Sussex towns enjoy growth, development.
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Golf legend Jack Nicklaus is designing two signature golf courses in Sussex that will include communities. |
Sussex County's building boom continued in 2004 with housing starts from Rehoboth beach to Bridgeville and Frankford to Milton.
Two of the most glamorous developments are planned near Millsboro and Fenwick Island, where golfing legend Jack Nicklaus is designing two signature golf courses.
A luxury-gated community called The Peninsula will be built at the end of Bay Farm Road, off Del. 24, near Long Neck.
The 800-acre site will include 1,404 housing units, including custom-built lots, condominiums, town houses and single-family homes.
Construction on the course began in fall 2003 and is expected to be completed by 2006.
Bayside, a master-planned community off Del. 54, just west of Fenwick Island, will consist of a mix of home types and a variety of recreational amenities, as well as retail and office space in a town center.
Town Manager Faye Lingo said Millsboro had about 900 acres in the annexation process and 1,000 housing units in the permit process for the first four months of 2004. In addition to the 1,000 units awaiting permits, there are an additional 3,000 housing units in the works, said Mrs. Lingo.
The town had 40 acres annexed in 2003. Plans are under way for the Village of Eagles, 114 units of townhouses and condominiums on 15.59 acres and Millsboro Landing, 118 units on 15 acres.
The crown jewel for Millsboro is Plantation Lakes, a 650acre planned community near U.S. 113 and Del. 20.
Amenities include an 18hole golf course, a commercial area of 460,000 square feet and a main street. Also included are a community center, clubhouse, tennis courts, and a bridge for pedestrians, bikes and golf carts over an environmentally sensitive area near Millsboro Pond.
Two drugstore chains, Eckerd Drugs and Happy Harry's, have moved to the intersection of U.S. 113 and Del. 24.
The town currently has about $4.29 million secured for a wastewater system upgrade that is expected to cost between $8 million and $10 million.
Another hot spot for developers is Georgetown, the county seat.
Despite a downturn in the national economy, Georgetown has not been affected as far as building permits are concerned.
In August 2004, ground was broken on a $3.5 million project that will create a new headquarters for Delaware State Police Troop 5 and another paramedic base for Sussex County Emergency Medical Services at the former Bridgeville visitor's center near the intersection of U.S. 13 and Del. 404. This will also include a helicopter pad.
These projects join the Royal Farms convenience store, which opened in 2004, and the Bridgeville Plaza Shopping Center, which opened in 2002 with a Food Lion, a Happy Harry's and a Family Dollar, along with other tenants.
Projects in Blades included the opening of the dockmaster's quarters at the Blades Marina at Nanticoke River Marine Park, and renovations to the town office building, Hardin Hall.
Housing developments were ongoing in Laurel and in Blades (Little Meadows) during 2004.
A revitalization project for Rehoboth Beach continues. The multiyear, multimillion dollar face-lift for the downtown district has provided underground utilities, wider sidewalks, easierto-walk-on median strips, better crosswalks and improved lightmg.
The first phase of the project, from Fifth Street to Second Street, was completed in 2003.
The second phase included construction of a traffic circle at the city's entrance.
A third phase, begun in 2004, runs from Second Street to the boardwalk and includes a new visitor's center at the circle.
The final phase will be the replacement of the bandstand and turnaround, scheduled for completion by spring 2006.
"The beaches will be at full replenishment by the summer," said Carol A. Everhart, executive director of the Rehoboth Beach-Dewey Beach Chamber of Commerce.
"Visitor numbers were up at least 15 percent during July and August, and we had one of our strongest springs ever," Ms. Everhart said.
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