Demolition Sale at Christian Brothers Retreat Set for Sept. 26 to 28

Marzilli Construction, Inc. will hold a demolition sale at the De La Salle Christian Brothers retreat 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Sept. 26 to 28.

Everything in the former Ocean Rest Educational Center will be for sale with the exception of the kitchen equipment. The landmark blue buildings are located between 30th Street and 31st Street on Central Avenue in Ocean City.

All purchases must be made by cash or check. Unless something is specifically tagged, it will be a “make an offer” sale. 

The Ocean City Planning Board in June approved a subdivision plan to allow four duplexes to replace the two old three-story buildings. 

The facility had served as an educational retreat and place of worship on an 8-acre oceanfront property.

The state fire marshal prohibited the Brothers from using the top floors of the buildings about five or six years ago, and last year they were prevented from using the second floors. The structures have 19th-century plumbing. They do not conform to modern fire code or Disabilities Act requirements, and they have no heating or air-conditioning system. 

The Brothers came to neighbors in January 2012 to seek feedback on a plan to demolish one building and sell two 40-by-100-foot lots for residential development, then use the proceeds to renovate the southern building at the same height and using the same footprint for continuing use by the Brothers.

But earlier this year, representatives of the Brothers said that plan would be far too costly, and the charitable religious order could in no way afford what would amount to a multimillion-dollar retrofitting project.

They applied to demolish both buildings and create four lots for residential development.

The Christian Brothers, also known as the Brother of the Christian Schools, have been in the same location in Ocean City since 1898.

The northern building included a chapel that was open for summer Masses.