Rehoboth on record demolition pace in 2018
Story Location:
406 Bayard Avenue
Rehoboth Beach, DE 19971
United States
The recent passage of Labor Day means Rehoboth’s annual parking restrictions will end soon, but it also means demolitions will begin again. If property owners act as soon as allowed, eight homes could be demolished by Columbus Day.
Per city code, every year from May 15 to Sept. 15, Rehoboth has a moratorium on demolitions of any building that is 750 square feet or larger and/or has a connection to the city water or sewer lines.
Beginning Aug. 6, with a single-story home at 77 Lake Ave., the city received and approved eight demolition applications in the month of August for properties scattered throughout town. The other approved applications are 406 Bayard Ave., 8 Country Club Dr., 65 Park Ave., 70 Sussex St., 1011 Scarborough Ave. Ext., 210 Munson St. and 123 Columbia Ave.
Four of the properties – Park and Lake avenues and Sussex and Munson streets – can begin demolition Monday, Sept. 17; the Scarborough Avenue property can begin Wednesday, Sept. 19; the Bayard Avenue property can begin Thursday, Sept. 20; the Country Club Drive property can begin Monday, Sept. 24.; and the Columbia Avenue property can begin Monday, Oct. 1.
In an email Aug. 29, Rehoboth Building Inspector Damalier Molina said this isn’t the most demolition permits issued in one month. He said the city issued nine in August 2017.
It may not be the most permits issued in one month, but 2018 is on pace to break the 2017 record of 26 permits issued in one year. According to a table prepared by the city’s building and licensing department, year-to-date there have been three more applications approved – 15 to 12 – compared to last year.
None of the houses have the history of the former structure on the old Corner Cupboard property, which was demolished in 2017, but some of the structures date back at least 70 years.
According to building and licensing files available in city hall, which are not fully complete, the Munson Street property was issued a building permit for a two-story garage apartment in 1948; the Columbia Avenue property was issued a permit for an addition in 1949; and, in 1950, the Bayard Avenue property was issued a permit to construct the one-story, wood-frame house, while the Sussex Street property was given permission for an addition.
