Western Sussex Business Campus planned in Seaford

City of Seaford officials are moving forward with plans to develop the Western Sussex Business Campus on a 100-acre parcel of land along the northern border of the city, and at a Nov. 18 meeting, they asked Sussex County to be a partner in the project.

At its Dec. 8 meeting, Sussex County Council approved a resolution 4-1 to provide up to $1.88 million toward infrastructure for Phase 1A on 50 acres of the 100-acre Western Sussex Business Complex.

County Administrator Todd Lawson said Seaford officials will oversee the work and the county will reimburse their expenses. “It makes sense to partner with the city and not compete with the city,” Lawson said.

Lawson said county funds would come from realty transfer tax revenue saved over the past few years.

Councilman Sam Wilson of Georgetown voted against the resolution.

Seaford Mayor David Genshaw told council members that the city has a letter of intent from a developer to purchase 50 acres of the park.

Genshaw said the developer is initially planning to invest $4 million to $6 million to build a 50,000-square-foot complex of suites. “His plans are to get the first building occupied and move on from there,” he said.

Genshaw said he would announce the developer's name when the deal is complete. “To be honest, they wanted to purchase the entire park. We sort of held back and said we’ll sell half,” the mayor said.

“This project ties into our vision of growing new jobs, which is also Sussex County's vision,” Genshaw said.

The mayor said funds will come from the city, and officials are seeking funding from the Bond Bill through local legislators and the Transportation Infrastructure Fund as well as other grant options.

“Sussex County's involvement would add velocity to this project,” the mayor said.

City Manager Charles Anderson said the cost of infrastructure – including roads, utilities, water and sewer – will be $1.9 million for the first phase of the project. He said Phase 1 is expected to get underway in early spring 2021 and be ready for the developer to start construction in fall 2021. The city’s budget provides $600,000 for the project with more funds expected in the fiscal year 2022 budget. Proceeds from the sale of the land will also be reinvested in the business campus.

Anderson said the price per acre in the park is $12,000, and the estimated cost for the complete 100-acre infrastructure buildout will be about $8 million.

Land in the city's two existing industrial/business parks – Seaford Industrial Park and Ross Business Park – is sold out. Existing companies include a 101,000-square-foot FedEx distribution center, the headquarters of Orient Chemical, and Craig Technologies.

The entrance, which has been approved by DelDOT officials, will be off Herring Run Road with access to Route 13.

Lawson said council approved more than $1 million in the fiscal year 2021 budget for development of a business park in western Sussex. In addition, he said, the comprehensive plan includes a strategy to explore partnerships for the development of additional industrial parks in the county.