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Dewey buys second Route 1 property

Small piece of land located on southbound end of Houston Street
April 26, 2017

Story Location:
Houston Street
Dewey Beach, DE 19971
United States

Dewey Beach now is now the proud owner of two Route 1 properties.

Commissioners agreed April 8 to purchase a triangle-shaped piece of land for $2,500. It sits directly off the southbound side of Route 1 at the end of Houston Street. The five-member council were made aware the structureless property was available during last month’s meeting.

Fred Townsend, town solicitor, said the lot measures a total of 900 square feet and cannot be built on because of setback requirements. He said the landowner had done a significant amount of required paperwork associated with the sale and all that was left was a quick lien search.

“Everything appears to be in order,” he said.

Town Manager Marc Appelbaum said there was no interest when the property owner first approached town officials about the land. He said he suggested talking with the neighbor.

The neighbor also had no interest in the property, said Appelbaum.

Prior to voting in favor, Commissioner Diane Hanson asked if the town had counter-offered and if $2,500 was a good price.

Townsend said no realtor was involved because the owner contacted the town directly and, due to the nature of the property, the town would be hard pressed to get a real value.

Mayor Dale Cooke said he was in favor of purchasing the property. He said he didn’t want another person or group to buy it because the piece of property is right at the entrance of the town and it could end up with a sign on it the town doesn’t want.

Commissioner Mike Dunmyer said he noticed there was some tree coverage. Maybe it could be turned into a town park, he said.

The town also owns 1503 and 1505 Coastal Highway, both purchased a little more than two years ago for $875,000.That property abuts town hall’s Rodney Avenue location and had two structures totaling 3,500 square feet before the town demolished one of the buildings, the former Seasons Pizza, last year. The second building, previously home to Auntie Anne’s Pretzels, has been turned into the Town Hall Annex, which now houses a small meeting room and the town’s parking department.

The lot where the demolished building once stood is now a parking lot used by city employees.

 

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