Rehoboth to seek historic designations for Boardwalk
In its final act as a group, the Rehoboth Beach Boardwalk and Beach Committee submitted a report to city commissioners recommending the city pursue state and federal historic designation of the Boardwalk.
Earlier this year, after nearly two years of discussion, city commissioners voted in favor of reducing the number of advisory committees from five to two. As part of that process, committees are supposed to be officially wrapping up business, which is why the beach and boardwalk committee held its final meeting July 11.
While rebuilt over the years because of storms and upkeep, the first Boardwalk was constructed in 1873. Mayor Stan Mills, who chaired the committee, delivered the recommendations to city commissioners July 18. There’s the state historic marker program, and the option to pursue a federal designation as a historic place, he said.
The state marker is fairly easy and could take three to four months to get permission, said Mills. The historic place destination is much more involved and could take six months to a year, depending on how energetic the applicant is, he said.
The committee researched a second federal designation as a National Historic Landmark, but Mills said the process was too onerous.
The committee also recommended the formation of a task force to pursue the two historic destinations.
Property owner Tom Gaynor said he’s against the historic designation. He said historic designations are done to limit something, prevent something or isolate something.
In addition to the beach and boardwalk committee, four others are being eliminated – streets and transportation, environment, animal issues, and trees and green infrastructure.
There are a number of code- or charter-required committees and boards that are not included as part of the discussion – planning commission, board of adjustment, parks and shade tree, audit, board of elections and personnel.
New advisory committees
Later in the same meeting, commissioners appointed chairs of two new advisory committees. Commissioner Mark Saunders is chair of the public safety advisory committee. Commissioner Craig Thier is chair of the environment advisory committee.
Chris Flood has been working for the Cape Gazette since early 2014. He currently covers Rehoboth Beach and Henlopen Acres, but has also covered Dewey Beach and the state government. He covers environmental stories, business stories and random stories on subjects he finds interesting, and he also writes a column called Choppin’ Wood that runs every other week. He’s a graduate of the University of Maine and the Landing School of Boat Building & Design.
