LEWES, Del. - Dutchman's Harvest workforce housing project is making major progress on Savannah Road in Lewes, after breaking ground in summer 2024.
Developer Preston Schell tells CoastTV people should be living in some of the development by the end of the month.
The project will include 140 multi-family units available to those that are part of the workforce in the Lewes area. 98 units will be sold closer to market rate but still $100,000 to $150,000 below market rate.
42 units are further discounted and income-qualifying, with 14 units majorly discounted, thanks to ARPA funds from the city of Lewes. Families making 65 percent or less of the area median income have discounted prices. Costs will be approximately $100,000 for a one bedroom and $150,000 for a two bedroom. Those 14 units have all been sold. The remaining 28 discounted units are for-rent units that will be available in 4-5 months.
Schell says 32 units total are under contract at this time.
Local Bill Zak says this is an asset to the community.
"It's always been a concern for me personally," said Zak. "People shouldn't have to drive an hour to work because they can't find any affordable housing in the area."
Longtime local Jeri Berc says she hopes Dutchman's Harvest can offset the rapid growth in the area.Â
"There's been an explosion of residential development, which is very concerning because there isn't that infrastructure to support them," said Berc. "And one of those infrastructures is affordable housing."