The Ocean at 101 Boardwalk

Pros

• The views are beautiful.
• Utilities and AC are included.
• There is a convenience store on the first floor.
• The building sits right on the boardwalk with ocean views.
• Neighbors are described as very nice and friendly.
• The staff is friendly and handles packages securely.
• Some reviewers call it the "best kept secret" in AC.

Cons

• The ground floor is in rough shape and looks like a health hazard due to long neglect.
• Leaks are frequent and maintenance is slow; management is not proactive about repairs.
• The building is described as a hot mess, with maintenance issues and unhelpful management.
• There is drug activity and unsafe conditions, including residents who are drug addicts or mentally ill.
• Tenants feel their rights are violated and security is poor; rules are inconsistently enforced.
• Surveillance cameras cannot playback footage, leaving residents without recourse if something happens.
• Hallways and common areas are dirty; there aren't enough staff to keep the building clean.
• The property has roaches and dog waste on terraces with strong odors, indicating sanitation problems.
• Heating/cooling is unreliable; apartments can be excessively hot and outages occur without compensation.
• The building looks abandoned or like an eyesore from the outside, suggesting a major overhaul or teardown.
• Parking is misrepresented; there are few spaces and high fees, with no true garage access.

Review

This property on the Boardwalk sits at the intersection of spectacular ocean views and a highly mixed reality of living conditions. The building's footprint and history are striking: it was built in 1964 by the US Navy, assembled from WW2 ships, and purposefully designed to be earthquake and hurricane resistant. Add to that the allure of an oceanfront location with a first-floor convenience store and a concierge who can help with packages, and it's easy to see why people respond to it with warmth about the setting even as they acknowledge a rough-around-the-edges feel. For many tenants, utilities are bundled into the rent, heat and electric can be included, and the chance to wake up with the ocean literally in view is a powerful draw.

The mix of residents is a constant theme across notes from people who have lived there. Reviewers describe a community that includes the disabled, the elderly, young people, and a substantial number of Black and Hispanic tenants, with one longtime resident emphasizing a white neighbor's experience as peaceful and harmonious. The prevailing tone among longtime occupants sometimes leans toward pride in a place that has become a stable, even beloved home for some, especially for those who have stayed for years and found a sense of belonging among neighbors who look out for one another.

For some, the building has a legacy of being a "best kept secret" - an affordable option with sea views that felt like a special find in its heyday. One former resident recalled paying about 634 a month with all utilities included, on the 9th floor with an oceanview, feeling that the ocean was their back yard and that the location offered a unique combination of scenery and affordability. This perspective paints the complex as a place with potential to be great, if the maintenance, management, and basic upkeep could be kept consistent and reliable. The memory of how good it could be lingers for those who experienced that era and continue to weigh it against the current state of the building.

Yet there is a strong countercurrent of criticism that runs through multiple reviews. A recurring theme is that the ground floors and common areas show visible neglect, with some reviewers calling it a health hazard and noting that maintenance teams appear to "walk by" without addressing chronic problems. Leaks on various floors, rust in hallways, and a sense that the building's exterior and some interior spaces have not kept pace with the needs of hundreds of residents over the years are common complaints. The sentiment is that the building has potential, but it has not received the sustained revamp or consistent maintenance that could truly unlock it. The frustration is palpable: it seems clear that a major overhaul - both cosmetic and structural - has been postponed for far too long.

A particularly stark review section itemizes the day-to-day realities that many readers will recognize as serious concerns. The building swings between moments of usefulness and episodes that feel like a breakdown of basic services. Leaks are widespread, windows offer only narrow openings for air, and even when heat or maintenance requests are filed, responses can be slow or inconsistent. Complaints about the elevators, carpeted hallways, and inadequate laundry facilities per floor are common, as are perceptions that management brushes off concerns or offers excuses rather than concrete fixes. A strong undercurrent in these accounts is a sense that the building's management prioritizes the ocean view and the lobby's appearance over delivering a consistently safe, comfortable home for residents.

The voices also diverge on safety and social dynamics. Some reviewers describe a sense of hazard - ranging from a neighbor's dog waste on terraces to the presence of syringes in elevators and violent or disruptive incidents, including encounters with mentally ill or drug-using residents. These memories are recounted with gravity, reflecting a fear for personal safety and a struggle to protect vulnerable neighbors. One poignant note describes a personal family tragedy connected to the building's management and communication failures during a time of crisis, underscoring how fragile the lines of care and coordination can become in a high-density, aging building.

On the more practical side, a substantial portion of the feedback frames the property as a mixed bag of pros and cons within a single living experience. Pros cited by residents include the unbeatable location, utilities included in rent, the convenience of a first-floor mini-mart, the possibility of a gallery-like ocean or city view from many units, and a responsive front desk in some cases. Some reviewers appreciate the on-site staff's willingness to assist with packages and offer carts for moving belongings. The downside is equally clear: limited laundry options, lack of a gym, paid parking both outside and in a garage, and the reality that surveillance cameras do not offer playback. The condition of common areas and hallways, the variability between renovated and outdated units, and even the perception that the rental listing misrepresented amenities like parking all contribute to a sense of distrust or disappointment for some tenants.

Taken together, the collection of experiences paints a living picture of a building that embodies striking beauty and significant risk in equal measure. The Ocean at 101 - whether viewed through a lens of romance about its oceanfront glory or through the cautious eye of someone who has endured years of maintenance headaches - emerges as a place with undeniable charm that comes with real, sometimes painful, compromises. For some, the view, the proximity to the boardwalk, and the savings on utilities make it worth weathering the management quirks and repair delays. For others, the combination of safety concerns, inconsistent service, and aging infrastructure makes it a last-resort option to be approached with caution and a clear understanding of what it would take to make it a truly livable home. In the end, prospective renters will have to weigh the thrill of the oceanfront life and the relative affordability against the building's persistent maintenance challenges, safety concerns, and the realities of a property that wears its history and its wear-and-tear on its sleeves.

Restaurants

• Hot Bagels & More (0.1 miles)
• Kelsey & Kim's Southern Cafe (0.6 miles)
• Hard Rock Cafe (0.7 miles)
• Landshark Bar & Grill (0.8 miles)
• Back Bay Ale House (0.9 miles)
• Gilchrist (0.9 miles)
• Irish Pub & Inn (1 miles)

Pharmacies

• Walgreens (0.8 miles)
• Walgreens (2.3 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (2.4 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (4 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (6.3 miles)
• Reverence Pharmacy (6.5 miles)
• Walgreens (6.8 miles)

Physicians

• Health Med Associates PC (0.9 miles)
• Caesars Wellness Center (1.3 miles)
• Eric S Dunn (3.3 miles)
• AtlantiCare Physician Group, Primary Care Plus, Pleasantville (6.2 miles)
• Nancy Merle MD (6.5 miles)
• Tomorrow's Wellness Center (7.6 miles)
• Atlantic Shore Family Practice (7.7 miles)

Cafes

• Hayday Coffee (0.9 miles)
• Water Edge Cafe (1.7 miles)
• Black Turtle Coffee (2.4 miles)
• No 7311 (4.9 miles)
• Starbucks (5.3 miles)
• Starbucks (7.9 miles)
• Starbucks (9.7 miles)

Hospitals

• Atlanticare Regional Medical Center (1.4 miles)
• Atlanticare Lifeline (7.5 miles)

Transportation

• Atlantic City Rail Terminal (1.6 miles)

Places of Worship

• Reformation Lutheran Church (6.3 miles)