Rehoboth Beach extends demolition permit for hotel project again

REHOBOTH BEACH, Del. - The City of Rehoboth Beach has granted a second extension allowing demolition work to continue at the One Rehoboth development site through June 27 due to ongoing safety concerns.

The extension applies to the demolition of the former Grotto’s Pizza and Sirocco Motel buildings on Baltimore Avenue, where work is part of a proposed hotel project by the Onix Group. The city’s seasonal moratorium typically restricts demolition and major construction between May 15 and Sept. 15 to limit disruptions during the busy summer season.

Demolition work will be permitted from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. on weekdays only.

Demolition began in late April, but the city says that as crews removed the beach store at the front of the former Sirocco Motel, they discovered the building’s structural integrity was compromised. As a result, the Onix Group plans to use a 70-foot high-reach excavator to complete the teardown quickly and safely.

“The building continues to pose a clear safety concern,” says City Manager Taylour Tedder. “This second extension has been granted so that the developer may remove the dangerous structure safely and as expeditiously as possible.”

The project is one of the most closely watched redevelopment efforts in Rehoboth Beach’s downtown corridor, drawing attention from both locals and visitors.

Local Beverly Billingsley says the timing of the demolition was poor to begin with.

"I don't know what the city council was thinking when they decided to allow this to happen during the the high season, because it certainly is not very pretty, and it disrupts the families that come down here and come to the beach," said Billingsley.

Jim Mandell was one person eyeing the progress Friday.

"It's hard to to start a project of this magnitude and stay within the confines of the time. So it's not convenient and maybe it doesn't look as nice, but it'll be done in a few weeks, and then the rest of the summer will be finished," said Mandell.