Proposed Overfalls museum sails through Lewes panels

The Overfalls Foundation’s revised plan for a proposed museum building has sailed through two Lewes commissions.

The Lewes Parks and Recreation Commission unanimously recommended the new design to mayor and city council at its Nov. 19 meeting. The next night, the Lewes Planning Commission followed suit, unanimously recommending the museum as a permitted accessory use in open space.

“I think the revised building design meets the letter and spirit of what we’re looking for in an accessory and open space,” said Planning Commissioner Rich Innes.

Both panels praised the foundation’s revised design.

The proposed building is now 14-by-40-feet, 2 feet wider than first designed. It also integrates the Monomoy pavilion roof with the building roof to give a sense of a single building and museum space.

“The foundation agreed that a single-roof concept is a better way to go. It would be more aesthetically pleasing and would be better for stormwater management as well,” said Mike Safina, former Overfalls president, who is serving as a spokesman for the project.

The new structure would replace the small shed that sits between the Monomoy pavilion and the basketball courts at Canalfront Park. 

The building is designed to be a museum for maritime artifacts that the Overfalls Foundation currently does not have room to display. It would also have an education space and an enclosed workshop facility.

Safina said they hope to have the building finished by next May, but it is possible they won’t be able to start construction until next fall.

The Overfalls building is expected to be on the agenda for mayor and city council’s Dec. 9 meeting.