Airport Project Moves Forward In Ocean City

OCEAN CITY, NJ — Ocean City officials discussed plans for a new building at the municipal airport, with Mayor Jay Gillian saying the project recommendation now stands at $7.4 million after earlier versions came in too high.

Gillian said the project at Leon and Elizabeth Grisbaum Airport Terminal has changed over time as the city worked through design issues and construction costs. He said the city received a $3 million donation and had to balance the donor's vision with a design the city could afford to build.

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Initial estimates had the project at $6 million.

"You know, someone gives you $3 million, you listen to it," Gillian said. He said earlier designs were not workable and later bids were "out of control." Gillian said the city then reduced parts of the plan and lowered the building height, which cut costs because "we had to use steel and concrete and then we we lowered it down a little bit. That saved us a ton of money."

According to Gillian, the new facility would include airport operations, a golf pro shop, locker rooms, a lobby, a pilots flight planning room, bathrooms and offices on the lower levels. He said the top floor would be "a full service restaurant with views of runway, wetlands, and bay."

Gillian said the current airport building dates to the 1960s. . He also said donor Leon Grisbaum, 98, wants to see the project move forward.

Councilman Sean Barnes said he supports building a high-quality public asset at the airport despite the price.

"I do think it's really important that we build a first-class asset there," Barnes said. He said construction costs are elevated across projects.

Barnes also said he would like the property to be accessible to the public if federal aviation rules allow it, including a possible place where people can watch sunsets. Gillian said any public access would have to account for FAA requirements because the site is on an airport.