Milton seeks to acquire Collins Street property
The Town of Milton is seeking grant funding to purchase an unoccupied home on Collins Street, demolish it and use the lot to help with flood mitigation on Front Street.
Town council will weigh on the grant application, filed with Delaware Emergency Management Agency at its 6:30 p.m., Monday, April 3 meeting at Milton library.
The 750-square-foot block building at 102 Collins St. has sat vacant for more than 20 years, according to the town’s grant application. The one-story home, built in 1950, had been used as a residence, but it is boarded up with no utility service connected. The property is subject to flooding during extreme weather events like nor’easters or thunderstorms combined with higher tides. The building is 3 feet above sea level.
The town’s application, filed by Town Manager Kristy Rogers, says, “The decision to purchase the property and demolish the structure is the preferred solution and only solution. The current owners do not desire, nor are able, to make improvements that would mitigate flooding.”
According to the application, the house, located at the corner of Front and Collins streets, is subject to flooding at 2 feet or more several times per year in perpetuity. However, the town is limited in what flood mitigation it can do on Front Street, as that road is managed by the Delaware Department of Transportation.
The estimated budget for the land acquisition and demolition is estimated at $215,000. The project would be funded 75% by DEMA and 25% by the town. Rogers’ plan is to purchase the property in May, demolish the house in July and grade and reseed the parcel in August. There are no plans to resell the parcel, as the town will deed-restrict it as open space.
