Mixed use, mixed feelings: Rooftop business and apartments proposed in Milford

MILFORD, Del. — A small vacant lot in Milford could be transformed into a four-story mixed-use building, featuring up to 16 apartment units and several commercial spaces — if developer Zack King gets the approvals he needs.

King, who is spearheading the project, says affordable housing is his top priority. He says he's striving for sub $1000 one bedroom places and sub $1400 two bedroom apartments.

“I think that’s why the board passed our density variance,” said King. “The number of units might seem excessive, but we’re not required to have on-site parking, and we’ve shrunk the size of each unit to fit the lot.”

King's proposal includes a rooftop restaurant and bar, along with a potential business in the building’s basement.

“The more commercial space we can fit into a building, the more rental income we can generate from those tenants — which reduces how much we need to charge for the apartments,” he added.

However, not everyone in the neighborhood is on board. Reinhold Longenbach, who lives nearby, said the building would stand out uncomfortably among surrounding properties.

“The property is going to be taller than the other properties in the neighborhood by one to two stories,” said  Longenbach.

He also expressed concerns about potential disturbances and safety issues related to the proposed rooftop bar.

“When they do something on a rooftop, you’re going to have noise everywhere, especially with the height,” said Longenbach. “And you’re going to have an issue with things being thrown off the roof. It’s just going to happen. Rooftop bars — you can see, things get pushed off.”

The proposed building is also located in Milford's historic district.

While the Milford Board of Adjustment approved variances related to density and width, the height of the proposed building was rejected at Thursday's public hearing. The project will be discussed in front of the Planning Commission and City Council later this month.