Hall-Long issues latest study of former Troop 7 site

Gov. Bethany Hall-Long instructed the Office of Management and Budget Jan. 17 to do another study into the future use for the former Delaware State Police Troop 7 on Route 1 near Lewes.

The last study addressing future uses of the 7-acre site was conducted in 2019, when the barracks building was vacated after a new troop was built on Mulberry Knoll Road.

The building was demolished, and the site had been unused until recently when it became a location for road treatment material, and was used as a homeless tent encampment before the Code Purple season began.

“The eastern side of Sussex County is one of the fastest-growing parts of our state, and that increased population brings a significant demand for behavioral and social health services across people’s lifespans. Unfortunately, the delivery of state services has not kept pace with that population explosion,” said Hall-Long in a press release. “The last review of the former Troop 7 site took place before COVID; our world has changed dramatically in the five years since. Conducting a new reuse study and engaging the public for their input will help the next administration chart a successful path forward for the future of this site, which will be a critical hub of services for residents.”

Hall-Long’s directive instructs OMB to provide options for the potential reuse of the property, such as relocating existing state operations or providing new social services for the surrounding community at the site. As part of the directive, OMB will engage the public to gather information about the needs of the region and to hear their suggestions. OMB also has been asked to assess the potential capital and operating costs for each option.