Laurel’s stock of affordable housing is getting a boost: What to know

LAUREL, Del. – Construction crews are hard at work in Laurel as they build a new stock of affordable housing. The Laurel Redevelopment Corporation holds the reigns on the projects, which are making progress.

Ground Broken

Wednesday morning, local officials and state leaders broke ground on The Promenade. The 24-unit complex of duplex homes will be constructed on the edge of Broad Creek on Front Street.

“We need so much to have affordable housing for people,” said Laurel Mayor John Shwed. “This project right here, The Promenade, is designed to try to do that—to meet people who are just typical working families.”

Promise and Homage at The Promenade

Plans are also in place to construct an actual promenade behind the homes, along the waterway. Builders say they aim to pay homage to the tradition of promenades at the church camps that helped put Sussex County on the map in years past.

“It’s going to be a wonderful addition to the neighborhood,” Mayor Shwed said. “It’s built to fit in with our history in that part of the community. I think it’s great.”

The homes will be priced at 60- to 120% of the area’s median income. State housing officials say prices like that were targeted in last year’s Needs Assessment.

“Investing in our communities, and particularly investing in homeownership, is a great way to help families ensure that they generate wealth, equity, and have that piece of the American Dream,” said Cynthia Karnai, Director of the Delaware State Housing Authority (DSHA).

Historic Feel, New Opportunity

Nearby, on South Central Avenue, five other newly built homes are nearly complete. Similarly to the plan for The Promenade, the homes are being built to mirror the architecture of Laurel’s existing stock of historic homes.

“A lot is going on right now to spruce up the community, provide new opportunities,” said Mayor Shwed. “I do think [this work] will put [Laurel] in a different light.”

Both The Promenade and the homes on South Central Ave. are being helped along by the DSHA’s Downtown Development District program. Karnai says statewide over the last decade, the initiative has provided about $39 million in rebates and attracted approximately $575 million in private investment.

Additionally, the South Central Ave. homes are being supported by the DSHA’s Catalyst Fund. Karnai says that will help ensure that the homes can be sold at affordable prices because the fund provides a subsidy for the gap between the selling price and build cost. Plus, those homes must remain affordable and owner-occupied.

“That’s really where the magic happens—this collaboration helps developments like this work,” Karnai said. “We’re looking at 29 new housing units meant for homeownership.”

Looking Ahead

Karnai says Sussex County’s work to build up its affordable housing stock is promising. However, the work doesn’t stop here.

“The thing about Sussex County is that we have our resort areas where workforce housing is needed,” Karnai said. “On the West side, lots of opportunity rests here. We see great partners coming together to make sure that opportunity happens.”

For Laurel, Mayor Shwed says providing reasonably-priced roofs over residents’ heads could make the town more attractive to newcomers.

“Even our teachers who come into our school district have a hard time finding a place if they want to buy a home at a reasonable rate,” Mayor Shwed said. “Watch us grow. That’s all I can say—we are a great small community now, and every day we work to make it greater.”