Donovan-Smith street paving complete in Lewes

The refurbishment of the Donovan-Smith Manufactured Home Community in Lewes is now complete.

Lewes Board of Public Works General Manager Austin Calaman told mayor and city council Oct. 14 that the streets in the development have been repaved. Part of Donovans Road has also been repaved.

That was the final step toward bringing the dilapidated development up to city code and improving living conditions for residents.

“BPW is proud to be part of such an impactful project and able to provide quality water and sewer service to a community that has long waited for these improvements,” Calaman said.

He said a final walkthrough will take place in the next few weeks.

The City of Lewes annexed Donovan-Smith in 2022. The goal was to clean up the community and create affordable housing.

BPW received more than $5.5 million in two state clean water grants to connect all properties to city water and sewer. That work was completed in August.

All Donovan-Smith residents are getting free water and sewer service for 20 years as part of the annexation agreement.

Donovan-Smith residents have been battling co-owner Ken Burnham for years over raw sewage bubbling up in a field, crumbling streets and an outdated electrical system.

Donovan-Smith’s website says there are 127 lots in the community. Burnham has proposed adding 30 new homes.