City officials celebrate Seaford Downtown Development and Affordable Housing Program

SEAFORD, Del. – City of Seaford and state officials met to celebrate a turning point for the downtown area on Friday.

The city has gradually become a hot spot for new businesses and shops, a positive sign for an area once inundated with vacant buildings. According to the City of Seaford Mayor, David Genshaw, more than 17 million dollars have been invested in the area.

“Seaford has been through some real challenging times economically, so we’re really on a turning phase right now,” said Genshaw.

This year, millions of dollars were poured into the Delaware Downtown Development District program allowing places like Seaford to invest in things like, affordable housing.

“Seaford and a lot of our towns in the area unfortunately have declined over the years with people moving out of the towns, so there are some dilapidated structures,” said Kevin Gilmore, the executive director of the Sussex County Habitat for Humanity.

According to city officials, partnerships with the Federal Home Loan Banks and the Sussex County Habitat for Humanity are critical to filling in abandoned buildings downtown.

“The funds today from Federal Home Loan Bank are just critical to what we do, and it’s resources like these that allow us to build the houses that we build,” said Gilmore.

“Through Habitat for Humanity, it is critically important that we have a safe and sanitary and decent and affordable housing for working families,” said U.S. Senator Chris Coons.

Not only are more homes popping up, but also new businesses.

The director of the local preschool Little Miracles said her building was first a storage area and had to be transformed into a place safe enough for children.

“I have worked with kids for about 15 years in another school, but it was always my dream to have my own school,” said the Director of Little Miracles Preschool, Leslie Quiñones.

“The building was not ready at all to take care of kids, and this part of the building was used to store things,” said Quiñones.

Mayor Genshaw also said that he hopes new partnerships will continue to help build Seaford into a modern and innovative place for generations to come.

“Once one thing comes it builds momentum for others so what we’re seeing now is just a lot of interest and possibilities,” said Genshaw.

“So, it’s gives a lot of reason for excitement and hope,” said Genshaw.