Home Care In Georgetown, DE

With numerous housing development projects in the works, officials in Georgetown, Delaware, are looking to curb the affordable housing crisis in coastal areas by offering assistance to young and working class professionals.

Town Manager Gene Dvornick said it’s often young families and workers who struggle to get housing in beach towns, which has impacted employers along the coastline.

“I think every business along the coast relies on younger workers,” Dvornick said. “[Businesses] are struggling to not only attract that younger worker but also to find an affordable housing solution.”

Dvornick says the need for rental homes in Georgetown, a 30-minute drive from Delaware’s shore, is increasing, especially as retiring people settle in areas closest to the beach — making it hard for workers to find rentals.

“Folks that are working on the eastern side of the county in the service industry or in the retail industry are being forced further to the west towards Georgetown, Seaford, Bridgeville, and Laurel,” Dvornick said. “Even as they migrate west for housing, the options that are available to them are few and far between.”

Georgetown has several projects in the works to accommodate for the influx.

“An apartment complex being built out behind the Walmart in the village of College Park. We have a project that just received final approval, Admiral’s Landing, which is a combination of townhomes,” Dvornick said. “Then we’ve got two projects that are currently in various phases of the planning process; one is a mixed, single-family townhome and one that’s a multi-family.”

Another project, still underway, is a single-family rental house development — something that has never been built before in Sussex County. It’s modeled similarly to Leeward Chase’s townhouse rental project, located outside of Georgetown.

A total of 120 rental houses are expected for the 20-acre development.

The town will benefit from the following, according to a presentation:

“In the case of Georgetown, it grows our population. It certainly grows our property tax base,” Dvornick said.

Details of the development are still being worked out. The first reading of the ordinance will take place on April 24 and it will be adopted at a meeting on May 1.

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A lot has changed in Georgetown over the past two decades. The county seat of Delaware’s southernmost Sussex County has seen its population increase about 60% since 2000. The town’s growth mirrors a burgeoning county and state population and is resulting in a number of changes, including more crowded roadways.

Glendy Vicente, a 24-year-old Latina resident, has grown up with those changes. She fondly remembers streets with farms on one side and houses on the opposite side — a typical example of the rural way of life in Georgetown.

“The last four years, I’ve seen a lot more change,” she said. “I remember growing up, there was mostly forest and fields. There have been a lot of drastic changes between when I was five to now being 24.”

The once little town that we were, it’s now becoming a little bit more populated with businesses and people,” she said.

Delaware has been on a growing trend, with a consistent 1.2% growth rate every year. It’s the sixth-fastest growing state in the country by percent growth, according to the United States Census Bureau statistics.

In April 2020, the state’s total population stood at 989,946. By July 2022, it had risen to 1,019,459, and more recently, in 2023, the population reached 1,031,890. That’s well above the 2000 population, which stood at more than 786,000.

In April 2020, Georgetown had a population of 7,134, and as of July 2022, the population has increased to 7,662. Georgetown had just 4,798 residents in 2000.

Georgetown Mayor Bill West says the population growth and accompanying development investment is due in part to its central location in Sussex and the opportunities available for success.

“[Georgetown is] 16 miles from the beach, 16 miles from the southern end of Delaware, 16 miles from the western side of Delaware into Maryland. So we’re 16 miles from anywhere,” he said. “I’ve always been told by the people of Georgetown, ‘Our kids are moving out. There’s no jobs here,’ that ‘They’ve got to go somewhere else to get a good paying job, and there’s nothing for them here.’ Well, I tried to change that by getting the medical fields into Georgetown… to give our kids an opportunity to stay here and have a good paying job.”

Among the new businesses in Georgetown are PAM Hospital, Sun Behavioral, Beebe Hospital, hotels, and the construction of a new family court on Main Street. According to West, Chick-fil-A, Jersey Mike’s, and Popeyes are also expected to soon join the town’s business landscape.

“It’s a two-way street, that’s part of economic development,” said West. “You build and they will come, you build and people from other towns come.”

The influx of new businesses has also led to the expansion of housing options. As a result, the town has a few housing projects on its radar, with a particular focus on aiding those in need. That’s inspired by the success of initiatives like Pallet Village, a group of tiny homes providing shelter for people experiencing homelessness.

“We’re looking at some workforce housing, and we changed some coding to make them closer together so we could get more in there to make it affordable,” he said. “We’re also looking at a section of cottages. [The] small cottages would be a step up from the homeless shelter or ‘the Pallet Village.’”

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Georgetown’s popularity as a stop for travelers to the coastal side of Delaware or points further south into Maryland’s Eastern Shore or even Virginia leads to occasional congestion on Route 113. To tackle this, significant roadwork is scheduled by the end of 2024, including the construction of overpasses at intersections of Route 113 and 404, as well as Route 113 and 9 in the next five years.

Shante Hastings, the deputy secretary and chief engineer at DelDOT, acknowledges that while they anticipate growth, it can sometimes lag behind due to its rapid pace. Nonetheless, the state will spend more than a billion dollars in Sussex County’s transportation system over the next six years.

“We’re spending about $1.3 billion dollars in Sussex County in the next six years to try and address a lot of those transportation either existing issues or future issues,” Hastings said. “We will be adding a third lane to 113 through Georgetown as well as through Millsboro because the traffic projections say that we need that, and we actually do have the space to be able to do that type of improvement.”

Other towns in the county are experiencing the impact of a growing population, too.

“We are also in the process of building the north Millsboro bypass project. So that project connects Route 24 up to the 113 and 20 intersection,” she added. “That project is in construction now and will be open in 2025.”

Although not opposed to change, residents primarily expressed concerns about the impact on the environment and the need to preserve green spaces.

“Change is good. I feel like we shouldn’t be stuck in the same mindset that we have that everything has to be a certain way. We’re growing as a whole, as a community, you know, it’s a beautiful thing,” Vicente said.

“I wish it wouldn’t affect as many trees as it is. Because you know growing up looking at the trees, it was nice,” she said. “I would want another park. I know we have a nice little park down here on Sandhill Road, but it’s sometimes overcrowded. So maybe another one would be nice that will have a long trail.”

Another Georgetown resident and a board member of the town’s public library, Susanne Laws, is not only optimistic about the anticipated changes, but excited about the future of Georgetown. Laws, who has lived in the town for six years, values the town’s ongoing efforts to strike a balance among its diverse communities.

“I would say [it] brings jobs. I think that a really important aspect of it is to try and provide that balance so that the community does thrive and doesn’t die off,” she said.

In her role as a board member at the library, Laws emphasizes the importance of community involvement. Regardless of how other communities may feel about the changes, she encourages residents to engage actively because change begins with the people.

“Your community is still your community if you live here and so to take an active role in making it better,” she said, “you utilize the resources that are here to become a library member, become somebody who advocates for good changes.”

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GEORGETOWN, DE - As several Sussex County towns firmly reject the prospect of legalizing marijuana within their borders, officials in Georgetown are taking a different stance. The Mayor and Town Manager drafted an ordinance that could pave the way for a limited number of marijuana businesses within the town.

Mayor Bill West says he wants to get ahead of what could eventually be a federal approval of marijuana.

"By putting these rules into place, we're saying that, yeah, we don't like it, but here's what you've got to stipulate to, here's what you've got to do if you want to come to Georgetown," says West.

The proposed regulations include allowing only two retail establishments, both mandated to be situated in the town's commercial highway zone. Additionally, the ordinance would regulate operating hours and impose strict guidelines for trash cleanup. West believes that these measures will strike a balance between embracing change and maintaining order within the community.

Local business owner Michael Oxbrough voiced his support for the idea, highlighting the potential economic benefits for the area.

"I'm happy that Georgetown wants to be a little bit progressive on this," says Oxbrough. "That's actually a good thing."

Stephanie Deleon, an employee at a local smoke shop, echoed this sentiment, advocating for the legalization of marijuana. She commented, "I think it should be allowed. You hardly ever see or hear any problems with it. It's always usually harder drugs or alcohol in general."

However, not everyone in Georgetown is convinced. Charlie Koskey, a local jeweler, voiced concerns about the potential impact on the town's youth.

"The concerns that I really have are the exposure to our children," says Koskey. "It's a big burden that I think the town's going to really have to examine, and our town leaders are hopefully going to make the right choices."

Following their discussion, the town council submitted the drafted ordinance to the town's planning commission. West says there will eventually be a public hearing. Feedback from that hearing will help the council make a decision.

As Georgetown stands at the crossroads of this divisive issue, the town finds itself grappling with the potential opportunities and challenges that come with embracing the cannabis industry. The future of marijuana in Georgetown remains uncertain, but the community is undeniably engaged in a crucial conversation about its role in the town's evolving landscape.

GEORGETOWN, Del. - Two Georgetown holiday staples, Caroling on The Circle and the Georgetown Christmas Parade, are partnering up this year for one big celebration on Thursday, Dec. 7.

Caroling on The Circle, which is celebrating its 40th year, is put on by the county, while the parade is put on by the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce.

Caroling will begin at 6 p.m. on the main stage in front of the Sussex County Courthouse, with the tree-lighting ceremony taking place an hour later at 7 p.m.

Both county and chamber officials say that combining the two events in to one big events allows for a "bigger and brighter night, full of Christmas cheer." They say it allows each celebration to maintain their separate identities while maximizing attendance among crowded holiday event calendars.

“Caroling on The Circle and the Georgetown Christmas Parade are traditions that have delighted children and families for generations,” Sussex County Administrator Todd F. Lawson said. “But we recognize times and tastes are changing, and let’s face it, everyone’s schedules are hectic these days, especially during the holidays. So, we thought, why not bring it all together and give the community a stocking full of carols, marching bands, floats and, of course, Santa Claus all on one big night? We sure hope it’s a gift the public is happy to receive!”

The dual-event will also help with the county's 'Pack the Pod' food drive, important to the annual caroling program.

“Partnering with the County to bring two holiday events together is very exciting for the Chamber, the County and the community,” Georgetown Area Chamber of Commerce President Linda S. Price said. “Both events have a long history and are sought-out community events. The partnership will provide more visibility for ‘Pack the Pod’, a mainstay for Caroling on The Circle, as well as expanding on the holiday merriment the parade and lighting of the Christmas tree brings to those young and old.”

Caroling on The Circle began in 1984, with the parade beginning five years later in 1989. Since then, caroling has donated around 800,000 canned goods, helping those in need.

The county says the caroling performance schedule and parade theme are still to be determined, with further information released later this fall.

A more and merrier Christmas is in store for Georgetown and all of Sussex County this upcoming holiday season.

Officials from the County government and the Greater Georgetown Chamber of Commerce announced on Wednesday, Sept. 13, a new partnership to pair two staples of the holiday calendar — Caroling on The Circle and the Georgetown Christmas Parade — for one big celebration.

The County’s annual Caroling on The Circle event, a musical performance that celebrates its 40th year in 2023, this year will shift to Thursday, Dec. 7, leading in the Chamber’s annual Christmas parade in what organizers hope will be a festivity-filled evening featuring the familiar sights and sounds of the season. Caroling will begin at 6 p.m. on the main stage in front of the Sussex County Courthouse. The parade, along with the Town’s tree-lighting ceremony, will step off at 7 p.m.

County and Chamber officials said wrapping all of the community’s holiday events into one package promises to serve up a bigger and brighter night, full of Christmas cheer.

“Caroling on The Circle and the Georgetown Christmas Parade are traditions that have delighted children and families for generations,” Sussex County Administrator Todd F. Lawson said. “But we recognize times and tastes are changing, and let’s face it, everyone’s schedules are hectic these days, especially during the holidays. So, we thought, why not bring it all together and give the community a stocking full of carols, marching bands, floats and, of course, Santa Claus — all on one big night? We sure hope it’s a gift the public is happy to receive!”

Officials for both the County and Chamber said they see the pairing of the events as a natural fit, a candycane swirl of sorts, allowing both celebrations to maintain their separate identities while maximizing attendance on an already crowded holiday events calendar. As an added plus, officials hope working together will harness the Chamber’s business reach in aiding the County’s “Pack the Pod” food drive, which is the thrust of the annual Caroling program.

“Partnering with the County to bring two holiday events together is very exciting for the Chamber, the County and the community,” Georgetown Area Chamber of Commerce President Linda S. Price said. “Both events have a long history and are sought-out community events. The partnership will provide more visibility for ‘Pack the Pod,’ a mainstay for Caroling on The Circle, as well as expanding on the holiday merriment the parade and lighting of the Christmas tree brings to those young and old.”

Launched in 1984 as part of the Delaware First initiative, Caroling on The Circle has been managed by Sussex County government each holiday season since then and continues to help those in need a generation later by supporting local food pantries. To date, the community has donated some 800,000 canned goods and other non-perishable food items through the Caroling on The Circle program throughout the course of its four-decade history.

The Georgetown Christmas Parade has been a community mainstay since 1989.

Organizers in the coming weeks will work to finalize details of the paired events, including the Caroling performance schedule, as well as the parade’s theme. More information will be released later this fall through the County and Chamber at their respective websites, at www.sussexcountyde.gov and www.georgetowncoc.com.