REHOBOTH BEACH, Del. - The city of Rehoboth Beach is planning on redesigning Baltimore Avenue and Wilmington Avenue to make the streets safer and more aesthetically pleasing.
The mayor, city council and the streetscape task force met Wednesday morning to discuss the projects comprehensive plan.
Mayor Stan Mills said the plan is to expand the sidewalks, add more parking for scooters and bikes, additional bike lanes and take down telephone pole wires and place them underground.
Mills stated this project will increase foot traffic on both Baltimore and Wilmington avenues, which will help the businesses on these streets.
"The biggest benefit to this project is that it should draw people visitors off of Rehoboth Avenue here into the side areas there," Mills said. "To help increase business on the side areas on Baltimore and Wilmington Avenue. "
The city's last streetscape renovation took place nearly 15 years ago on Rehoboth Avenue. On the busiest street in Rehoboth Beach, the city expanded the sidewalks, got rid of all telephone poles and added additional bike lanes and scooter parking.
Mills said the streetscape of Rehoboth Avenue was extremely successful and is looking forward to seeing the success of the new redesigned Baltimore and Wilmington avenues.
Although the streetscape task force said this project will be beneficial to the city, many business owners and the public are hesitant about the renovations because it will eliminate parking spots. Parking is already a major issue in Rehoboth Beach and business owners said the streetscape will just enhance the problem.
"I'm not going to have any customers if there is less parking," said the owner of Grace's Boutique on Baltimore Avenue. "It doesn't help for them to make it aesthetically pleasing if there is no businesses for them to go walk around and go to."
Owner of LEH Soap Rehoboth shop agreed, saying, "We would be into a negative situation with me again cause that means people wouldn't have time to come here and shop because they are too busy looking for a parking spot which they are now."
A public workshop will be held sometime in September, where the public can learn more about the project and express their concerns.
For more information on the city's overall plan, click here.
