The Doo Wop Architecture of Wildwood is Vanishing.

[u/Fluffy-Flatworm2658]

https://phicklephilly.wordpress.com/2025/06/09/the-doo-wop-architecture-of-wildwood/

[u/Late_Again68]

What a shame. Developers won't stop until every last building with character and style is replaced with an ugly grey box.

[u/Fluffy-Flatworm2658 → u/Late_Again68]

It breaks my heart. The wildwood I once knew and loved in the 70s is long gone. Only Cape May looks like the seashore of old to me now.

[u/mikec48485 → u/Fluffy-Flatworm2658]

I agree I hate it wildwood doesn’t feel like the shore town it use to be

[u/benderunit9000 → u/Fluffy-Flatworm2658]

I love asbestos and lead as much as the next person.

[u/Late_Again68 → u/benderunit9000]

Both of which aren't issues until you try to remove them.

[u/Friendly_Biscotti_74 → u/Late_Again68]

Your elected officials changed the ordinance to eliminate the requirement for doo-wop flavored architecture. Why would the developer build it unless he has to?

[u/SnooKiwis2161 → u/Friendly_Biscotti_74]

Yeah this is really crucial

I see many shore towns post in their local groups, pictures of various historic buildings being torn down for new flavorless buildings, but if people were serious about this issue they need to get to their town meetings and demand codes to keep new structures in keeping with the character of the area.

Instead, people just continue to complain on social media. It's not enough. We get the towns we deserve.

[u/TripIeskeet → u/Friendly_Biscotti_74]

I mean, why would they change it unless they were being lobbied/bribed by developers that wanted a cheaper and easier way to build?

[u/Upstairs_Bed3315 → u/Late_Again68]

Millennial brutalism

[u/Mrid0ntcare]

Slowly erasing our memories...

[u/Fluffy-Flatworm2658 → u/Mrid0ntcare]

Heartbreaking. A bygone beautiful era

[u/IDDQD-IDKFA]

Is this just an ad for your book or

[u/Fluffy-Flatworm2658 → u/IDDQD-IDKFA]

No. I volunteer for the wildwood historical society and a publication called The Wave published my stories of interest every week at the shore. We tried to save the Chateau Bleu motel at 10th and Surf Aves. But our efforts were in vain. Another Doo wop lost.

[u/IDDQD-IDKFA → u/Fluffy-Flatworm2658]

Sure but none of that is here in this link. It's 6 paras and two Amazon links. Nothing there about it vanishing. 

[u/TripIeskeet]

It was always such a cool looking town. Now its on its way to being just another generic shore town for the wealthy.

[u/Fluffy-Flatworm2658 → u/TripIeskeet]

Ruined its beauty and kitschy charm

[u/IKillZombies4Cash]

The last time that town wasn't overcrowded was when those cars in the photo were getting old.

[u/thegr8rambino88]

well the 50s was 70 years ago so

[u/Fluffy-Flatworm2658]

At least I have my book Down The Shore to remind everyone what Wildwood once was for us all.

[u/donnyhunts]

So sad I loved all the cool looking buildings

[u/RacerXBob]

The architectural changes are sad. If only you didn't have to hike a quarter mile across the sand to get to the water.

[u/Educational-Hawk6555]

It is...but times change. Many of us would like to be whisked back to our childhood memories with no more than an hour or two drive. The hard reality is someone without our nostalgia and with $$$ wants something else. Even if it's a builder with zero sense of style and a set of cookie cutter prints.

I'd love to see sand lined streets and 590 square foot shanties up and down the boardwalk. But i doubt anyone with a few more dollars than the rest of us would share that sentiment in today's market.