DOVER, DE- A recent recommendation from the Historic District Commission has brought Dover’s downtown revitalization one step closer to reality. In December, the commission recommended approval of the design for a new mobility center, a key project in the city's transformation efforts.
The mobility center is set to break ground in the coming months, marking the first of three priority initiatives aimed at reshaping downtown Dover by 2030.
Diane Laird, with the Downtown Dover Partnership, emphasizes that the mobility center is crucial for downtown’s growth.
“The site for this mobility center is perfect for downtown. It’s in the heart of downtown. It will support shoppers, residents, visitors, and merchants that are already located here. So it’s important to start with this kind of infrastructure.”
The mobility center plans to bring enhanced infrastructure to the area, including parking, bike-sharing, and repair services, all aimed at increasing accessibility and encouraging activity in the downtown area.
With groundbreaking expected in the near future, Laird points out that the center will serve as a visible symbol of the ongoing transformation in downtown Dover.
“Not a lot of development has occurred in downtown Dover in quite a while. So this groundbreaking and the launch of this project will be the visible reminder that things are really going to start transitioning.”
However, the project has faced some controversy. To make way for the new development, two historic buildings will need to be demolished.
Dawn Melson-Williams, the Principal Planner for the City of Dover, explains that although the Historic District Commission initially denied the demolition request, it was ultimately approved after an appeal to the Planning Commission last spring.
“At any time when you lose a historic structure, it’s not always a good thing for the district, but there’s also the opportunity to how do you build again in the historic district and retain that character for downtown Dover?”
On January 21, the public will have the opportunity to voice their opinions on the project at a public hearing hosted by the Planning Commission in Dover.
Additionally, during the Fire and Ice Festival on January 17-18, attendees can view detailed plans and renderings for the downtown revitalization efforts.
The Downtown Dover Partnership also plans to offer a unique virtual reality tour during the event, giving residents an immersive preview of the mobility center and other ongoing projects, providing a more realistic view of the upcoming changes.