Owners: Do It Now

(Note: Tomorrow I'll try to add a post with comments by Ocean City Council members.)

Here are some comments by Ocean City business owners, urging approval of improvements to the Ocean City Convention Center, at the Mayor and Council work session earlier this week. I'll use quotes where I have their exact words, and paraphrase the rest. The comments are listed in chronological order, more or less.

Leighton Moore (Seacrets night club). A fixed-seat "performing arts" auditorium is "vital" to attract current "name" entertainment to the resort. Virginia Beach has several such venues. The private sector can't do it because of the high cost and the need for a large parcel of land. Currently residents of the Ocean City area have to go to Salisbury or Baltimore to see name entertainment.

He said there is no reason for delay. "I don't see any doom and gloom on the horizon for Ocean City."

"Why not have the vote today?" he urged the council. "The funding, as I see it, is already there."

Mr. Moore proceeded to suggest that not only would the town's 1 percent food tax cover the cost of the proposed improvements, the council could cut the food tax in half to .5 percent and still pay off the improvements in 10 years. (City Hall staff confirmed that a .5 percent tax would be sufficient.)

Adam Showell (Castle In The Sand Hotel). "I would encourage you to do it now rather than later." Interest rates are very low now, but could go higher in two years. Local contractors would benefit from the work.

Hotels in Ocean City are under economic pressure, and recent increases in the Maryland state sales tax and room tax make visitors pay more. Cutting the food tax would help a little. Revenue at his hotel was down 6 percent last season, and occupancy was down even more. As a result, he is rolling rates back to 2006 levels.

"It's good to build during a recession," Mr. Showell stated. Interest rates are low, and Ocean City would be ready with the improved convention center when the economy improves.

Palmer Gillis. He noted he is not a restaurant or hotel owner and offers a "different perspective." A venue for the performing arts and visual arts would improve the "quality of life" in Ocean City. The 1,200-seat auditorium would be "an extension of the amenities" in the resort for both visitors and residents. The arts are among the top three factors in economic development. "You understand the connection, the arts and tourism."

William A. Gibbs (Dough Roller restaurants). "I think we need to do this right away. We're hurting." The convention center is very important to provide customers for year-round businesses.

John Fager (Fager's Island restaurant). "This performing arts center is way overdue." The back of the Convention Center (facing the bay) offers one of the best views in Ocean City, and it should be utilized. He urged the council to keep Ocean City moving up, moving forward, keep making the resort better. You have to keep improving or you die, he said.

And one more comment, from the convention point of view:

Frank Underwood (Maryland State Firemen's Association, 35,000 members). The firefighters' convention each June is Ocean City's largest convention. Improvements to the Convention Center would add to the value of the firefighter's convention. He was particularly concerned about sufficient space for the firefighters' memorial service.

"We do not want to leave Ocean City," he said, adding that Baltimore has offered to build a "wave pool" to get the firefighters' convention.