REHOBOTH BEACH, Del. - Several orange demolition notice signs and empty lots can be found around Rehoboth Beach, as city officials say hundreds of notices were issued in the last decade.
"It's not up to us, it's up to the property owner," says City of Rehoboth Beach Chief Building Official Matthew Janis. "It's a normal process to want to revitalize your investment. This is part of the nature of the beast unfortunately. In the construction world we see it all the time."
The most recent notice is for the longtime home of ice cream parlor Royal Treat on Wilmington Avenue. In a press release, the Fascnacht family who owns the building, announced that the building is beyond repair.
David Mann with the Rehoboth Beach Historical Society says it is a bittersweet, but necessary loss to the community.
"It's got a lot of history, but in many cases that history can't be saved," says Mann.
Mann say overall, he wishes there were more emphasis placed on preserving old and historic building in Rehoboth Beach in the past.
"The cliche is that ship has sailed," says Mann. "It's difficult now. We can't really go back. We have to look forward and trust that people will do the right thing and put up structures that blend with the community."
Rehoboth Beach resident Nathan Pickard says he notices 20 to 30 homes being demolished each year. He says sometimes the new homes are a bit large for their original lots, but he thinks both residential and commercial change is good for the town.
"I'm sure there are some who would not like to see changes, but in this case these buildings do need to be upgraded," says Pickard.
Reinventing Rehoboth, one demolition at a time.