A prime piece of downtown real estate went back on the market last week.

A half-acre vacant lot at the corner of Ninth Street and Wesley Avenue is listed at $3.25 million, according to owner Matt Dice. The property was formerly home to the landmark Strand Hotel and Bookers Restaurant. It fronts Ninth Street, the main route into Ocean City from the new Route 52 causeway.

The city had once considered purchasing the property to add downtown parking, but in a story with a familiar end in Ocean City, the most economically viable use for the parcel proved to be the construction of new rental properties.

Dice announced plans last summer for a subdivision of residential properties — three duplexes and two triplexes. In a nod to the history of the block where they would be located, Dice named the potential project Doctor’s Row (for the doctors’ offices that lined the street) and the Strand Resort (for the former hotel).

One duplex was constructed last year and is being rented this summer. Its two units remain listed for sale at $989,000 (3,000 square feet) and $899,000 (2,600 square feet).

But before investing in the next Doctor’s Row duplex unit, Dice is trying again to market the entire vacant property, which he and partners purchased in 2003 — the same year Bookers was demolished. 

The block is zoned as multifamily residential (R-MF), according to the city’s zoning map. The property is 201 feet by 120 feet, or 24,120 square feet.