Jon Offredo

The News Journal

Plan should mesh with Gov. Jack Markell’s newly-announced downtown development initiative

Panel backed by a $90,000 grant from the Wells Fargo Regional Planning Initiative out of Philadelphia.

A network of community groups is preparing to open their doors to the Dover community to gather input on how to rejuvenate the central hub of Delaware’s capital city.

The Restoring Central Dover steering committee, spearheaded by leaders from local nonprofits, schools, the city and churches, is planning to hold an open house Thursday to let residents come and see the ideas the group is currently discussing to address affordable housing, public safety, economic development and social services needs.

“We’re asking for big ideas for central Dover,” said Joe Myer, executive director of NCALL, one of the nonprofits on the steering committee.

The call has been put out for anyone to come in and take part in several interactive displays and exercises that ask residents to pinpoint priorities regarding restoring the central part of Dover, which has faced tough times in terms of sustaining business and home ownership.

“It’s clear driving through the area that this central Dover has struggled over the years,” Myer said. “There has been some deterioration, but we have found that there is also a lot of potential and a lot of community leaders that we think could help turn things around.”

Thursday’s event is part of the larger work the steering committee is doing to formulate an action plan, complete with recommendations and plans for implementation. The steering committee’s work has been ongoing for almost two years, and has been backed by a $90,000 grant from the Wells Fargo Regional Planning Initiative out of Philadelphia.

Dover is the first city to be awarded the money south of Wilmington and the funds have been used to retain a planning consultant to evaluate vacant properties, land use and other planning issues in the central district.

The report is not due until July, but it has been fortuitously timed with Gov. Jack Markell’s newly-announced downtown development initiative.

The $7 million initiative funded by grants and various incentives aims to revitalize communities hit by urban blight, crime and economic stagnation by creating as many as 15 Downtown Development Districts that would be eligible for grant money, tax credits and other incentives.

Municipalities would have to apply for the designation, which would first be evaluated by the Cabinet Committee on State Planning Issues. Markell would make the final designations. Markell has said he hopes to release the first round of applications this summer, about the time the steering committee expects to finish its plan.

Contact Jon Offredo at (302) 678-4271 or at joffredo@delawareonline.com or on Twitter @jonoffredo.