Developer updates Somers Point council on Bay Avenue paddle club, homes and affordable apartments

Sean Scarborough, a project representative, updated the Somers Point City Council on the status of three Bay Avenue developments: the Summers Point Paddle Club, the Salt House single-family homes and the Salt Creek affordable apartments.

"I wanted to give the council an update on the three projects that we're building on Bay Avenue," Scarborough said, opening a slide presentation of construction photos and a timeline.

Scarborough showed sequential photos of framing and pool installation. He said crews have installed four pools on the paddle-club site—"two big pools and two big spas"—and that the pools were recently shot with gunite, a milestone for the project. He described the site as heavy on framing and lumber yet "right on schedule, maybe a couple weeks ahead," and said the team expects substantial completion in mid-March, followed by soft openings beginning in May.

On staffing and memberships, Scarborough said the paddle club will employ about 80 people and reported membership sales are "well over the 50% mark." He said the project plans to target a soft opening window in May, with a tentative first soft-opening date around May 9.

Scarborough also described the Salt House single-family component across the street. He said two homes are roofed with windows installed, sanitary infrastructure is in place, water-main work and stormwater conduit are scheduled, and the developer plans to place a binder coat on the new roads before winter so the project can stabilize through the season. Landscape installation is planned to begin after frost season, with active sourcing and planting expected in March.

Council members asked about landscaping and the orientation of planting relative to a proposed fence; Scarborough said specimen trees along the Bay Avenue and Maryland Avenue frontages will be preserved and that beds and uplighting will be installed along the exterior fence line.

On the Salt Creek apartments, Scarborough said the affordable buildings are further along than the market-rate units and that the developer expects the affordable units to be complete in March. He said the team is beginning the outreach and tenant-qualification process for advertising and occupancy.

Scarborough closed by inviting council members to request a follow-up briefing in the new year when the sites will be further along and reiterated the project team will continue to provide photographic and drone updates to prospective buyers and renters.

Ending: The council did not take formal action on the presentations. Council members thanked Scarborough for the update and indicated the presentations were useful; the items will return to council for any required approvals as the projects advance.