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Groundbreaking marks start of Dutchman’s Harvest
Lewes project aims to add workforce housing east of Route 1

Participants in the Dutchman’s Harvest groundbreaking are (l-r) Holly Millard, Ocean Atlantic Companies administrative assistant; Michael McNamee, OA project manager; Chelsea Bristow, Jack Lingo Realtor agent; Janet Reeves, Lewes assistant city manager; Katie O’Neal, OA accounting; Greg Tobias, OA executive manager; Ben Gordy, OA senior project manager; Greg Stevens, Lewes Attainable Housing LLC; Steve Hentschel, The Whayland Company president; Tom Tipton, OA chief operating officer; John Russ, Whayland vice president of operations; Preston Schell, Lewes Attainable Housing LLC; Janelle Cornwell, Lewes planning and building manager; Khalil Saliba, Lewes deputy mayor; Ellen Lorraine McCabe, Lewes city manager; Marissa Ferrell, Dutchman’s Harvest prospective buyer; Jaime Zolper, OA senior project manager; Jackson Wayne, OA analyst; Alexis Gruber, Dutchman’s Harvest sales; and Jill Burton, OA executive assistant. TED PFIRRMANN PHOTOS
August 7, 2024
Dutchman’s Harvest officials and local dignitaries held a groundbreaking ceremony July 31 for the town’s first affordable workforce housing project. When complete, the community will offer 140 multifamily units for sale to full-time workers in Sussex County.
Lewes Deputy Mayor Khalil Saliba said, “Dutchman’s Harvest is a very exciting project because housing, particularly workforce/affordable housing, is in great demand. The City of Lewes and our major employer – Beebe Healthcare, Cape Henlopen School District, restaurants and others – now potentially have another option in terms of recruiting and retaining employees.”
Dutchman’s Harvest sits along Savannah Road just east of the entrance to Cape Henlopen High School.

Preston Schell, Ocean Atlantic Companies chair and member of Lewes Attainable Housing LLC, has been working on the Dutchman’s Harvest project for more than five years.

Jaime Zolper is a senior project manager at Ocean Atlantic Companies, the developer of Dutchman’s Harvest.

Tom Tipton, left, Ocean Atlantic Companies chief operating officer, chats with developer and OAC Chair Preston Schell.