Driving through the town of Laurel, visitors and residents have surely noticed a number of ongoing commercial and residential projects that have made progress throughout the summer. Many of those projects are being overseen by the Laurel Redevelopment Corporation (LRC).
On the residential front, four houses are being constructed on the former site of the Christ United Methodist Church (on South Central Avenue), including one that has a pending contract. LRC has received funding from the Delaware State Housing Authority and Cinnaire Catalyst fund to build the houses and provide affordable housing based on the county’s area median income. Applicants must meet the income requirements of 120 percent of the county’s area median income limits and the buyer must meet a five-year owner occupied commitment.
Shown is construction of homes on South Central Avenue in Laurel. Photo by Mike McClure
The homes will be built in the style of other homes in Laurel including Victorian, Federal, Craftsman, and Bungalow.
“We’re not just building back boxes, we’re building back homes that fit the character of central Laurel,” said Laurel Redevelopment Corporation Executive Director/Property Manager Brian Shannon.
According to Shannon, there were homes on the lot before the church was there. LRC also purchased the abandoned house next to the lots. LRC and Laurel Historical Society (LHS) volunteers cleaned out and secured the house after it was purchased.
Promenade- One future housing project that LRC has planned is the Promenade, 28 duplex owner occupied homes on the corner of West Front Street and Poplar Street (fronting the south bank of Broad Creek). The project, a Delaware Workforce Housing and Downtown Development District program, will use the town’s existing streets with the houses’ front porches fronting the streets. Nally Ventures is serving as the construction and development advisor for LRC for both housing projects. LRC is in the process of obtaining final approvals for the housing development. The homes, considered starter homes, will be priced at an affordable price point and will be two story homes with three bedrooms and two and a half baths.
A groundbreaking ceremony will be held for the Promenade on Sept. 18 followed by a ceremony for the South Central houses and one for the Central Station project.
Tidewater Park- The final touches on Tidewater Park, located on property owned by the town, are expected to be made this week. Ed Lewandowski and Jules Bruck of the University of Delaware contributed to the idea for Tidewater Park, which will include a zipline that will allow visitors to zipline to the park from the Boys and Girls Club parking lot.
Shoreline stabilization- Work is also taking place at Venables Park and South Broad Creek, next to the Delaware Avenue bridge. The shoreline stabilization project includes rebuilding the bulk heading for 150 feet along the shoreline. The project, which has been five years in the making, is part of the DelDOT Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) with matching funds from the town and LRC.
More on the Laurel Redevelopment Corporation’s projects in a future issue of the Laurel Star.
