CAPE MAY — St. James Place is an oddity in Cape May, although perhaps there should be more oddities like this one.
It features views of the quiet meadows surrounding the north curve of Cape May Creek just before it joins the harbor at Schellengers Landing, a location that puts one right at the center of island life but always feels quiet and just a bit remote from the busy crowds.
The undulating rows of condo units behave like separate blocks on the crescent-shaped lane, maximizing views for those on the outer ring and providing easy access to amenities for those on the inner curve. For one lucky new homeowner, a unit on the end of one of those little rows has just become available for the first time in years.
This position of 405 St. James Place, at the center of the outer crescent and end of the structure mean that even compared to the other units in a development that prioritizes views and natural light, this one is stunningly open and bright.
Built in 1988, the development of St. James Place caused a stir at its creation, worrying purists about the angular shapes of rooflines and decidedly ahistorical architecture meandering across what had been the scrubby borders of the meadows. It was just a bit too close to the Historic District for comfort, said the chorus.
Over the years, however, the maturing trees and landscaping woven throughout the community have helped create the feeling of a secret sanctuary right off Lafayette Street and yet unseen by most passers-by.
The exact architectural style people objected to has now become familiar for its efficient use of space that maximizes views and privacy — no mean trick, but one that has been repeated throughout the borders of the wilder spaces in southern New Jersey.
The unit has the same modest, reserved front as the others in the community; the same weathered gray wood siding and fish-scale shingles over the front picture window (just about the only window that faces the street).
The moment one walks toward the door, however, the change is immediately apparent: rather than step back past the garage to a recessed front entry, this unit has a side entrance on what feels like a private stretch of lawn. A raised deck takes one to the front door, offering enticing glimpses of the views to come.
Once the front door opens, the true scale of the indoor space comes as a shock. Cathedral ceilings in the living room fill with light from the picture window, illuminating all the way to the dining area to the right.
This level, slanted a few feet above the ground in the back, contains the relaxing and entertaining spaces, including a gas fireplace in the living room and the U-shaped kitchen.
The powder room and access to the one-car garage are past the dining room, beyond that the sunny kitchen in the back has views of the meadows through sliding glass doors.
A space just off the side of the kitchen could be a den or sitting room but is currently used as a home office, making the absolute most of the views during the workday.
Tile floors in the kitchen and back room make it easy for cleanup after a mid-morning ramble or massive holiday meal; while carpets toward the front of the home keep it cozy.
The second floor holds three bedrooms: a primary suite and two guest rooms with a shared hall bath. The upstairs hall is partially lit from a balcony loft overlooking the living room, filling what might have been a gloomy space with light.
The laundry room is hidden along this hall, making wash day much easier. These bedrooms are all comfortably sized, but once again it’s the views that make this space memorable.
At this angle to the meadows, the entire horizon seems to fill with blue water, gold grasses and wild birds.
The ensuite bath alongside the primary bedroom is decked out in custom tile work in an actual color — a soft shade, but still recognizably a color. This is not a builder’s-grade, bare white home by any stretch.
The hall bathroom is similarly dressed in soft shades, the better to meet but not compete with the natural tones just peeking through the windows.
The third and final floor is carved out of the eaves of the dramatic roofline, opening up incredible views at the back and making a truly unique space for a perfectly private fourth bedroom high above everything.
The third and final bathroom is right next door, and there is ample storage tucked into some of the deeper angles of the roof. When St. James Place was first built, these top-floor spaces were all the same, with an “extra” room and some storage.
Over the years, however, it’s become increasingly apparent that the original homeowners in this development all looked at that top floor view (each of them different, as the angle to the creek changes along the lane) and each independently decided to rearrange the top floor to get more use of that magical eyrie so high up.
Offices, playful bedrooms for visiting grandkids, even art studios are secretly tucked into these places that one can’t see from the street.
Unit 405, blessed as it is with more side views and the wraparound entrance that comes with it, made this top floor a secret hideaway for sleepers who love quiet at night and bird calls at sunrise.
It is hard not to envy this bedroom, even in a town increasingly filled with glamorous bedroom suites loaded with the newest amenities and trends; it’s hard to compete with the feeling of this safe little nest above it all.
Still, it could be argued that the best part of the home (after the location, of course, and the views) is the deck off the kitchen that looks out over the creek. This deck juts out like the prow of a ship while the ground beneath slopes away to the meadows in the distance.
Here is where most of life takes place, with room for dining, relaxing, searching for egrets, or just enjoying the fiery colors of the sunset. There’s even an awning that can cover the entire deck if the summer sun becomes a bit too fiery.
There are other reasons why St. James Place is a perennially popular address for those who can get in: the amenities on offer to everyone who lives here. While any condo comes with an HOA, this group is pretty actively maintaining the structures here, just finishing the project that put new roofs on every building, and now at work refreshing the siding. (This unit also has recently upgraded HVAC.)
The HOA also maintains the swimming pool and shared landscaping throughout the complex. Residents can have a garden on their front walk, or just stick to potted plants on the deck, but either way they’ll be surrounded by beautiful and well-maintained green spaces wherever they ramble along the lane.
There is much to love about this unique home, but it has to be seen and experienced to fully understand why the meadows along the creek have such a powerful draw for people, even in a city lined with gorgeous beaches just minutes away.
