Sen. Blunt Rochester Provides Update on Affordable Housing

LEWES, Del. – Crews are hard at work to turn a plot of land along the John J Williams Highway into an affordable housing complex, Chapel Branch Apartments.

It’s a project that’s been worked on for a long time by U.S. Senator Lisa Blunt Rochester, and would be the first such housing in Sussex County since 2003.

Senator Blunt Rochester says, “This is the first time in over 20 years here in the Lewes area, but also the bill that I have creating these frameworks that will allow best practices for municipalities and for states; The last time we did something like this in our country was the 1920s. And life has changed a lot over 100 years. And so, again, our goal is to meet the times…”

The current plan is for two buildings, able to hold 42 units, with plans for a second set of buildings on the plot of land at a later date.

Developer, Matthew Padron believes every unit available helps get people closer to owning a home.

“It’s rare and it’s important. So as we know, finding any housing, affordable or otherwise, is incredibly difficult now. So this will help families who would not have otherwise had access to live in this area…” Padron tells us.

In being able to offer up opportunities for affordable housing, Senator Blunt Rochester believes that when these homes go up, the number of job openings in the area will be filled.

“This is the first time in over 20 years here in the Lewes area, but also the bill that I have creating these frameworks that will allow best practices for municipalities and for states; The last time we did something like this in our country was the 1920s. And life has changed a lot over 100 years. And so, again, our goal is to meet the times…” says Senator Blunt Rochester.

The senator hopes that near future will be this fall because the expected time frame for the ribbon cutting is Autumn of this year.