Georgetown Town Manager Gene Dvornick updated the Greater Georgetown Chamber of Commerce on the status of residential, commercial, town and other projects going on in Georgetown during its Economic Development luncheon on Wednesday, June 5 at the First State Community Action Agency in Georgetown.
Dvornick started with residential projects that have been completed, including the infill and redevelopment of single family homes in Kimmeytown by Habitat for Humanity. This ward traditionally has non owner occupied homes, but these homes are owner occupied. Insight Homes also built and sold five new homes on South Bedford Street.
Georgetown Town Manager Eugene Dvornick is shown speaking during the Greater Georgetown Chamber of Commerce’s economic development luncheon last month. Photo by Mike McClure
Among the residential projects under construction is Village College Park, which includes 121 units. One third of the units have been built. The units are being built after the contracts are in. The developer is also looking to have some single family homes for lease and there will be 12 apartment buildings with 288 units (the first four buildings are up, four are in construction, and four are in design).
Another project coming is Admirals Landing, located on Ennis and Vaughn Roads by Delaware Technical and Community College. This will include 158 townhomes.
Planned residential developments include: CHEER Gateway East (apartments/administrative office on Sand Hill Road); The Oaks at Georgetown (townhomes on South Bedford St.); Short Leaf Preserve (townhomes and single family on Parker Road); Greenlea Place (single family leased community on East Market Street); The Ponds (apartments on Trap Pond Road); and the Old Ice House (building rehabilitation on Depot Street with retail on the first floor and up to 25 apartments on the second and third floors).
The commercial projects that have opened in town are: JB Wagamon professional building, Royal Farms’ new location, and Sherwin Williams warehouse. Also open are the Social Security office (returned to town in April), Greenhill Car Wash, Jo Jo’s Express, and AT&T retail store at Redners. Under construction is the Sun Behavioral outpatient expansion and short term housing, which will provide housing during intensive outpatient therapy. Coming to town: Popeye’s, Vanderwendes, and Cafe Karmic Creations (former Cafe on the Circle).
The Sussex County Family Court facility, with a 108,000 square foot building and a 162,000 square foot parking garage, is under construction. According to Dvornick, the state invested $105 million in the facility which will house 136 court employees and will feature 300 new parking spaces.
Recreation projects include the Georgetown to Lewes Trail, the continuation of the current trail to span 6.5 miles from Fisher Road to Airport Road. Construction will begin this fall and will be completed by next fall. Also, the Parsons Lane trailhead and parking area will be located on land purchased by the town. Funding requests have been made for this project as well as the Richard Allen playground.
Among the infrastructure projects are the pump station rehab (funded by $4 million in ARPA direct allocation), the conversion to advanced water meters, and the Park Avenue realignment. The first phase, Park Avenue realignment and Bedford and Market Street rehab has been completed. The second part of the realignment is under construction. Planning and design for a separate intersection for routes 18/404 and 113 are in planning and design.
Dvornick said the Georgetown North groundwater listed as a priority site for the EPA. Groundwater and soil sampling results for the former Georgetown dump on Donovans Road will be read by the end of the year.
The town received $2.4 million from the state to see how it can address emerging contaminants with water and wastewater.
Other challenges for the town are increased DNREC regulations with the pending spray discharge permit renewal and countywide reassessment. The county will complete its reassessment by March 2025 and the town’s FY ’27 will be affected.
