MILFORD, Del. -- A new building could be moving into Downtown Milford, but not without pushback from neighbors.
The applicants, Zack and Marissa King want to build the building on a lot between 111 and 115 North Walnut Street. According to Zack King, the building would be four stories tall, with six commercial spaces, 16 apartment units, and a possible rooftop business or restaurant. He is also considering some sort of business in the basement of the building.
The lot is currently marked with a public notice sign and details regarding the Kings' variance request. They are asking to increase the building's height from the city's 35 feet limit to 52 feet. They also want to decrease the building's width below the city's minimum 50 feet to 48.20 feet and increase the maximum density of 16 units per acre to 178 units per acre.
Joan Durand's home is catty-cornered to the proposed site. She says she received a letter about the proposal in the mail last week.
"The first page of the letter wasn't particularly of a concern until I turned it over," Durand says. "It is a drastic situation. How many people are going to be living in these apartments if you suddenly have that much added to your density?"
Durand also mentioned worries about the potential rooftop restaurant and the building not fitting into the historic district.
Some downtown business owners also mentioned concerns.
"We do need retail, but I think it's a bad area to have all that right there because there's no parking places," says Janice Gibson.
King tells WBOC he doesn't believe the plans are unreasonable. He says the goal is to build affordable housing for local workers and to expand Milford's business scene.
The Milford Board of Adjustment is scheduled to hold a public hearing on May 8 at 10 a.m. to consider the proposal.