The Atlantic City Council, Wednesday, voted 5-to1 (with Councilman Brink absent), to sell the City’s property at 211 W. 6th Street, to Jeff Pross, for just One-dollar. Pross had offered to pay $1,000 for the property that was assessed at $10,040, but because he intends to build a new house on the lot with an estimated cost of $100,000, the City agreed to require only the dollar, in addition to any minimum deposit.

Councilperson Kathy Somers voted against the sale, after she learned the “house” was more of a metal building, than a traditional home. Councilperson Grace Garrett agreed that from the plans shown, it looks like the house is a metal building, because she has looking at buying and erecting such a structure.

Somers said she was not against him buying the property or building a home there, but the aesthetics concerned her.  She said the Wick building appears to be more like “a barn.” Somers said also, she wished “Atlantic had some sort of guidelines” on what types of materials are used for the exterior.  City Administrator John Lund said there are some restrictions, such as no ribbed metal, and it should at least have the appearance of wood.

Somers asked, “What does it do for the neighborhood to have a building that looks completely out of character?” Councilman Pat McCurdy it wouldn’t look out character, and Mayor Dave Jones said it’s too new, and low maintenance. Somers asked if the City could request Pross or any person building a home, to use “siding that looks like a house instead of a metal building.”

Councilman Dick Casasdy and Mayor Jones said as it stands, the City doesn’t have the right to make such a request. Jone said if there is to be strict rules on appearances and materials, aside from what is required by law, there would need to be an ordinance and inspections. Somers was adamant that “If we’re giving him a piece of property for one dollar, surely we could say something….Are we that lazy and that cheap…really, is the city…do we not have any self respect for our communities?

Mayor Jones said “If you want to start nitpicking siding on people’s houses, you need to start getting ordinances lined-up, an official inspector to go out an dictate what they can put on there. Then you wouldn’t have any houses built.” As part of the sale agreement, the home must be constructed within the period of a year.

In other business, the Council adopted the City’s Fiscal Year 2022 budget, which says there will be no increase in the tax levy, and despite an increase in property tax and rental property revenue of over $150,000 — will decrease the overall budget by more than 18%. Atlantic City Administrator John Lund has said the budget “accomplishes key priorities of the Mayor and Council in funding for economic development, housing incentives, community beautification and additional amenities for public.”