Change on way for former Epworth Church site

Many businesses have come and gone in the decade since the former Epworth United Methodist Church on Baltimore Avenue in Rehoboth became Celebration Mall.

Now, Rehoboth officials say property owner Gene Lankford is looking to make another change – cutting down on commercial retail by adding residential living space.

During his monthly report at the Rehoboth planning commission meeting Aug. 10, Building Inspector Damalier Molina said he had spoken with Lankford’s grandson, Carlton Savage, about changing two commercial units to residential use. He said the proposal is for one two-bedroom unit and one one-bedroom unit, which added to the existing residential units would make for a total of four.

Lankford purchased the former Epworth United Methodist Church, 20 Baltimore Ave., in 2007 for $4 million. The church was converted into Celebration Mall, which housed a theater, shops and a restaurant.

In an interview Aug. 16, Lankford said he’s had some luck renting out the two other condos. He said two commercial units – one for a real estate company and the other for a restaurant in the basement – and the building’s theater space will remain.

Molina said the proposed change would require four additional parking spots at the property. But, he said, the property owner may go before the board of adjustment to argue it only needs three because the one-bedroom apartment would require just one parking spot.

Molina said the proposal has the required parking spaces across the street in the Atlantic Sands Hotel, which is also owned by Lankford. When the plans are officially submitted, he said, he’ll have to make sure the Atlantic Sands can handle the additional spots while still meeting its required number of parking spots.

Molina said the change to residential would also mean the building would require parking for people with disabilities.

“I don’t know where they’re going to take that from,” he said.

This is not the only project Lankford and his family are proposing for Baltimore Avenue. In July, Lankford and the planning commissioners conducted a concept review of a 40-room hotel that would be built across the street 17, 19 and 21 Baltimore Ave.

At the most recent meeting, Molina said the city had received building plans for the hotel a couple days prior, but some required information was missing. He said there were insufficient numbers and there were no comments from the fire marshal.

Lankford said he wants to convert the commercial space of Celebration Mall to residential by the beginning of next season. Addressing the parking, he said if he receives the change of use, the required parking will be taken into account when the new hotel is built.

“Rehoboth is a walkaround resort, and these new condos and hotel give folks more options and more opportunities to come,” Lankford said.

Clear Space Theatre Company on the move?

How the plans for Celebration Mall will affect the future of Clear Space Theatre Company is yet to be determined, but city officials say discussions about a move are underway.

During an Aug. 6 commissioners workshop, City Manager Sharon Lynn said Clear Space was looking for a new home on Rehoboth Avenue because its Celebration Mall home is to small and the stage didn’t have the right equipment for the plays Clear Space would like to produce.

Then, during the Aug. 10 planning commission meeting, Molina said Clear Space, which began in 2004 and moved to the old church in 2010, was looking for space on the 400 block of Rehoboth Avenue.

Carl Schloegel, Clear Space board of directors chair, confirmed the search, but not the location.

In an email Aug. 14, Schloegel said the theatre company has been looking at new locations for a number of years, but nothing is concrete.

“When and if the right opportunity comes along for Clear Space, we will be happy to share the news,” said Schloegel. “At this time we have nothing to share and do not wish to speculate on any future sites.”

Lankford said there are two more years on the lease with Clear Space, so, he said, there’s some time before any decisions need to be made.