Dover's Vision for Vitality

Joe Myer, Director of NCALL, highlighting action steps in the plan.

(l to r) Delaware State Housing Director Anas Ben Addi, Chair of Restoring Central Dover Joe Myer and Dover City Manager Scott Koenig after the news conference to announce the executive summary of the plan.

Booklet containing the executive summary of the Restoring Central Dover plan.

Dover residents, community groups, neighborhood-based institutions, city representatives and local businesses voiced their ideas about restoring the vitality of Central Dover over the past year. At a news conference on November 17, 2014, the National Council on Agriculture Life and Labor Research Fund, Inc. (NCALL) Director Joe Myer unveiled the executive summary of the Restoring Central Dover (https://www.dropbox.com/s/14m1hykh65cvufx/RCD_executive_summary.pdf?dl=0) plan that incorporates that input. The recommendations for restoring Central Dover outline achievable strategies that can be implemented over a five-year period. The plan lays the foundation for future opportunities to fully realize Central Dover's potential as a great place to live, work and play.

The strategies are organized in three goal areas:

• A Strong Community which includes building community capital, increasing public safety, engaging youth in the community and expanding adult and family services.
   
• Positive Development which consists of strengthening existing housing, supporting new development, reinvesting in commercial corridors and ensuring equitable economic development.
   
• An Integrated Public Realm and Infrastructure involves improving transportation options and mobility, in addition to enhancing open spaces and expanding green infrastructure.

The action steps listed under the three goals range from short to intermediate and long term steps. The City Manager Scott Koenig and Delaware State Housing Authority Director Anas Ben Addi praised the plan that is estimated to cost $33.3 million to implement over the next five years.

"It's an excellent job well done! It's one of the documents we can use to work with the City to look at policies," said Koenig. "It seems like a lot of money, but how much would it cost us if we don't implement it?"

According to Myer, the plan is subject to change as efforts evolve, as new partnerships and collaborations take place and as new funding becomes available. The City used the plan as part of its application for the state's Downtown Development District (http://destatehousing.com/FormsAndInformation/infomedia/ddd_program_manual.pdf) (DDD) grant program which is designed to spur private capital investment in commercial business districts and other neighborhoods, to stimulate job growth and to improve housing opportunities.

"You get access to a menu of options," said Ben Addi whose agency will administer the grant funds.

He explained that selection to the DDD program will entitle private construction projects within the identified District to receive grants to offset 20% of their capital construction costs along with a host of other benefits. District designations last for 10 years with the potential for up to two five year extensions.

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