Governor Carney and Dover-area legislators have announced the state’s plan to invest more than $25 million in three priority projects for revitalizing downtown Dover.

The proposed funding is an investment in the Capital City 2030 strategic plan completed in 2023 for transforming downtown Dover with new residences, businesses, parking and infrastructure. With $10 million proposed in the Fiscal Year 2025 recommended Bond Bill and $15.1 million allocated by the Governor from the state’s American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds, the city of Dover and Downtown Dover Partnership will be able to proceed with:

• Critical water and wastewater infrastructure upgrades necessary to support downtown development, with a projected cost of $1.7 million;

• A six-story retail and residential building at 120 South Governors Ave., envisioned to have a community grocery store, daycare and retail space along with 140-180 residential units, with a total projected cost of around $80 million; and

• A multilevel transportation center between South Governors and South Bradford St., with more than 300 parking spaces, bus stop, bike share and electric vehicle charging, to serve downtown businesses and provide parking for the new retail-residential building across the street, with a projected cost of about $14 million.

Mosaic Development Partners, the team selected by the Downtown Dover Partnership to create the strategic plan, has also been selected by the partnership to develop the two properties. Colonial Parking Inc. is also a partner in the project.

The state funding will be split between the city and the partnership and is expected to fully fund the utility work and the parking garage construction. A portion of the state funding will be added to private loans and investment, housing tax credits and grants to finance the retail-residential building. As with revitalization efforts in other cities in recent years, state funding is needed to match and encourage private investment at the early stages. 

“The city of Dover has a solid roadmap for its revitalization, building on efforts the city and its partners have been making over the last several years, and this state funding will make those plans a reality,” said Dover Mayor Robin Christiansen. “Combining the Governor’s Avenue projects with the city’s recent selection of a redeveloper for the old post office and construction on the new Family Court building and parking garage, the key building blocks for downtown’s future are coming into place.”