We have had homes in NW since 1975 and, believe me, there were several yrs from 89-97 that were not so good. Property values wnet down, sect 8 housing was growing, the beaches were closed and polluted and the locals treated everyone else (shoobies) like they were intruders. When the local gov't down there changed, a lot changed for the better. Except we are still treated like shoobies!
The people that are making $ during this era of development are the old owners. (for the most part) who were letting their properties degrade, filling up w/Senior Week kids and cashing in. Well, they are cashing in one more time and I, for one, can see great improvement in the area. I wish they would build new, more modern motels for families, but no one wnts to manage them for the small profits they turn. Maybe the new convention center will expand the seasons and make it profitable.
I don't know if 20,000 new condos (exagerration) is the answer but I can think of 30+ motels that are better off gone.
PS- New are The new Tony's, Owens PUB, Sunset Bay, Beach Creek Grill ,Island Grill , Casey's On Third just to name a few...all since 1999!
And a brand new Steak House (not the cheese steak kind) is gonna' open where Peter Vincent's once stood on Old New Jersey Ave.

__________________
Mickeyfinz