Ocean City Infrastructure Updates: Police Substation, Boardwalk Progress, and Beach Prep

Ocean City’s January 9 Mayor’s Update included several items that matter for how the town functions heading into spring and summer: the new Boardwalk police substation is close to opening, demolition bids are moving forward for the old police station site, Boardwalk reconstruction is ahead of schedule, and the City is actively managing north-end beach erosion while working on replenishment funding.

These aren’t “headline-grabbing” stories, but they shape the lived experience of Ocean City—traffic patterns, safety presence, and even the confidence people have going into peak season.

Boardwalk police substation: what’s confirmed

The Mayor reported that Ocean City received an elevator permit for the new police substation at Eighth Street and the Boardwalk, with remaining approvals expected by the end of the following week. Police are expected to move in later in January.

From a practical standpoint, that means a stronger safety footprint in the highest-foot-traffic corridor, especially during events and peak weekends.

Old police station site: demolition and temporary parking

The same update states that City Council approved going out to bid for demolition of the main police station on Central Avenue. The plan is to add temporary parking for the summer while designs are completed for a new public safety building.

This is one of those “small sentence, big impact” items: parking supply is always a pressure point in Ocean City, and short-term solutions can materially affect daily congestion patterns in season.

Boardwalk reconstruction: timeline confidence

Ocean City’s update said Boardwalk reconstruction is ahead of schedule and “should be done in plenty of time for our spring events.”

That matters because Boardwalk work affects:

• Access for businesses and pedestrians

• Event logistics (crowd flow, staging, vendors)

• Perception for early-season visitors deciding whether to come in spring

Bridge lights and transportation coordination

The Mayor also noted that the state’s contractor is working to repair lights on the Ninth Street Bridge and that NJDOT has been keeping the City updated.

This is a reminder that some Ocean City quality-of-life factors sit at the intersection of local and state responsibility—especially bridges and major corridors.

Beaches: sand harvesting now, replenishment funding later

Ocean City said it is still harvesting sand to rebuild north-end beaches and continuing to work with federal and state officials on funding for a full-scale beach replenishment.

The Mayor’s language was clear on the intent: “no matter what,” the beaches will be ready for summer.

Why these updates matter for real estate decisions

If you’re buying, selling, or holding property in Ocean City, infrastructure and operations aren’t background noise. They affect:

• “Ease of use” for a second home (parking, access, disruption)

• Short-term rental experience (guest perception, convenience)

• Long-term maintenance confidence (is the town investing consistently?)

None of these items guarantee price movement one way or the other, but they do influence desirability and friction—two things that show up in real life well before they show up in statistics.

Micro-FAQ

When is the Boardwalk police substation expected to open?

The Mayor said police should be able to move in later in January after remaining approvals.

What’s happening at the old police station site?

Demolition bids are being solicited, with temporary summer parking planned while a new public safety building is designed.

Is the Boardwalk reconstruction on track for spring?

The City reported it is ahead of schedule and should be done in time for spring events.

Sources:

City of Ocean City (Mayor’s Update — January 9, 2026)

If you want to talk through how these kinds of infrastructure moves affect “decision quality” for a specific street, block, or use case (primary vs second home vs investment), you can reach me here: https://www.lexyrealtygroup.com/contact