The City of Rehoboth Beach must take bold steps to implement a comprehensive plan to stop the declining quality of life for residents, visitors and business owners alike throughout the city. For background purposes, I have owned and operated Penny Lane Mall for over 25 years which is located at 42 Rehoboth Ave. in the first block next to Grotto Pizza. I have served as a past president of the downtown Rehoboth Beach Main Street organization and as a former Rehoboth Beach lifeguard under Captain Buckson, winning several national championships representing the city.
This background provides a unique understanding of beach/boardwalk safety, business and property ownership. Since 1996, the business district has experienced and successfully overcome two major hurdles; one, the development of the outlet malls, and two, the redevelopment of the infrastructure along Rehoboth Avenue. Although both events were economically challenging, we were able to overcome and succeed for the benefit of the residents, visitors and business owners alike.
I suggest that we are now experiencing a third major hurdle that is even more challenging than any before. One that will shape the city’s future, potentially forever. That hurdle is one of quality. The experiences that our residents and visitors receive on the beach, Boardwalk and throughout the business district result in a level of quality in their lives which transfers directly to economic benefits such as higher property values and increased business sales. Over the last 10 years, I submit to you that those positive quality-of-life experiences have been reduced due to beach and Boardwalk overcrowding, and safety, cleanliness, and parking concerns.
The overcrowding of the beach and Boardwalk is occurring in large part because of the explosion of residential housing and overnight stay businesses throughout eastern Sussex County. Unfortunately, the State of Delaware has not planned for this growth with needed solutions such as dramatically increasing the state beach parking lots and comfort station sites south of Dewey Beach to Fenwick Island. Daily visitors to Rehoboth, which we identify as day trippers, quite often go to the beach, change in their cars afterwards and populate the boardwalk at night. Additionally, buses drop off daily visitors from outside commercial businesses such as campgrounds and hotels. Notwithstanding the physical overcrowding that this creates on the beach and Boardwalk for our residents, these ame visitors spend less money historically per person than both our residents and longer-term nightly stay patrons, resulting in a negative economic impact.
Ask yourself, “Do we want to be like Ocean City, Md., or would we prefer to be more like Cape May, N.J.?” I believe the overwhelming response from the residents and business owners alike would be Cape May. I propose that the solution is to reduce the beach and Boardwalk overcrowding, improve safety, cleanliness, and parking throughout the city. A combined three-pronged approach is necessary. One, the implementation of a beach tag program (providing for a certain number of free beach tags per residential homeowner). This program will raise funds for the city and help control the population and safety of the beach. It will also incentivize people to visit the state parks, placing less demand on our parking capacity. Two, implementing a nightly 11 p.m. Boardwalk curfew. I recognize this program will cause some heartburn for businesses located along the Boardwalk but there are ways to limit the impact to them and potentially increase their gross sales due to improvements in visitor spending. Lastly, reduction of parking meter rates, including offering no fees during strategic days and times. The loss of parking revenue will be offset by the beach tag program, resulting in a break-even or net profit for the city. This last option will go a long way in helping the downtown businesses succeed.
We all know that a successful city always includes a successful business community. The City of Rehoboth Beach business community has been hit hard during this pandemic. With the recent announcement of iconic businesses leaving town such as Nicola Pizza along with numerous other restaurants and businesses for sale, we need to make dramatic changes. If we continue down the path we are on, we will see a failing Main Street followed by lower residential and commercial property values once the COVID buying spree burns out. Let’s focus on improving our family-friendly, safe, clean and beautiful city. It will result in a quality-of-life renaissance for all.
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