Minutes

PARKS, RECREATION, AND COMMUNITY ENHANCEMENT COMMITTEE The Parks, Recreation, and Community Enhancement Committee Meeting was held on October 13, 2014, at 3:30 p.m. with Chairman Dixon presiding. Members present were Mr. Hutchison, Mr. Anderson (arrived at 3:45 p.m.), Mr. Caldwell, and Mrs. Horsey. Mayor Christiansen was also present. AGENDA ADDITIONS/DELETIONS Chairman Dixon requested that item #3, Update - Recreation Needs Assessment, be moved to be considered as item #1, with items #1 and #2 becoming items #2 and #3 respectively. Mr. Hutchison moved for approval of the agenda, as amended, seconded by Mrs. Horsey and unanimously carried. Update - Recreation Needs Assessment Mrs. Ann Marie Townshend, Director of Planning and Community Development, provided members with the displays that were utilized during the public workshops. She advised members that three (3) public workshops were held for the Recreation Needs Assessment and that, although no one attended the first two (2) workshops, the third workshop was well attended. Mrs. Townshend reviewed the map on display that depicted the walk and bicycle zones in the larger parks and noted that the majority of the residential areas in the City of Dover, there are recreational resources situated in close proximity to residents. She reminded members that a survey was conducted and that to date, there have been 429 responses. She stated that Wednesday, October 15, 2014, is the last day the survey will be available for the public at which time, staff will gather the data from the survey and then develop recommendations based on that data. Mrs. Townshend stated it is her hope to have a solid draft in December to be presented to the Committee and that additional workshops be held in early January to allow for public feedback and then in February/March a final recommendation be presented for adoption. Mrs. Townshend relayed appreciation for the work provided by Ms. Carolyn Courtney, noting that she has been responsible for much of the work involved with his project, including all public relations, completion of survey, etc. Responding to Mr. Hutchison, Mrs. Townshend stated that the survey data will be combed through to determine those responses submitted by City of Dover residents and those who reside outside of the City limits. Mr. Hutchison requested that Staff provide a comprehensive breakdown of all recreation provided to include what is provided by the State of Delaware (in Kent County), Kent County, Boys and Girls Club, local churches, schools, etc.

PARKS, RECREATION, AND COMMUNITY ENHANCEMENT COMMITTEE MEETING OF OCTOBER 13, 2014 PAGE 2 Benchmarks Established for the Economic Development Office Mr. Bill Neaton, Economic Development Director, reviewed the benchmarks and results that were established for the Economic Development Office, which includes the Downtown Dover Partnership (DDP), Downtown Dover Business Growth, and City-Wide Economic Development. Mr. Neaton announced that he was just recently elected the Executive Director of the DDP. At his request, Mr. Ed Perez, Downtown Coordinator, reviewed the benchmarks related to the DDP. Referring to the number of new businesses in the downtown target area, he noted that the report reflects four (4) new businesses; however, since its printing, there have been two (2) additional new businesses for a total of six (6) and eight (8) new jobs. Of the six (6) new businesses, four (4) are minority/women owned businesses. Mr. Perez referred to the strategic objective: Advance Initiatives of the Downtown Dover Partnership - Develop a recruitment strategy to attract new business to downtown with the assistance of the Recruitment Subcommittee of the Economic Development Committee. He stated that although this is an ongoing project, the DDP is a part of the Kent County “Open for Business”, which is a group of economic development network partners, such as the Small Business Administration, DDP, Economic Development Office, USDA, Delaware State University, Del Tech, Kent County Executive Director, Score, etc., with the Chamber of Commerce serving as the lead. This project gives an opportunity for individuals wishing to establish a business, to seek resources at a “one-stop shop”. To date, there have been 12 inquiries regarding a desire to open small businesses. He explained that although this does not necessarily mean that there will be 12 additional businesses, it does mean that meetings were held with 12 individuals who have a concept, and are either looking for space, financing, technical assistance in putting their business together, etc. In addition, he stated that the DDP is a part of the Kent County Network Group that established the Annual Summit. Mr. Perez stated that the DDP continues to update the marketing brochure which includes a current vacant property list and a map of the downtown district and is made available on the DDP Website. Mr. Neaton advised members that recently, he and the Mayor met with individuals interested in property in the downtown area. He had requested that the vacant property list be updated and was pleasantly surprised that there were only a few store fronts that remain available, noting that downtown Dover is beginning to revitalize. It was his feeling that this is the result of a very active Merchants Committee that is a part of the DDP. As a part of DDP’s support to NCALL, Mr. Perez assured members that information and support is continuously being provided to NCALL for the “Restoring Central Dover” initiative. The DDP is currently involved with the Positive Outcome and Strong Community Subcommittees and just completed the final phase of the plan that will be reviewed and submitted for a grant. Responding to Mr. Hutchison’s question to Mr. Perez regarding the Loockerman Exchange and the old Library location, Mayor Christiansen stated that there are two (2) possibilities for the use of the Loockerman Exchange, one (1) of which is contingent upon the State of Delaware awarding grant money to Main Street and the other is the development of upscale student housing, explaining that the owner of that property has met with individuals who are interested in such a concept.

PARKS, RECREATION, AND COMMUNITY ENHANCEMENT COMMITTEE MEETING OF OCTOBER 13, 2014 PAGE 3 In response to Mr. Hutchison regarding E-Z Pass, Mr. Neaton stated that he is in contact with Ms. Susan Forrester-Coates who is the TransCore Manager for E-Z Pass and reported that E-Z Pass is pleased with their facility in the downtown area. He noted that there are 85 employees and that there have been no parking problems. He noted that they have relayed some security concerns; however, he assured members that he, along with the Mayor and Police Chief, will be meeting with Ms. Forester-Coats to resolve these issues. Mr. Perez advised members that since E-Z Pass moved to downtown, other businesses have seen a spike in their sales volume. Mr. Caldwell relayed his pleasure with the business growth that has occurred in the downtown area over the past year and hopes that these efforts will continue in the future. In response to Mr. Anderson regarding the 2013-2014 results in the number of businesses opened in the Downtown Target Area, Mr. Perez explained that there were 15 new businesses that were open last year and that 24 jobs were created. Of those businesses, six (6) were minority owned and 11 were women owned, and seven (7) were of the service category, three (3) were of the retail category, and one (1) restaurant. During this same reporting period, he stated that there were ten (10) businesses that closed, which resulted in a net of five (5) additional businesses in the downtown target area. He explained that of those ten (10) businesses, there were over 27 employees and that some of these businesses were in operation for over 20 years (Simons, Delaware Made, Dreamer’s Gallery, and Smither’s). Mr. Neaton advised members that at the request of Mr. Hutchison, the Economic Development Office created a Development Incentives Awarded Report (Attachment #1). He stated that over the last five (5) years, there have been 45 incentive packages were issued varying from facade grants to tax abatements to impact fee waivers, etc. He noted that there was concern that incentive packages were being provided and then the business would close and there would be no return to the City for providing the incentives. As reflected in the report, he stated that none of those businesses that were provided an incentive have closed, which is an indication that the incentive packages are working as planned and as such, he urged their continuation. Review of Draft Downtown Development District Application and Proposed Resolution No. 2014-13 in Support of Application for Designation as a Downtown Development District Mrs. Ann Marie Townshend, Director of Planning and Community Development, advised members that the Delaware General Assembly enacted the Downtown Development District Act in June 2014. She explained that under this law, the Governor will designate three (3) Downtown Development Districts in the first round of designations, one (1) from each county. Development projects within designated Districts will be eligible for a 20% rebate for project costs over $25,000. She noted that the City of Dover is well positioned to submit a successful application for Downtown Development District designation, since the City has several redevelopment incentives in place. In addition, the City has two (2) master plan documents: The Dover Transit Center Neighborhood Plan and Design Book; and Restoring Central Dover, that complement each other in support of revitalizing the downtown.

PARKS, RECREATION, AND COMMUNITY ENHANCEMENT COMMITTEE MEETING OF OCTOBER 13, 2014 PAGE 4 Mrs. Townshend reminded members that staff had previously submitted the proposed District boundary and some proposed incentives that would be enacted if the City is designated as a Downtown Development District. She noted that the Downtown Development District application is due on November 1, 2014 and that although a draft application was provided to members for their review, staff will continue to refine the application prior to its presentation to City Council for approval during their Regular Meeting of October 27, 2014. Mrs. Townshend explained that there are three (3) components of the application for designation as a District, as follows: 1) the need and impact of the District designation, accounting for 50% of the consideration given to scoring each application; 2) the quality of the District Plan, accounting for 30% of the consideration given to scoring each application; and 3) the quality of the local incentives offered, accounting for 20% of the consideration given to scoring each application. Mrs. Townshend briefly reviewed the application as well as the numerous attachments that will be submitted. She distributed Attachment #2 of the application - Documentation of Need and Impact (Photographs) (Attachment #2) which was not included in the packet submitted to the committee, which will also be made a part of the Downtown Development District Application. Although Attachment #5 of the application - Letters of Support also was not included in the packet, she advised members that several letters have been received and that additional letters are anticipated, assuring members that they will be included in the presentation to City Council on October 27, 2014. Mrs. Townshend explained that once the application is submitted, the City will be bound to its contents. As an example, she explained that if the City includes an incentive that would provide a business license fee waiver for new businesses for three (3) years, the City cannot make any change to this incentive. She stated that if a Downtown Development District is designated for the City, and the City does not comply with the plan and does not follow through on incentives, the designation can be rescinded. Therefore, she stated that this application will result in a commitment from the City of Dover and require Code amendments. Members were provided Proposed Resolution No. 2014-13 for their review and recommendation. Mrs. Townshend advised members that such a Resolution is required to be submitted with the application that indicates the local government’s desire to apply for the designation as a District, and the local government’s willingness to adhere to the District Plan and the Local Incentives for the duration of the District designation. Staff recommended endorsement of the Draft Downtown Development District application, acknowledging that staff will continue to refine the application prior to final presentation to City Council, and adoption of Resolution No. 2014-13 as submitted. Mr. Hutchison relayed his support for the application and the desire to address home ownership, which he has been concerned for several years. He felt that the designation will help in this regard. Responding, Mrs. Townshend stated that there are partners that will also help such as Habitat for Humanity, Dover Housing Authority, etc. She also noted that with the CDBG Program, the proposed Consolidated Plan would allow, for purchases within the Downtown Development District, down

PARKS, RECREATION, AND COMMUNITY ENHANCEMENT COMMITTEE MEETING OF OCTOBER 13, 2014 PAGE 5 payment assistance and rehabilitation, explaining that a new property owner wishing to purchase property could obtain down payment assistance as well as rehabilitation funds from the City, noting that several properties in the area are in need of maintenance. Mr. Anderson thanked Staff for the work conducted on the project and Chairman Dixon for championing the Wells Fargo Grant, noting that the $90,000 has been helpful and an enormous value to the City. Noting that the designation will require the adoption of ordinances and that staff proposes their consideration in the Spring of 2015, he questioned if members would be committed to the language contained in the draft ordinances. Responding, Mrs. Townshend stated that the proposed Resolution is what is required to be adopted by City Council on October 27, 2014; however, in terms of any proposed ordinances, which are primarily related to the incentives, she stated that it is hoped to have them in place by the Spring of 2015. In order to do so, she stated that staff will begin drafting the proposed ordinances once the application is submitted and expects that they will be presented to members for their review and recommendation beginning in January 2015. In response to Mr. Anderson regarding the backlog in housing rehabilitation due to the decline in federal support, Mrs. Townshend stated that the City could provide some assistance in this matter through the rebates available through the Downtown Development District Program, although the first $25,000 would be out of pocket. She stated that other alternatives would be from the next phase of the Wells Fargo Foundation since housing rehabilitation is under funded. It is anticipated that the Steering Committee will continue under the leadership of NCALL and that the next grant application would provide funds for housing rehabilitation. She also noted that within the Restoring Central Dover Plan, there are different plans such as a volunteer based repair programs that have been successful in other locations and that Milford Housing has indicated an interest to work with the City on this a program. As a result, she felt confident that with the implementation of Restoring Central Dover, there will be other resources the City can investigate, explaining that the rebate provided under the Downtown Development District Program is only one of those resources. Responding to Mr. Anderson, Mrs. Townshend stated that it is anticipated that the Restoring Central Dover Plan will be finalized within the next two (2) months, noting that a draft was just recently submitted. Mrs. Horsey noted that according to Map #2B - Downtown Development District with the Land Development Plan per the 2008 Comprehensive Plan, there is a lot of mixed use within those boundaries and questioned if it would be desirable. Responding, Mrs. Townshend explained that Map #2B reflects the adopted Comprehensive Plan. She stated that Staff anticipates some degree of flexibility in zoning so that the strong residential area does show as medium density residential and the areas where there are a mix of uses. She felt as more planning has been done in the downtown area and as the Comprehensive Plan is updated, this area will be reviewed to determine the best way to move forward. Mrs. Townshend relayed her appreciation for those employees who have assisted in bringing this matter forward, Mr. Bill Cook, Planner I, and Mr. Jeremy Gibb, GIS Technician, who have dedicated a lot of their time on this project.

PARKS, RECREATION, AND COMMUNITY ENHANCEMENT COMMITTEE MEETING OF OCTOBER 13, 2014 PAGE 6 Mr. Anderson moved to recommend approval of staff’s recommendation for the endorsement of the Draft Downtown Development District application, acknowledging that staff will continue to refine the application prior to its final presentation to City Council and adoption of Resolution No. 2014-13, as submitted (Attachment #3). The motion was seconded by Mrs. Horsey and unanimously carried. [Clerk’s Office Note: Subsequent to the meeting, Mrs. Townshend submitted a revised Downtown Development District application for presentation to City Council during the regular meeting of October 27, 2014 (Attachment #4).] Mr. Hutchison moved for adjournment, seconded by Mr. Caldwell and unanimously carried. Meeting adjourned at 4:30 p.m. Wallace R. Dixon Chairman WRD/JG/mk/js/dd/tm S:\AGENDAS-MINUTES-PACKETS-PRESENTATIONS-ATT&EXH\Committee-Minutes\2014\10-13-2014 PR&CE.wpd Attachments Attachment #1 - Development Incentives Awarded Report Attachment #2 - Downtown Development District Application Attachment #2 - Documentation of Need and Impact Attachment #3 - Proposed Resolution No. 2014-13 Attachment #4 - Revised Downtown Development District Application

ATTACHMENT #1 PR&CE Committee Meeting of 10/13/2014

ATTACHMENT #2 PR&CE Committee Meeting of 10/13/2014

ATTACHMENT #3 PR&CE Committee Meeting of 10/13/2014 City of Dover MAYOR AND COUNCIL 1 DRAFT PROPOSED COUNCIL RESOLUTION NO. 2014-13 2 A RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT OF APPLICATION FOR DESIGNATION AS A DOWNTOWN 3 DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT 4 WHEREAS, under the Downtown Development Districts Act, 22 Del.C. §§ 1901 et seq. (the "Act"), 5 the State of Delaware may designate districts within Delaware's cities, towns, and unincorporated areas that 6 will qualify for significant development incentives and other State benefits; and 7 WHEREAS, these districts are known as Downtown Development Districts ("Districts"); and 8 WHEREAS, the State is accepting applications for the designation of the initial round of Districts, 9 with such applications being due on November 1, 2014; and 10 WHEREAS, under the Act, each applicant must submit a plan that includes the boundaries of, and 11 a detailed planning and development strategy for, the proposed District (the "District Plan"); and 12 WHEREAS, under the Act, each applicant must also propose incentives that address local economic 13 and community conditions, and that will help achieve the purposes set forth in the Act (the "Local 14 Incentives"); and 15 WHEREAS, if an application is successful and the City receives District designation, the District 16 Plan and Local Incentives proposed by an applicant shall be binding upon the applicant; and 17 WHEREAS, the incentives associated with designation as a Downtown Development District would 18 greatly benefit current and future residents, businesses, non-profit organizations, and others within the City 19 of Dover; and 20 WHEREAS, the City Council of the City of Dover strongly believes that it is in the best interest of 21 the City of Dover to apply for District designation. 22 NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT: 23 1. The City Council supports the Application for Designation as a Downtown Development District 24 prepared by the Dover Planning Office and dated October 27, 2014 (the "Application"); and 25 2. The City of Dover is authorized to appoint a District administrator (the "Administrator") to file 26 the Application on behalf of the City, and to provide such other documents and information as 27 may be necessary or desirable in connection with the Application; and P.O. Box 475 ˜ Dover, Delaware ˜19903 Community Excellence Through Quality Service

DRAFT PROPOSED COUNCIL RESOLUTION NO. 2014-13 PAGE 2 28 3. If the Application is successful and the City of Dover receives notice that it has been selected for 29 designation as a District: 30 a. The City shall adhere to the District Plan and the Local Incentives contained in the 31 Application for the duration of the District designation; and 32 b. The Administrator, or his or her designee(s), is authorized to execute such documents and 33 enter into such agreements as may be necessary or desirable in connection with the 34 Downtown Development Districts program and the rights and obligations of the City of 35 Dover thereunder; and 36 c. The Administrator, or his or her designee(s), is authorized to carry out all District 37 administrative and reporting requirements on behalf of the City of Dover for the duration of 38 the District. 39 ADOPTED: * 40 S:\RESOLUTIONS-PROCLAMATIONS-TRIBUTES\2014\Draft\Resolution No. 2014-13 In Support of the Application for Designation as a Downtown Development District.wpd 41 42 ROBIN R. CHRISTIANSEN DAVID L. BONAR 43 MAYOR COUNCIL PRESIDENT 44 Actions History: 45 October 13, 2014 - Introduced at Parks, Recreation, and Community Enhancement Committee

ATTACHMENT #4 PR&CE Committee Meeting of 10/13/2014

Downtown Development District Program How to Use this Application Form This application is a Microsoft Word document that has been modified. The text in the document is “locked” meaning that you can’t edit it. The fields where you are supposed to enter information are “open” allowing you to type or paste information into these fields. The fields that can be edited are in gray. First, we recommend that you save this document with a unique file name that includes the name of your jurisdiction. An example would be “DDD-Application-Dagsboro.” Then you can work on the document without fear of overwriting it, and when you send it to us we will know who it came from (and we won’t be in danger of overwriting it). Some of the fields are informational in nature, such as places to type in the name and address of your jurisdiction. It should be relatively straightforward to type this information in and save it. Some of the fields are check boxes, which are similarly straightforward. Many of the fields are questions that ask you to respond in either 100 or 750 words. You might find it helpful to write and edit your responses in a separate Word document and then paste them in to the application once they are complete. The 100 word statement is to be used internally for review and in printed materials where we need a concise description of each proposed District. Almost all other questions are suggested to be no more than 750 words, which is about a page and a half of text (using 12 point font). In these responses it is important to clearly and concisely answer each question. Your District Plan can go into much more detail about each topic, and it is appropriate and expected that you will reference your District Plan in these 750 word responses. There is no penalty for exceeding 750 words, but if you find that you are writing much more than 750 words please consider putting the additional information in your District Plan. There are numerous attachments mentioned throughout this application. The most obvious one will be the District Plan. The application also asks for various maps, spreadsheets, letters of support, resolutions and data to be attached associated with particular questions. Please compile all of the attachments into one Adobe Acrobat (.pdf) document. It would be wonderful if you could include a table of contents, and organize these attachments in the order of the questions. It is likely that when you are done with the application form (Word document) and the attachments (.pdf document) the combination of both documents will be larger than 15mb, which is the limit for external email in the State system. In these cases, we will arrange for you to have access to a sftp file transfer site to upload your documents. Email the OMB Application Team at OMB_APP_Team@state.de.us to request an account and a password to upload the file. You must include the following information in your email in order for the OMB Application Team to process your account access: Name, Company, Email Address, and Phone Number. OSPC will provide technical assistance with Census data and GIS mapping if requested by local governments that can demonstrate the need for the assistance. We will provide assistance to all local governments on the technical aspects of completing this application and transmitting / uploading finished applications. To request assistance or if you have questions about any part of this application or the program in general please contact your Circuit Rider Planner at the Office of State Planning Coordination, (302) 739-3090.

Downtown Development Districts Application for Designation as a District Section I Completed applications will be General Guidelines considered by the Cabinet Committee on State Planning Issues (the Committee). The Committee will make The Downtown Development Districts recommendations to the Governor, who Act of 2014 (the Act) was enacted by the will then designate between one and General Assembly in order to: three Downtown Development Districts in the current program year. Additional • Spur private capital investment in Districts may be designated in future commercial business districts and program years. The number of Districts other neighborhoods; is limited to 15 at any one time. District • Stimulate job growth and designations last for 10 years, and the improve the commercial vitality Committee can consider up to two five of such districts and year extensions. neighborhoods; • Help build a stable community of Selection as a Downtown Development long term residents by improving District will entitle private construction housing opportunities; and projects within the identified District to • Assist local governments in receive grants to offset 20% of their strengthening neighborhoods capital construction costs. There are a while harnessing the attraction host of other benefits that will be that vibrant downtowns hold for described in more detail in other talented people, innovative small materials. Grant funds will be businesses and residents from all administered by the Delaware State walks of life. Housing Authority (DSHA). Local governments1 that wish to take Applications must be addressed to the advantage of this program must identify Office of State Planning Coordination as a downtown district in their community follows: and apply for designation. To make an application for designation this form Mrs. Constance C. Holland, AICP must be completed, supporting materials Director must be attached, and the entire packet Office of State Planning Coordination submitted to the Office of State Planning 122 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd, S. Coordination as detailed herein in order Dover, DE 19901 for the request to be considered. 1 Municipalities and counties are eligible to Application Due Date for apply for Downtown Development District FY15 Cycle: designation. Throughout this document, the terms “local government” and “applicant” refer November 1, 2014 to either the municipality or county that is presenting the application. Released: August 1, 2014 2

Downtown Development Districts Application for Designation as a District plan and land use regulations support the Section II application for the District. Specific Requirements The Act identifies three components of Local governments must identify the application for designation as a proposed Downtown Development District: Districts in accordance with the Act. Districts must include a traditional • The need and impact of the mixed-use downtown area, commonly District designation; known as a Central Business District • The quality of the District Plan (CBD)2. Districts must be no more than • The quality of the local 85 acres in area for jurisdictions with a incentives offered population under 9,0003 persons, no more than 170 acres in area for Each of these components will now be jurisdictions with a population between described in more detail. 9,000 and 30,000 persons, and no more than 225 acres in area for jurisdictions Need and Impact: The applicant must with a population over 30,001 persons. describe the need for the economic Applicants are encouraged to incentives that will be available in geographically concentrate the designated District. The need must be incentives to the greatest extent possible. documented through the use of relevant data and other methods. The conditions The size and shape of the proposed of the local economy, income, poverty, District must make sense from an urban homeownership rates, prevalence of planning and revitalization perspective. vacant or abandoned buildings and other The applicant must fully describe the metrics may be used to make the case rationale for choosing the boundaries as that the proposed District is in need of a part of this application. Guidelines for the incentives. preparing District boundaries are found elsewhere in this application. In addition, the applicant must describe the potential positive impacts that are A map of the District is required as a likely to accrue due to designation as a part of this application. Local District. Applicants are encouraged to governments must also supply maps describe the impacts using both data and showing the future land use and zoning other methods. of the district area, and discuss how the The Need and Impact section will 2 Central Business District: An area around the account for 50% of the consideration downtown portion of the city or town allowing given to scoring each application. for higher intensity residential uses as well as commercial, office, personal services, governmental, and similar uses intended to serve District Plan – The local government the community and surrounding areas of the city must present a District Plan that will be or town. used to guide development activities and 3 Population to be based on the 2010 US Census. Released: August 1, 2014 3

Downtown Development Districts Application for Designation as a District revitalization efforts in the District. The Local Incentives – The local District Plan is to be a detailed government must detail a package of description of the overall strategy for the local development incentives that will development of a proposed district. apply within the proposed District. These incentives may include, but are The applicant must demonstrate that the not limited to, a reduction in fees or District Plan is consistent with the local taxes; regulatory flexibility; permit government’s certified Comprehensive process and licensing reform; special Plan and the Strategies for State Policies zoning districts; or exemptions from and Spending and any other local local ordinances. These incentives may planning documents or studies that are either be currently in place and in use by applicable. Additionally, if other the municipality or county or they may governmental, non-governmental and/or be proposed for implementation upon quasi governmental organizations are designation as a District. involved with revitalization efforts in the downtown area they must be identified Upon designation as a District the local and it must be demonstrated that government is required to implement the coordination of all activities will be part incentive package as described and of the District Plan. proposed for the duration of the District designation. Grant funds will not be The District Plan should clearly and available to projects until the incentive concisely describe the key actions and package is adopted by the local strategies that are in place and / or will government and made available to the be used to guide growth and project developer. Changes to the revitalization efforts in the proposed incentive package must be approved by District. The overall vision of the plan, the Committee. The District designation the clarity of actions to be taken, and may be rescinded by the Committee if proof of the ability and the will of the these conditions are not adhered to. municipality or county and other partners to implement the plan will be The quality of the Local Incentives will key considerations when evaluating this account for 20% of the consideration section of the application. given to scoring each application. Changes to the District Plan must be Section III reviewed by the Committee. District Application Instructions designation may be rescinded if the District Plan is not adhered to. Check List - self-explanatory. The quality of the District Plan will account for 30% of the consideration Information Sheet - The local given to scoring each application. government must supply the jurisdiction's name, mailing address, and phone numbers. The applicant must provide the date of the last update of the Released: August 1, 2014 4

Downtown Development Districts Application for Designation as a District comprehensive plan and briefly describe form, along with any relevant supporting the District being proposed. documentation. Map of the Proposed District – The Written Documentation from local government must submit a map of Supporting Organizations – The local the proposed District in sufficient detail government must supply written to clearly identify the boundaries of the documentation from other organizations District and calculate its area. Maps that will be relied upon to implement the should be created with GIS software, District Plan. The documentation must and the associated computer files should be attached to the “Summary of District be made available to aid our review of Plan” form. the proposal. Districts must be contiguous, and be no more than 85 Summary of Local Incentives – The acres in area for local governments with local government must complete this a population under 9,000 persons, no form to summarize the local incentive more than 170 acres in area for package to be made available within the jurisdictions with a population between District upon designation. The local 9,000 and 30,000 persons, and no more ordinances (or other regulations or than 225 acres in area for jurisdictions documentation) enabling and governing with a population over 30,001 persons. these incentives must be attached to this There are guidelines detailed elsewhere form, along with any relevant supporting in this application that must be followed documentation. In the case of incentives when preparing the proposed District proposed upon designation, the draft boundaries. Applicants must also supply ordinances must be attached. maps showing the future land use and zoning of the district area, and discuss Legislative Body Resolution – The how the plan and land use regulations local government must attach an adopted support the application for the District. resolution from the jurisdiction’s legislative body that indicates the local Summary of Need and Impact – The government’s desire to apply for local government must complete this designation as a District, and the local form to summarize the need for District government’s willingness to adhere to designation and the potential positive the District Plan and the Local impact of the district. Supporting Incentives for the duration of the District documentation should be attached to this designation. form. Summary of District Plan – The local government must complete this form to summarize the District Plan for the proposed District. Copies of the District Plan or Plans must be attached to this Released: August 1, 2014 5

Downtown Development Districts Application for Designation as a District Application Cover Sheet and Check List Jurisdiction Name: City of Dover Date of Application October 27, 2014 Date Received Check List for Application Materials Application Cover Sheet and Check List. Information Sheet. Map of the Proposed District (GIS files encouraged). Map of Future Land Use in Proposed District (GIS files encouraged) Map of Zoning in Proposed District (GIS files encouraged) Summary of Need and Impact (with attachments). Summary of District Plan (with attachments). Written Documentation from Supporting Organizations. Summary of Local Incentives (with attachments). Legislative Body Resolution. Released: August 1, 2014 6

Downtown Development Districts Application for Designation as a District Information Sheet Municipality / County: City of Dover ______________________________________________ Contact Person for Application Proposed District Administrator (if different) Name: Ann Marie Townshend Name: Address: PO Box 475, Dover, DE 19903 Address: Phone: 302-736-7196 Phone: Email: atownshend@dover.de.us Email: Signature Date Signature Date Date of certified Comprehensive Plan Adopted February 9, 2009 - Certified April 24, 2009 Population of the municipality or county (as per 2010 US Census) 36,041 Population of proposed District (based on 2010 US Census Block data) 1,989 Area of proposed District in acres 220 Brief description of the proposed Downtown Development District (100 words or less) Note: this description will be used as a summary for internal review and in printed materials The proposed Downtown Development District encompasses the heart of Dover's downtown Central Business District and the adjoining residential neighborhoods. The proposed District is prime for redevelopment, but presents significant challenges as well. The proposed District includes the area generally bounded by Mary Street to the north, Water Street to the south, the railroad tracks to the west, and State Street/Governors Avenue to the east. It also includes the portion of Lincoln Park east of Cherry Street. Lincoln Park is a historically African-American middle class neighborhood immediately west of the railroad tracks. The east side of this neighborhood has experienced a deterioration of the housing stock in recent years due to high concentrations of rental properties. Released: August 1, 2014 7

Downtown Development Districts Application for Designation as a District Map of the Proposed Downtown Development District Instructions: Prepare a map of the proposed Downtown Development District. The map must clearly show the boundaries of the District. The area of the proposed District, in acres, must be calculated from the boundaries designated on the map. The following guidelines must be adhered to when preparing the boundaries of the proposed District: • The maximum size of the District is 85 acres for local governments with populations below 9,000, 170 acres for local governments with a population between 9,000 and 30,000, and 225 acres for local governments with populations over 30,001 (population as per the 2010 US Census). • Districts must be contiguous. • Districts must include the streets and right-of-ways within it. These count towards the maximum acreage. • Enclaves within District boundaries are not acceptable. • Prioritizing, phasing and /or timing of redevelopment activities in different geographic areas of the District is acceptable, and will be considered favorably when it can be demonstrated that this will concentrate the incentives to achieve specific revitalization goals. • If any portion of the proposed District is in the floodplain, the FEMA floodplain map must be included as a layer on the map. Contact OSPC for technical assistance if needed. Attach the map of the proposed Downtown Development District Attach a map showing the future land use in the proposed District from the municipality’s or county’s certified Comprehensive Plan. Attach a map showing the zoning or land use regulations that apply to lands within the District. Discuss how the plan and land use regulations support the application for the District. It is encouraged that the map(s) be created using GIS software. If the municipality or county is able to use this software, please submit digital files to our office to supplement the application and aid us in our review. Please contact OSPC if you need assistance and / or to arrange to electronically transfer the files. District Boundaries Map Attached GIS data is available and will be electronically transferred to OSPC Name of person who created the map: Jeremy Gibb Phone 302-736-7025 Email jgibb@dover.de.us Released: August 1, 2014 8

Downtown Development Districts Application for Designation as a District Map of the Proposed Downtown Development District - continued Describe the rationale for choosing the boundaries of the proposed District (please limit your response to 750 words or less). The proposed District was chosen based on a number of critical factors. The City's Downtown Redevelopment Target Area (Target Area) is defined in Dover Code. This Target Area is over 400 acres, so we knew that we needed to shrink the area for our District. In determining how to shrink the area, we focused primarily on Need and Impact. We removed areas where the need is not as great and where the beneficiaries would be institutional users. Areas that are within the City's Target Area defined by code but not within the proposed District boundary include the State of Delaware complex, the east side of The Green, Wesley College, and Bayhealth Medical Center. The proposed District includes the traditional Central Business District along Loockerman Street, the commercial and residential neighorhoods radiating from Loockerman Street, and the eastern portion of the Lincoln Park neighborhood. These areas include old buildings which have deteriorated over time, vacant land, and a variety of socioeconomic challenges. Attach a map showing the future land use of the District from the local government’s certified Comprehensive Plan. Map Attached GIS data is available and will be electronically transferred to OSCP Attach a map showing the zoning or land use regulations that apply to lands within the District Map Attached GIS data is available and will be electronically transferred to OSPC Released: August 1, 2014 9

Downtown Development Districts Application for Designation as a District Map of the Proposed Downtown Development District - continued Discuss how the plan and land use regulations support the application for the District (Please limit your response to 750 words or less). The Land Development Plan (Map 12-1 from the 2008 Comprehensive Plan) shows most of the area within the proposed Downtown Development District as a Land Use Classification of "Mixed Use," which would allow for a variety of zoning designations. The eastern portion of the Lincoln Park neighborhood, just west of the railroad tracks, and the northwest residential area of the District are shown as "Residential Medium Density." The far northwest corner, principally the area where Teal Construction is located (West Street, south of Mary Street), is identified as "Industrial and Public Utilities." The Transit Center, located at the corner of Water and South Queen Streets, and properties owned by Wesley College in the northeast portion of the District are identified as "Institutional." All zoning in the District complies with the Land Use Classifications in the Land Development Plan. The proposed District includes a number of different zoning classifications. The commercial district surrounding Loockerman Street is principally C-2 (Central Commercial Zone), which allows for a mix of commercial and residential uses. There is no parking requirement associated with this zone, and properties can be built without building setbacks. This zone was developed with the intent of allowing for traditional downtown development and uses. The residential areas within the District are principally RG-1 (General Residence Zone). This zone allows primarily one-family detached residences. The bulk standards allow for smaller setbacks and greater lot coverage than the One-Family Residence zones. Many of the RG-1 properties within the proposed District are legal, non-conforming with respect to the current bulk standards. There is a provision within the RG-1 Zone that allows for administrative waivers of bulk standards for lots that do not conform with current minimum lot size and dimension requirements. This allows for many of the small lots to be developed without needing to apply to the Board of Adjustment for a variance. Within the RG-1 Zone, many single-family detached homes had previously been converted to roominghouses or apartments. In 2003 and 2006, the City of Dover changed the provisions of the zone to prohibit roominghouses and the conversion of single family homes to apartments. These amendments also to apply restrictions for student housing. There are still many legal-nonconforming apartment houses and student homes. There are also illegal roominghouses that the Department of Planning and Inspections identifies and addresses through routine housing inspections. The Restoring Central Dover Plan identifies the need to evaluate the RG-1 Zone to allow for a variety of housing types. The Planning Office has begun working on the development of infill standards and the ability to construct different housing styles within the RG-1 Zone; however, these amendments are not imminent. The area along State Street is largely RGO (General Residence and Office), which allows for a variety of residential and office uses. Other zones within the District include C-1A (Limited Released: August 1, 2014 10

Downtown Development Districts Application for Designation as a District Commercial), C-2A (Limited Central Commercial), IO (Institutional and Office), C-3 (Service Commercial), and RG-4 (General Residence Zone for Multi-Story Apartments). The eastern portion of the District and the central portion of the District are also located within the Historic District Zone. This Zone is subject to the Design Standards and Guidelines for the City of Dover Historic District Zone and also to oversight by the Historic District Commission for exterior improvements to buildings and properties. Within the Historic District Zone, exterior improvements are subject to an Architectural Review Certificate, which is approved by the City Planner, the Historic District Commission, or the Planning Commission, depending on the degree of the proposed improvement. The Standards and Guidelines help to protect the historic character of the downtown; however, the presence of the Historic District Zone also adds a layer of review for new construction that adds additional time to the review of new development. The Planning Office is evaluating options for amending the process to allow for a more streamlined review without sacrificing the integrity of the Historic District. The goals of the 2008 Comprehensive Plan, in several chapters and in the Land Development Plan, support the application for the Downtown Development District. A copy of the 2008 Comprehensive Plan Goals is attached with the related goals highlighted. Are there other special overlays, districts, or areas that intersect the proposed District? Examples of such special areas include historic districts, BID taxing districts, etc. Please describe any of these special areas and how they will interact with the proposed Downtown Development District. Include maps, if applicable. (Please limit your response to 750 words or less). There are a number of special boundaries that intersect the proposed District. These include: the Downtown Redevelopment Target Area, the Business Improvement District, and the Historic District Zone. Maps are provided for each of these boundaries and how they relate to the proposed district. The Downtown Redevelopment Target Area is the geographic area defined in Dover Code of Ordinances (Appendix C) where the City offers redevelopment incentives. If successful in achieving the Downtown Development District designation, the City will review this boundary to determine how to incorporate the proposed District boundary. The boundary of the Business Improvement District includes three zones, where commercial property owners pay a Business Improvement District Tax that helps to support downtown revitalization efforts. The Business Improvement District Tax supports the operations of the Downtown Dover Partnership, which serves as Dover's Main Street organization. The Historic District Zone is the area of the City where specific guidelines and design standards are applied to ensure that the historic character of the area is preserved. There has been discussion about modifying the boundaries of the Historic District Zone, but even if modified there will always be a portion of the proposed Released: August 1, 2014 11

Downtown Development Districts Application for Designation as a District District within the Historic District Zone. The proposed District also includes two Historic Districts on the National Register of Historic Places, as well as sites and buildings individually listed on the National Register. A portion of the First State Heritage Park is also located within the proposed District, including a number of State museum sites. Released: August 1, 2014 12

Downtown Development Districts Application for Designation as a District Summary of Need and Impact 50% Instructions: Complete this form to document the need for the District designation and its potential to positively impact your community. Attachments of data and other documentation are required. There is no specific page or word limit on the information that can be attached, however please be aware that applications that provide clear and concise documentation that is directly related to the need and impact of the District proposal will be scored the highest. Please describe the need for the Downtown Development District designation in your community (please limit your response to 750 words or less). Dover's downtown was once a thriving hub of activity, including bustling businesses and well- kept residences. Like many downtowns, suburbanization and the prominance of auto oriented strip malls of Route 13 have left the downtown underutilized and deteriorating in some areas. A lot of energy in the last two decades has focused on downtown revitalization. There have been a number of successes along the way, but success has been spotty and often centered east of Governors Avenue. A number of factors have created impediments to achieving real success in downtown revitalzation. The deterioration of existing building stock and costs associated with renovation of buildings that have been neglected for decades, along with the deterioration of the downtown neighborhoods due to neglected housing stock, low homeownership rates, and crime, have created signficant challenges to downtown revitalization. True downtown revitalization cannot be realized without addressing the deterioration of the downtown neighborhoods that abut the Central Business District. Failure to address this deterioration not only jeopardizes revitalization of the Central Business District, but it also jeopardizes the stability of other residential neighborhoods just outside of the downtown area. Because the challenges are so significant, the costs of revitalization are high. Developers, builders, and potential property owners are often deterred from investing in the downtown because the cost of renovating or building on a property often exceeds the value of the property with the improvements. Prospective businesses are often undercapitalized and cannot complete building renovations necessary to make their shops code compliant, purchase their equipment and inventory, and pay expenses until they are able to turn a profit. There is a sense that it is easier and less expensive to build new somewhere else. Prospective homeowners are deterred by perceptions of safety and crime, as well as a high residental rental rate, and the deteriorated condition of much of the housing stock. This leaves much of the housing inventory in the downtown area as marginally compliant rental properties, many of which are owned by absentee or unresponsive landlords. Released: August 1, 2014 13

Downtown Development Districts Application for Designation as a District Since 2008, the City has taken a very strong stance on code enforcement and has demolished many deteriorated buildings both in the downtown area.While demolition eliminates the blight and safety issues associated with vacant, deteriorated buildings, it does little to revitalize the neighborhood, as it leaves vacant lots. To achieve success in revitalizing the downtown neighborhood, replacing demolished buildings with new, occupied homes or other structures is necessary. The Restoring Central Dover Plan identifies strategies to address both the deterioration in the downtown neighborhoods and the economic revitalization of the downtown business district. Released: August 1, 2014 14

Downtown Development Districts Application for Designation as a District Summary of Need and Impact – continued 50% Attach relevant data to that demonstrates and documents the need for the Downtown Development District designation. The following table summarizes the required data from the US Census. Input the data into the summary spreadsheet provided, and attach any other written documentation that can summarize the data. Contact OSPC for assistance with the Census data, if needed. Required Data from the US Census The municipality or county as a whole Median Income Poverty Rate Age of Structures % Homeownership % Rental Vacancy Median Home Value The Census Tract(s) that contains the proposed District Median Income Poverty Rate Age of Structures % Homeownership % Rental Vacancy Median Home Value % Low / Mod Income The Census Block(s) that most closely correspond to the proposed District Total Population % Homeownership % Vacancy Summary spreadsheet and other documentation attached Please provide any other data that support the municipality’s application for the District. The following table contains some suggested data sources that can serve to supplement the required data. Please attach any that apply, and any other data that is relevant. Cite the source for each dataset. Suggested Data from a Variety of Sources Blight Condemned Properties Code Violations Crime Statistics Economic Analysis CDBG Program Statistics Market Studies Redevelopment Authority Activities Public Works Projects Education Data Infrastructure Condition or Need Other Additional data and documentation attached Released: August 1, 2014 15

Downtown Development Districts Application for Designation as a District Summary of Need and Impact – continued 50% Describe how the attached data demonstrates the need for the Downtown Development District designation in your community (please limit your response to 750 words or less). The data provided demonstrate the need for the Downtown Development District in Dover, and specifically in the area chosen for the District. 1. Housing - Based on the data from the 2010 Decennial Census (by Census block), 15.3% of housing units in the blocks comprising the District were vacant. Of the occupied housing units, 84.4% were rental, and only 15.5% were owner occupied (with or without a mortgage). By comparison, the American Community Survey for 2008-2012 shows a homeownership rate within the City of 55.1%. 2. Vacant and Dangerous Buildings - The District includes 49 registered vacant buildings, 7 buildings that have been declared dangerous by staff or City Council, and 25 lots where buildings have been demolished by either the City or the owner since 2008 due to a dangerous building declaration. A disproportionate number of vacant and dangerous buildings and lots where buildings have been demolished are located within the District and areas immediately surrounding the District. The designated dangerous buildings only reflect the worst of Dover's building stock. Many other buildings are in marginal but habitable condition, as demonstrated by the number of active code enforcement cases within the proposed District (See Map #4, 5 and 6). 3. Crime - Map #7 shows crime density within the District. Additionally, the Restoring Central Dover Plan shows several crime density maps, broken down by violent crimes, property crimes, and drug crimes. The highest concentrations of these crimes are within the area bounded by Loockerman, Queen, Division, and State Streets. 4. Poverty and Income - Unfortunately, poverty and income data are not available by Census block so it cannot be directly correlated to the District boundary; however, anecdotally and by looking at the housing statistics and condition, the Downtown Development District includes high concentrations of poverty, homelessness, and low income population. In looking at the block groups comprising the District, which is geographically larger than the District, 56.7% of household are low to moderate income. By contrast, the Census block groups which encompass the City of Dover (although a larger area than the incorporated boundary) show that 44.4% of households are low to moderate income. 5. CDBG Investment - The City of Dover has invested Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds to improve the downtown area through the housing rehabilitation, infrastructure rehabilitation, and support of the Dover Interfaith Men's Shelter over the past ten years. Street, sidewalk and curb rehabilitation was completed for areas of South New Street, South Queen Street, North West Street, North Kirkwood Street, and Mary Street between 2003 and 2006. Map #8 shows the locations and types of projects that the City has funded within the District using Released: August 1, 2014 16

Downtown Development Districts Application for Designation as a District CDBG funding. Describe the potential positive impacts of the proposed Downtown Development District designation in your community. Impacts can include economic, social and / or cultural impacts among others. Attach supporting documentation if applicable (please limit your response to 750 words or less). Downtown Development District designation has the potential to transform Downtown Dover. The City has struggled with downtown redevelopment for over two decades, and we have seen a number of successes. Unfortunately success has been hampered by the costs of downtown redevelopment and the challenges that face the residential neighborhoods of Central Dover, adjacent to the Central Business District. Designation as a Downtown Development District has the potential to address both of these challenges. As it relates to the costs of renovating deteriorated buildings, many of which were built before indoor plumbing and electric, the incentives that would be offered within the District by the State, Kent County, and the City of Dover significantly reduce the costs, allowing projects that would otherwise be infeasible to become feasible. In addition to incentives offered by the State, Kent County, and the City of Dover, the City will work with other partners, such as the Sustainable Energy Utility, NCALL, and the Kent County Association of Realtors to leverage additional resources. The Restoring Central Dover Plan is being developed with the assistance of a grant through the Wells Fargo Foundation. With the completion of the Plan and District designation, additional resources for Plan implementation may be available through the Wells Fargo Foundation. These funds would further leverage the public incentives and private investment. Through leveraging and pooling resources, projects that previously were infeasible may now be possible. The City of Dover and the Downtown Dover Partnership have developed a track record of success in transforming the vision of a vibrant downtown into a reality. With the plans in place and resources to support plan implementation and to leverage private investment, the City and the Downtown Dover Partnership are poised to seek out private sector development partners to bring the ideas identified in the District Plan to reality. Between November and March, the Downtown Dover Partnership and the City of Dover will hold a stakeholder/developer forum, and invite property owners, developers, and the real estate community, to share information about the Downtown Development District program and all of the potential resources and incentives available under the program, and to cultivate the partnerships necessary with the property owners and development community to encourage investment in their properties. As it relates to the residential neighborhoods that comprise the heart of Central Dover, the Released: August 1, 2014 17

Downtown Development Districts Application for Designation as a District Restoring Central Dover Plan offers a variety of implementation measures that would address the physical, social and economic challenges that have contributed to the deterioration of these neighborhoods. By infusing resources with clear strategies to improve the housing stock and increase homeownership, the Downtown Development District Plan and designation provide momentum, strategies, and resources that were previously unavailable to the stakeholders in the area. Through partnerships with NCALL, Habitat for Humanity, the Kent County Association of Realtors, Milford Housing Development Corporation, Dover Housing Authority, and Delaware State Housing Authority, the City will be in a position to improve the housing stock and promote homeownership. In addition, the Restoring Central Dover Plan provides a series of economic and safety recommendations that can be implemented by the City of Dover Police Department and others to improve safety in the District. This comprehensive approach is necessary to achieve success. By providing the resources to implement the Plan strategies, a significant impact is not only possible but probable. Many resources will be pooled in the area of housing to achieve success in increasing homeownership. NCALL provides housing counseling and credit repair assistance to prospective homebuyers. Many of the funding sources available to low to moderate income homebuyers require housing counseling as a condition of the assistance (for example, the City of Dover's CDBG down payment assistance). NCALL will also be able to leverage their loan fund as a Treasury certified lending institution. Dover Housing Authority has agreed to use the Housing Choice Vouchers to support mortgage payments for low income homeowners. In addition, Central Delaware Habitat for Humanity and Milford Housing Development Corporation are enthusiastic about furthering the goal of homeownership in the District. As identified in Restoring Central Dover, the City of Dover will allow homebuyers in the District to obtain CDBG funds both for down payment assistance and for housing rehabilitation, so that a qualifying homebuyer can purchase a home within the District with down payment assistance and then use CDBG funds also to renovate the property to make it code compliant. With the current condition of many houses in Central Dover, this in conjunction with the State rebates will make purchasing a home in the District more attractive to prospective buyers. Kent County Association of Realtors will also be a key partner in furthering the goal of homeownership. The City of Dover and NCALL will bring all of the housing partners together to develop an even more cohesive strategy for successful homeownership growth in late 2014 to turn the implementation strategies into a clear action plan with performance measures. Released: August 1, 2014 18

Downtown Development Districts Application for Designation as a District Summary of District Plan 30% Instructions: through this application the municipality or county will be presenting the District Plan that will guide future revitalization, growth and development activities in the District. Upon designation, the local government will be required to adhere to the District Plan in order to qualify for grants and other incentives. Attach the District Plan, and summarize the content, goals, and objectives in the space provided. The District Plan Checklist is provided as a separate document. The proposed District Plan must be prepared in accordance with the Checklist. Attach the District Plan. District Plan Attached. Summarize the content, goals and objectives of the District Plan. (please limit your response to 750 words or less). There have been a number of planning studies over the years that address redevelopment of Downtown Dover. The two principal and most recent plans include the Dover Transit Center Neighborhood Plan and Design Book and the Restoring Central Dover Plan, which is currently still in draft form. These plans together comprise Dover's Downtown Development District Plan. The Dover Transit Center Neighborhood Plan is driven largely by design and the form of downtown redevelopment. By contrast, the Restoring Central Dover Plan addresses many of the social challenges that have been identified as obstacles to downtown redevelopment. This is the first plan in recent years that focuses on the social and economic issues that confront the downtown area. The following goals and objectives are addressed in both plans, although with slightly different focus. 1) Mixed use development 2) Retail uses within the Central Business District 3) Increase the number/percent of owner-occupied homes 4) Increase the density of development 5) Build on vacant lots 6) Bring buildings close to the street to line the sidewalk 7) Strategic location of open spaces, parks and gateways Both plans provide more detailed strategies for implementation, many of which require collaboration among the private, public and non-profit sectors. Over the next six months, the Released: August 1, 2014 19

Downtown Development Districts Application for Designation as a District City of Dover will work with stakeholders, including the Downtown Dover Partnership and the Restoring Central Dover Steering Committee, to develop clear performance measures based on the goals and implementation strategies articulated in the District Plan and to track and report on these performance measures so that we can evaluate the short-term and long-term success of our plan implementation. Released: August 1, 2014 20

Downtown Development Districts Application for Designation as a District Summary of District Plan – continued 30% Please summarize how the local government envisions itself in a leadership role to guide the successful implementation of the District Plan (please limit your response to 750 words or less). The City of Dover envisions itself in a leadership role and as an active partner in the full implementation of the District Plan. Specifically, the City will provide leadership in the following three areas: 1) Leadership and Facilitation - As the City works with stakeholders across all sectors, the City is well-positioned to provide leadership among the stakeholders and to facilitate the various implementation activities. In this regard, the City will develop outreach materials and help prospective developer's to navigate the development and/or renovation process, including how to obtain the available incentives. The City will work in coordination with the Downtown Dover Partnership and the Restoring Central Dover Steering Committee to facilitate implementation of the District Plan and to develop and track performance measures to evaluate success in plan implementation. 2) Financial Incentives - The financial incentives offered by the City are important to the success of the Downtown Development District Plan in Dover. The cost associated with rehabilitation of deteriorated buildings and redevelopment in the downtown area is large. The combination of the State's rebate, Kent County's rebate, and the City's incentives significantly reduces the cost of downtown redevelopment projects. The City will administer the City's incentives associated with the District. 3) Regulatory Framework - Several of the implementation strategies relate to the City's regulatory framework, whether it is the issue of site lay-out, zoning changes, or streamlining the permitting/development process, modifications to the City's regulatory framework will be necessary for the success of the program. Many changes have been made to the City's Zoning Ordinance to streamline the development process, but there are additional changes specifically referenced within the Restoring Central Dover Plan. List key implementation strategies for the District Plan. Please also list any known projects or proposals that can be underway within six to twelve months of District designation. Key Priority Projects4 should be 4 Key Priority Projects are specific projects identified in the District Plan that are considered to be potential catalysts for other redevelopment activity and / or contribute to superior urban design or other benefits to the District. Released: August 1, 2014 21

Downtown Development Districts Application for Designation as a District identified, if applicable. See the Checklist for more details (please limit your response to 750 words or less). The planning documents that comprise the City of Dover's District Plan include a series of implementation strategies. The following are some of the key implementation strategies: - Reinforce key intersections with significant new buildings. (This could also include the renovation and re-use of existing buildings at key intersections.) - Encourage mixed use development that includes residential uses, as defined in the plan. - Encourage flexible design criteria based on the project's collective merits to the downtown area. - Phase structured parking replacement on existing or new surface parking lots to accommodate additional developmental density. - Develop overall downtown parking strategy. - Create expedited permitting process. - Work to re-establish Dover Police Department downtown foot and bike patrols. - Expand surveillance camera network. - Improve lighting in targeted areas. - Provide additional transitional housing. - Expand access to housing repair programs and establish rehabilitation revolving loan fund. - Initiate volunteer based neighborhood housing repair organization. - Strengthen code enforcement. - Explore ways to boost homeownership. - Encourage greater zoning flexibility to enable infill housing development. - Evaluate ways of providing financial incentives for development in the Central Dover areas. - Provide assistance in establishing upper-floor apartments along Loockerman Street. - Build and expand on marketing/branding efforts for the Loockerman Street Corridor and Central Dover. - Expand small business development programs for new and existing business owners. There are a number of projects and implementation strategies that can be started, and possibly completed, within six to twelve months of District designation. One of the Strategies is to "reinforce key intersections with significant new buildings." Unfortunately, there are several key intersections where anchor buildings sit vacant. Attracting viable businesses for these vacant buildings at key intersections is at least as important as new construction at key intersections. One building that is prime for a new tenant if the City receives the Downtown Development District designation is the Priscilla Block Building at the northwest corner of State and Loockerman Streets. A strong prospective business has approached the City with interest in the Downtown Development District Program, and has indicated that with the incentives and rebates available under the program, this site is likely to house a new business. Upper-floor apartments on Loockerman Street are also likely to be a short-term success of Downtown Development District designation. Many of the shops on Loockerman Street have active apartments above them. Others have the potential for apartments, but lack the capital Released: August 1, 2014 22

Downtown Development Districts Application for Designation as a District necessary for completing the renovations. The promise of the Downtown Development District designation has created interest in this area as well. The addition of new housing units in the Central Dover neighborhoods within the District is also highly likely within six to twelve months of District designation. With partners on-board, including Habitat for Humanity, Kent County Association of Realtors, Dover Housing Authority, and Milford Housing Development Corporation, as well as the availability of land for housing development, there is strong potential for new housing units to be constructed shortly after Downtown Development District designation. Other items that can be addressed in the short-term are: police foot and bike patrols, expansion of surveillance camera network, improvements to lighting, and amendments to the Zoning Ordinance to allow for greater flexibilty to spur downtown redevelopment. The Dover Transit Center Neighborhood Plan and Design Book identifies some "key projects" that could be catalysts in spurring additional downtown redevelopment. These include redevelopment of the former "Acme Site", which is currently home to a daycare center and auto parts store. This property was purchased by the Downtown Dover Partnership and has the potential to be a mixed use redevelopment project that could lead to additional redevelopment. The Downtown Dover Partnership has been marketing the project and has completed some land planning for the site. Unfortunately, to date a development partner has not ben identified. The added incentives of the Downtown Development District Program could attract a development partner to the site and facilitate a large-scale mixed use redevelopment project that could spur additional redevelopment in the area. Another "key project" is the completion of a building at the Transit Center facility. This has been a subject of discussion since the Transit Center property was acquired. Unfortunately, the economic recession has created challenges with attracting a development partner to make this project feasible. Other "key projects", such as the consolidation of parking lots on North Street and the creation of a plaza at the former Collegian Site on Loockerman Street, have been completed. The construction of the Loockerman Way Plaza provides the opportunity for four building pads along the plaza's hardscape. The designation as a Downtown Development District may create an atmosphere where sale and development of these building pads is possible. With the North Street improvements that were undertaken over the last two years, the Downtown Dover Partnership and the City of Dover have demonstrated leadership and success in implementing the Dover Transit Center Neighborhood Plan and Design Book. Not only were the improvements completed under budget, but the addition of a pocket park at the corner of South Governors Avenue and North Street is a welcome addition to the project. The pocket park revitalizes a corner that was once a deteriorated building that the City of Dover demolished. The City ultimately acquired the property, and together with the Downtown Dover Partnership, turned this former eyesore property into an asset to the downtown. Even with this addition, the Downtown Released: August 1, 2014 23

Downtown Development Districts Application for Designation as a District Dover Partnership returned money to the State of Delaware that had been allocated the project but still unspent after the project was completed. Released: August 1, 2014 24

Downtown Development Districts Application for Designation as a District Summary of District Plan – continued 30% List any other governmental, quasi-governmental or non-governmental organizations that will be involved in the creation and / or implementation of the District Plan. A Main Street organization would be an example of such an organization. For each organization, describe how the local government will coordinate their activities to encourage revitalization and economic development in the District. 1) Downtown Dover Partnership - The Downtown Dover Partnership (DDP) is Dover's Main Street organization. The DDP works hand-in-hand with City staff, property owners, business owners, and others in the community to promote downtown redevelopment. The DDP also serves as the redevelopment corporation for downtown Dover and has overseen a number of successful redevelopment projects, including brownfield clean-ups and building renovations. The DDP has agreed to secure an architect and provide funding to assist new businesses with the architectural services needed to open a new business in an existing tenant space. The DDP will be a full partner with the City of Dover and other stakeholders in implementing the District Plan and will continue to play a strong leadership role in making downtown redevelopment a reality. 2) NCALL - NCALL is a Community Development Financial Institution certified by the U.S. Treasury. They provide housing counseling for prospective home buyers and lend money for affordable housing and community facilities. NCALL has been the convener of the Streering Committee and the leader for the Restoring Central Dover Plan. NCALL is a key partner in working with all stakeholders in implementing the Restoring Central Dover Plan and will continue to provide leadership in convening the Restoring Central Dover Steering Committee as we work on plan implementation. 3) Habitat for Humanity - Central Delaware Habitat for Humanity is a key partner in providing homeownership opportunities to low income families. They have worked closely with the City throughout their existence, and there are a number of successful Habitat houses in the downtown. Habitat has been a vital member of the Restoring Central Dover Steering Committee, and will be a key partner in implementing the plan and achieving the goal of homeownership in the downtown. 4) Milford Housing Development Corporation - Milford Housing Development Corporation (MHDC) is a non-profit housing developer who has worked in partnership with the City of Dover to improve housing opportunities through managing the City's housing rehabilitation and emergency repair programs which are funded through the Community Development Block Grant program. MHDC offers a variety of programs and products that will help to further the goal of Released: August 1, 2014 25

Downtown Development Districts Application for Designation as a District affordable homeownership opportunities in the downtown area and will be a partner in revitalizing the neighborhoods within the proposed District. 5) Dover Housing Authority - The Dover Housing Authority has long been a partner with the City in working to increase homeownership in the downtown area. They have been an active partner in the Restoring Central Dover Plan and will continue to work to further the goal of homeownership in central Dover. 6) Wesley College - Wesley College's primary campus is not physically located within the proposed District, but Wesley is a key stakeholer in the downtown and a key partner in achieving success in downtown redevelopment. The issues of safety and blight that have plagued downtown Dover impact Wesley's success in attracting quality students. Wesley has demonstrated commitment in helping improve the downtown with their commitment to the Schwartz Center for the Performing Arts and their new Health Sciences Building, both of which are in the heart of the City's proposed District. 7) Dover Interfaith Mission for Housing - Since their inception in 2007, the Dover Interfaith Mission for Housing has worked to provide emergency shelter for homeless men. They have worked with their clients to move them into permanent housing and provide them the resources they need to gain employment. 8) Kent County Association of Realtors - Kent County Association of Realtors is an instrumental partner in achieving the goal of increasing homeownership and getting information about incentives out to prospective homeowners. They are also a key link with the development community. 9) Sustainable Energy Utility - Restoring Central Dover includes recommendations to improve lighting in targeted area. The City will work with the Sustainable Energy Utility to address this through the use of energy efficient LED lighting in an effort to reduce energy use while improving lighting. This could include improving street lighting as well as porch lighting at private residences. Attach written documentation (in the form of letters of agreement, memorandums of understanding, board resolutions etc) from each of the above listed organizations indicating support for this application to be designated as a Downtown Development District and identifying a willingness to coordinate with the municipal government to implement the District Plan. Written documentation attached from all other organizations Released: August 1, 2014 26

Downtown Development Districts Application for Designation as a District Released: August 1, 2014 27

Downtown Development Districts Application for Designation as a District Summary of District Plan – continued 30% Describe any actions your local government has taken to ensure energy efficient and environmentally sensitive development, and to prepare for flooding and sea level rise, if applicable. How will these efforts be implemented in the proposed District? (please limit your response to 750 words or less). There is very little, if any, area within the proposed District that is affected by floodplains, wetlands, recharge areas, or other natural features. The City of Dover prohibits new construction within the 100-year floodplain, and the City's Zoning Ordinance protects wetlands and buffers around streams. While there is a small area in the Central Business District that is mapped as an excellent recharge area, this area is exempted from Source Water Protection Overlay Zone requirements due to environmental contamination underground from prior land uses. Specifically within the District, implementation of the District Plan will include clean-up and redevelopment of brownfield sites. We would also look to the Sustainable Energy Utility to provide incentives to include energy efficiency improvements with new development and redevelopment or renovation of existing buildings and sites. The City's Zoning Ordinance includes provisions to allow solar and wind energy as accessory uses on properties. The proposed District includes a network of sidewalks along streets and a number of transit stops throughout the District. The City has an active program for replacing sidewalks as they deteriorate. Downtown Dover has a wonderful canopy of street trees that the City has worked hard to maintain. As trees die or need to be removed, additional street trees are planted. The presence of tree canopy helps to reduce energy use through providing shade and also helps to improve air quality and overall quality of life. Through implementation of the District Plan, densification of land uses and improvements to bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure will help to reduce vehicle trips and vehicle miles traveled by having jobs and housing centrally located. Describe how the District Plan is consistent with your certified Comprehensive Plan and the Strategies for State Policies and Spending (please limit your response to 750 words or less). Released: August 1, 2014 28

Downtown Development Districts Application for Designation as a District http://stateplanning.delaware.gov/strategies/ The District Plan is consistent with the City of Dover's certified Comprehensive Plan in that it implements a number of goals and objectives related to downtown redevelopment, economic development and housing. The Comprehensive Plan specifically calls for creation of a downtown plan that will improve predictability in the process of downtown redevelopment. The proposed District is entirely within a Level 1 Investment Area as shown in the Strategies for State Policies and Spending. This is the highest priority area for State investment. Therefore, the proposed District and District Plan are consistent with the goals and objectives of the Strategies for State Policies and Spending. Released: August 1, 2014 29

Downtown Development Districts Application for Designation as a District Summary of Local Incentives 20% Instructions: The municipality or county must complete this form to summarize the local incentive package to be made available within the District upon designation. The local ordinances (or other regulations or documentation) enabling and governing these incentives must be attached to this form, along with any relevant supporting documentation. In the case of incentives proposed upon designation, the draft ordinances must be attached. Attach the Local Incentives. The following table includes suggested local incentives. Please attach any that are relevant, and others that have not been listed. Suggested Local Incentives Fee or Tax Reductions Regulatory Flexibility Permit or Licensing Reform Special Zoning Districts Exemptions from Local Ordinances Streamlined Permitting Other Written documentation attached for all Local Incentives List the Local Incentives that are already in place. Please detail the geographic extent of each incentive (i.e. is the incentive available throughout the entire jurisdiction, or only in certain geographic areas?) Local Incentive In effect since (approx.) Geographic area covered City Impact Fee Waivers 2000/2008 Downtown Redevelopment Target Area Building Permit Fee Waivers 2000 Downtown Redevelopment Target Area Tax Abatement on Value of 2000 Downtown Redevelopment Improvements Target Area First Time Homebuyer Transfer 1996 Citywide Tax Exemption First Time Homebuyer Transfer 2000 Mary Street to Loockerman Tax Exemption for Seller Street & Governors Avenue to West Street Homeowner Property Tax 2000 Mary Street to Loockerman Abatement for Owner Occupied Street & Governors Avenue to Released: August 1, 2014 30

Downtown Development Districts Application for Designation as a District West Street Historic Preservation Tax Credit 1998/2000 Historic District Zone Released: August 1, 2014 31

Downtown Development Districts Application for Designation as a District Summary of Local Incentives - continued 20% List any of the existing Local Incentives that will be modified to have specific benefits to properties in the proposed District. Local Incentive How modified? Geographic area covered Transfer Tax Abatement for Seller Modify boundary to DDD Only of House to First-Time match District boundary Homebuyer/owner occupied in area bounded by Mary Street, Governors Avenue, Loockerman Street & West Street Waiver of City Impact Fees (Water Expand beyond multi- DDD Only & Sewer) story, mixed use Tax Abatement for owner occupied Modify boundary to DDD Only housing in area bound by Mary match District boundary Street, Governors Avenue, Loockerman Street & West Street DDD Only DDD Only DDD Only DDD Only DDD Only DDD Only DDD Only DDD Only List the Local Incentives that are new and will be available only in the proposed District. Local Incentive Date enacted (or Geographic area covered proposed date of adoption) Waiver of Business License fee for Spring 2015 DDD Only new businesses for three years Rebate of 50% of transfer tax for Spring 2015 DDD Only qualifying project upon issuance of Certificate of Occupancy Released: August 1, 2014 32

Downtown Development Districts Application for Designation as a District Architectural services support up to Immediately upon DDD Only $5,000 for renovation for new designation business or business expansion DDD Only DDD Only DDD Only DDD Only DDD Only DDD Only DDD Only DDD Only Summary of Local Incentives - continued 20% Please describe how each local incentive will be funded. If the incentive involves a reduction or waiver of taxes or fees, or in-kind services (for example, expedited permitting utilizing existing staff resources) please note that here. Local Incentive Funding Source Tax abatement and fee waivers All waived income that the City does not receive due to incentives are a "cost" to the revenue into the General Fund, except the Impact Fee waivers, which are a "cost" to the Water/Wastewater Fund revenues. Architectural Services Support This will be funded through the Downtown Dover Partnership budget. In future fiscal years this may result in a transfer from the City's General Fund to the Downtown Dover Partnership in accordance with the City's approved budget. Released: August 1, 2014 33

Downtown Development Districts Application for Designation as a District For each Local Incentive to be provided, please describe the specifics of how the incentive works (details are needed), and how the incentive encourages economic development and revitalization in your community. For the Building Permit and Impact Fee waivers and the abatement of taxes on the value of the improvements, the Dover Code prescribes an application process. Applications are submitted to the Economic Development Office, who reviews the applications in accordance with criteria prescribed in the Dover Code and makes a recommendation to the City Manager. The City Manager issues a letter informing the applicant of the incentives for which they have been approved. The letter is copied to the Department of Planning and Inspections and the Tax Office so that the incentives can be appropriately implemented. For these incentives, the applicant pays 10 percent of the value of the incentive to the Downtown Dover Partnership. For the First Time Homebuyer tax incentives, there are forms that are signed by the buyer and seller at settlement and turned in to the Tax Office. In addition to these incentives, the City offers down payment assistance to low and moderate income homebuyers. Within the District boundary, the Planning Office will also recommend expansion of CDBG funding to include combining the down payment assistance with funds to rehabilitate an existing house. The process for the Historic Preservation Tax Credit is specified in Dover Code. Application is made to the Planning Office prior to the proposed rennovation and the credit is reviewed and approved by the Historic District Commission as a part of the approval of the Architectural Review Certificate. Released: August 1, 2014 34

Downtown Development Districts Application for Designation as a District Summary of Local Incentives - continued 20% Summarize the package of Local Incentives, and describe how these incentives will work in concert with the Downtown Development District benefits to encourage revitalization and economic development in your proposed District (please limit your response to 750 words or less). If the City of Dover is selected for the Downtown Development District designation, the City will create a package of information about the various incentives available, including those at the City, County and State level. We will work with our partners in the housing and development community (such as the Kent County Association of Realtors and NCALL) to promote the incentives and inform the public. The Downtown Dover Partnership (DDP) will work to recruit new businesses, using the incentives as a selling point. As an example of how this could work in Dover, if a prospective business owner had interest in opening in Dover, typically that person would contact the DDP. The DDP staff or volunteers would provide them with the packet of information describing the incentives available and would answer any questions the prospective business owner might have. If there is a tenant space chosen, the DDP staff would let the prospective business owner know of the architectural services available through the DDP. DDP staff would also refer the owner to the Department of Planning and Inspections for an intitial meeting with the Planning Staff, Building Inspector and Fire Marshal. The applicant would begin the process of applying for a Building Permit and would complete the incentive paperwork at that time. The combination of Building Permit fee waiver, Impact fee waiver, tax abatement on the value of the improvements, and waiver of Business License fees would be cost savings as the project goes through the process. Upon completion of the project, the applicant would submit the proper paperwork to receive the rebate from the State and Kent County, and if applicable the Transfer Tax rebate. While application for State and Kent County incentives would be completed directly with the appropriate State and County departments, City staff would provide technical assistance to applicants to assist in navigating the application and rebate processes. City staff will also track the value of the incentives available on each project. City staff would work with developers to help them leverage the various resources and incentives available to make their project feasible. Released: August 1, 2014 35

Downtown Development Districts Application for Designation as a District Released: August 1, 2014 36

Downtown Development Districts Application for Designation as a District Legislative Body Resolution Instructions: Attach a resolution that has been adopted by the legislative body of your municipality or county. The resolution must affirmatively indicate that the legislative body supports the application for designation as a Downtown Development District and is willing to adhere to the District Plan and the Local Incentives for the duration of the District designation. Date of Resolution October 27, 2014 Resolution Number #2014-13 Resolution Attached. Released: August 1, 2014 37

City of Dover, Delaware Downtown Development District Application Index of Attachments Map Number Title Map #1 Downtown Development District Boundary Map #2A Downtown Development District with Existing Land Use per the 2008 Comprehensive Plan Map #2B Downtown Development District with the Land Development Plan per the 2008 Comprehensive Plan Map #3 Downtown Development District with Current Zoning Map #4 Downtown Development District with Dangerous Buildings Map #5 Downtown Development District with Vacant Buildings Map #6 Downtown Development District: Properties with Active Code Enforcement Map #7 Downtown Development District with Crime Density Map #8 Downtown Development District with CDBG Locations Map #9 Downtown Development District with Dover Transit Center Neighborhood Plan Boundary Map #10 Downtown Development District with Central Dover Study Area Map #11 Downtown Development District with Downtown Redevelopment Target Area Map #12 National Register Historic Districts Attachment Number Title Attachment #1 2008 Comprehensive Plan Goals Attachment #2 Documentation of Need and Impact – Photographs Attachment #3 Demographic Summary Attachment #4 Existing Incentives Attachment #5 Letters of Support Attachment #6 Resolution #2014-13 Attachment #7 Downtown Development District Plan

Downtown Development District Boundary St N Br th Smi rd S r Pea ad f o St v nsyl Mary N Am Pen St t NG N St n e ri c ania NQ over at e S ve Ave an A Ave t u ee C ec il St n St ors N Ki N Br rk w o St est S rd S on St Fult sion ad f o t E Di vi NW od S Rid t t y gel t on S Fult wy St Kings H St i v i sion W D S Br adfo ate S ed St W Re rd S t od S S St t SW r k wo S Ki Size: 220 Acres t tree laza est r man P St ock e For St Minor A ly Lo es t St Lincoln St at e S n St ve ocker ma h St ad A S St rt W Lo E No Davis Cir Cherry St ilro Ra S Qu S Go t Ave een S Ne en Gre ors The St ver n n w St Clare r St ghte h St k Ln Slau WN o rt B an ce St k Ln A tgun B an t Sho te r S E Wa S ning ly B an St at er WW Legend t SW est Parcels St Proposed District th St ¯ Sou 1 inch = 500 feet Date Printed: August 18, 2014 MAP #1 File: m:\gis_data\projects\tech_mxds \ddd_maps\proposed_ddd Department: Public Works GIS City of Dover, Delaware

Downtown Development District with Existing St Land Use per the 2008 Comprehensive Plan N Br Smi th rd S r St ad f o Pea Mary v nsyl N Am Pen St t NG N St e ri c ania n NQ over at e S ve an A Ave il St Ave t u ee C ec n St ors N Ki N Br rk w o on St St Fult est S sion rd S E Di vi NW ad f o t od S Rid t t t on S gel y Fult wy St St sion W D i v i Kings H S Br adfo ed St W Re ate S rd S t S St od S r k wo t S Ki SW laza tree t r man P est St ock e For Minor A ly Lo es t St St Lincoln St ma n St h St at e S ve ocker rt ad A W Lo E No S St ilro Davis Cir Cherry St Ra S Qu S Go t en Ave een S Ne Gre ors ver n St The r St w St ghte Clare n h St k Ln Slau WN o rt B an ce St k Ln B an A tgun Sho t te r S E Wa Legend S ning Proposed District Institutional & Public Utilities ly St B an at er WW Parcels Mixed Use Current Land Use SW Office t Active Agriculture Open Space Residential est Commercial St Dover Air Force Base Vacant St Industrial th Sou ¯ 1 inch = 500 feet Date Printed: September 9, 2014 MAP #2A File: m:\gis_data\projects\tech_mxds \ddd_maps\ddd_with_current_land_use Department: Public Works GIS City of Dover, Delaware

Downtown Development District with the Land Development Plan per the 2008 Comprehensive PlanSmith St N Br rd S r St ad f o Pea Mary v nsyl N Am Pen St t NG N St e ri c ania n NQ over at e S ve an A Ave il St Ave t u ee C ec n St ors N Ki N Br rk w o on St St Fult est S sion rd S E Di vi NW ad f o t od S Rid t t t on S gel y Fult wy St St sion W D i v i Kings H S Br adfo ed St W Re ate S rd S t S St od S r k wo t S Ki SW laza tree t r man P est St ock e For Minor A ly Lo es t St St Lincoln St ma n St h St at e S ve ocker rt ad A W Lo E No S St ilro Davis Cir Cherry St Ra S Qu S Go t en Ave een S Ne Gre ors ver n St The r St w St ghte Clare n h St k Ln Slau WN o rt B an ce St k Ln B an A tgun Sho t te r S E Wa Legend S ning Proposed District Mixed Use ly St B an at er WW Parcels Office Land Development Plan Open Space, Conservation, Recreation Active Agriculture Residential High Density t SW Commercial Residential Low Density est DoverAFB Residential Medium Density St Industrial and Public Utilities Train Track St Institutional Water th Sou ¯ 1 inch = 500 feet Date Printed: September 9, 2014 MAP #2B File: m:\gis_data\projects\tech_mxds \ddd_maps\ddd_with_future_land_use Department: Public Works GIS City of Dover, Delaware

Downtown Development District with Current R-8 Zoning a St Clar RG- IO RG- 1 th S t C-3 Smi IO 1 N Br RG- r1 RG- R- adfo 8 IO r St Mar y St 1 IO Pea N Am vani RG- d St M nsyl 3 Pen n RG- NG IO N St erica RG-1 RG-1 RG- 1 IO over RG-1 1 a te S Ave a Av e NQ nors le RG-1 IO Map t C-1 il St S Cec ueen Ave IO Ln RG- IO RG- M t 1 RG-1 1 rkwo RGO N Ki RG- RG- N Br t RGO 1 on S IO 1 Fult r n St IPM t adfo visio est S IO P en n od S t RG- E Di NW RG- 1 d St Av e RG- RG- 1 S Am R-10 1 RGO gel C-3 1 Ri d ve an A n St RG- eric y St Fulto RG- RGO 1 RG-2 M 1 wy C- St C-1A sion Kings H C-3 1A W Divi RG- RG- C-3 1 C-2A 1 RG-1 S Br ed S t IO C- E Re C-2A 2A RG-1 r C- t adfo RG-1 e ed S 2A C-2A WR d St S St RG- C-3 rkwo S Ki 1 C-2 ate S C-2 t est C-3 RG-1 tree C-2 laza SW od S t nP IO C-2 rma RG-1 Minor St Aly oocke For St RG-1 L est C-2 St C-2A Lincoln St IO C-2 an St C-2 kerm S St rth S t C- ve W Looc C-2 E No ad A RG-1 C-3 3 Davis Cir ilro ate S IO C-2 Ra C-2 Cherry St C-2 een t S Qu vern IO sa Jeru S Go C-2 een IO IO Gr IO RG-1 RG-1 RGO The wS Way S Ne St RG-1 ors er St lem IO C-2A ght Clare k Ln Slau Ave Ban t IO t RGO RG-1 nce S C-3 C- RGO k Ln Ban tgun C- 2A RG-4 Sho 2A Al y ning RGO IO Ban er S t W Wat Legend St est SW Proposed District IO IO IO TND Zoning St IO Parcels t Historic District th S Sou ¯ RGO 1 inch = 500 feet St C-1A Date Printed: September 9, 2014 CPO uee IO MAP #3 n File: m:\gis_data\projects\tech_mxds C-3 C-3 \ddd_maps\ddd_with_current_zoning_2 Department: Public Works GIS SQ City of Dover, Delaware

ZONING TYPES For complete text, refer to City of Dover, Code of Ordinances, Appendix B: Zoning Ordinance. RG-1 (General Residence Zone) permitting single family dwellings, off street parking with conditions. Permitted conditionally: Planned Senior Housing Developments, day cares, churches, schools, hospitals, funeral homes, philanthropic and charitable organizations, membership clubs, bed & breakfast inns, student homes, and multiple dwellings (but not allowing multiple dwellings as resulting from the conversion of a single family house to a multi- family dwelling). RG-3 (Group Housing Zone) permitting single family dwellings, townhouses, and row houses for single family group dwellings. Permitted conditionally: Planned Senior Housing Developments, day cares, churches, schools, hospitals, funeral homes, philanthropic and charitable organizations, and membership clubs. RG-4 (General Residence zone for Multi-Story Apartments) permitting single family dwellings and high-rise apartments. Permitted conditionally are day cares, the sale of commodities and services accessory to the apartments, churches, schools, hospitals, funeral homes, philanthropic and charitable organizations, and membership clubs. RGO (General Residence & Office Zone) permitting single family dwellings, single family lot line dwellings, duplex dwellings, multiplex dwellings, townhouses, rooming houses for 5 or less people, garden apartments, and offices. Permitted conditionally: Planned Senior Housing Developments, day cares, small retail business along S. State Street, bed & breakfast inns, churches, schools, hospitals, funeral homes, philanthropic and charitable organizations, and membership clubs. C-1 (Neighborhood Commercial Zone) permitting convenience retail stores; personal service establishments; service establishments; restaurants; one-family residences; and apartments and multi-family dwellings. The size of stores or establishments is limited to 2,500 S.F. of floor space. Conditionally permitting Planned Senior Housing Developments and day cares. C-1A (Limited Commercial Zone) permitting retail stores; personal service establishments; service establishments; restaurants; business, professional and governmental offices; one-family residences; and apartments and multi-family dwellings. Conditionally permitting drive-throughs accessory to a permitted use, day cares, and Planned Senior Housing Developments. C-2 (Central Commercial Zone) allowing retail stores; restaurants; hotels, including bed and breakfast inns; art galleries and studios; service establishments; personal service establishments; business, professional and government offices; and apartments and multi-family dwellings, provided that no dwelling units shall be permitted in the first floor on the street frontage of Loockerman Street. Conditionally permitting throughout the zone are parking lots and parking structures as a principal use; places of public assembly; manufacturing, assembling, converting, altering, finishing, cleaning, or any other processing of products where goods so produced or processed are to be sold at retail exclusively on the premises, day cares, and Planned Senior Housing Developments. City of Dover, Delaware: Zoning Descriptions in Downtown Development District Page 1 of 2

C-2A (Limited Central Commercial Zone) permitting retail stores; business, professional and governmental offices; personal service establishments; restaurants; service establishments; hotels; places of public assembly; drive-throughs; one-family residences; apartments and multi- family dwellings. Conditionally permitting social service agencies, day cares, and Planned Senior Housing Developments. C-3 (Service Commercial Zone) permitting service establishments, personal service establishments; business, professional or governmental offices; retail uses accessory to a permitted use; drive-throughs accessory to a permitted use; wholesale, storage and warehousing establishments; indoor recreation and amusement establishments; motor vehicle, boat or farm equipment sales or service (subject to specific regulations); manufacturing with less than 25 employees, and mini-storage facilities. Conditionally permitting day cares and Planned Senior Housing Developments. IO (Institutional and Office Zone) permitting business, professional, and governmental offices; banks; research, design and development laboratories; public and institutional uses; day care centers; and emergency shelters and transitional housing. Conditionally permitting Planned Senior Housing Developments, fire arm ranges, correctional facilities, public incinerators, hotels and restaurants. M (Manufacturing Zone) permitting manufacturing, assembling, processing or storage of products/materials, laboratories, wholesale storage and warehousing, building contractors’ yards, public utility uses, and mini-storage facilities. H (Historic District Zone) requiring Architectural Review Certifications subject to compliance with the Design Standards & Guidelines for demolition, construction, reconstruction, alteration or restoration of any new or existing structure within the designated district. City of Dover, Delaware: Zoning Descriptions in Downtown Development District Page 2 of 2

Downtown Development District with Dangerous Buildings i th S t N Br N St Sm at e S rd S ad f o r ED05-076.08-02-40.00 NG t Pea ED05-068.17-02-05.00 238 N New St n 223 N Governors Ave over St Declared By Council t Declared By Staff Ave ors N Am NQ il St ED05-076.08-02-58.00 e ri c u ee C ec 209 N New St ve an A n St Declared By Staff N Ki rk w o on St g el Fult St Rid vi sion t E Di yS od S ED05-077.05-03-05.00 t ED05-076.08-01-09.00 45 S New St 200 N West St Declared By Council Declared By Staff wy St sion Kings H D i v i W S Br adfo ED05-077.09-01-03.00 t rd S eed S 105 S Queen St WR t Declared By Staff ED05-077.09-01-31.00 110 S New St SW Declared By Council t laza od S man P r k wo est St er For Minor Lo ock S Ki es t St St Lincoln St rma n St h St at e S il ocke Ra rt W Lo E No ve S St Davis Cir Cherry St dA roa ED05-076.12-02-70.00 S Qu S Go t 128 S Queen St en ors Gr e een S Ne ver n Declared By Staff St The r St w St ghte Clare n h St k Ln Slau WN o rt Ave B an ce St k Ln B an A tgun Sho t te r S E Wa S ning ly St B an Legend at er WW Dangerous Buildings Building Abated by City t SW Proposed District Building Demolished by City est Parcels Building Demolished by Owner St St Building Repaired by Owner th Sou ¯ 1 inch = 500 feet Date Printed: September 19, 2014 MAP #4 File: m:\gis_data\projects\tech_mxds \ddd_maps\ddd_with_dangerous_buildings Department: Public Works GIS City of Dover, Delaware

Downtown Development District with Vacant Buildings i th S t N Br Sm rd S r St ad f o Pea Mary v nsyl N Am Pen St t NG N St e ri c ania n NQ over at e S ve an A Ave il St Ave t u ee C ec n St ors N Ki N Br rk w o on St St Fult est S sion rd S E Di vi NW ad f o t od S Rid t t t on S gel y Fult wy St St sion W D i v i Kings H S Br adfo ed St W Re ate S rd S t S St od S r k wo t S Ki SW laza tree t r man P est St ock e For Minor A ly Lo es t St St Lincoln St ma n St h St at e S ve ocker rt ad A W Lo E No S St ilro Davis Cir Cherry St Ra S Qu S Go t en Ave een S Ne Gre ors ver n St The r St w St ghte Clare n h St k Ln Slau WN o rt B an ce St k Ln B an A tgun Sho t te r S E Wa S ning Legend ly St B an at er WW Vacant Buildings t SW est Parcels St Proposed District th St Sou ¯ 1 inch = 500 feet Date Printed: September 9, 2014 MAP #5 File: m:\gis_data\projects\tech_mxds \ddd_maps\ddd_with_vacant_buildings Department: Public Works GIS City of Dover, Delaware

Downtown Development District: Properties with Active Code Enforcement St th N Br Smi rd S r St ad f o Pea Mary v nsyl N Am Pen St t NG N St e ri c ania n NQ over at e S ve an A Ave il St Ave t u ee C ec n St ors N Ki N Br rk w o on St St Fult est S sion rd S E Di vi NW ad f o t od S gel t t R id t on S yS Fult wy St t sion Kings H D i v i W S Br t adfo eed S at e S WR rd S t S St od S r k wo t S Ki SW laza tree t r man P est St ock e For Minor A ly Lo es t St St Lincoln St rma n St h St at e S il ocke Ra rt W Lo E No ve S St Davis Cir Cherry St dA roa S Qu S Go t en ors Gr e een S Ne St ver n The r St w St ghte Clare n h St k Ln Slau WN o rt Ave B an ce St k Ln B an A tgun Sho t te r S E Wa S ning Legend ly St B an at er WW Proposed District t SW est Code Enforcement Cases St Parcels th St Sou ¯ 1 inch = 500 feet Date Printed: September 9, 2014 MAP #6 File: m:\gis_data\projects\tech_mxds \ddd_maps\ddd_with_code_violations Department: Public Works GIS City of Dover, Delaware

Downtown Development District with Crime Data: 2010-2014 i th S t N Br Sm rd S r St ad f o Pea Mary v nsyl N Am Pen St t NG N St e ri c ania n NQ over at e S ve an A Ave il St Ave t u ee C ec n St ors N Ki N Br rk w o on St St Fult est S sion rd S E Di vi NW ad f o t od S Rid t t t on S gel y Fult wy St St sion W D i v i Kings H S Br adfo ed St W Re ate S rd S t S St od S r k wo t S Ki SW laza tree t r man P est St ock e For Minor A ly Lo es t St St Lincoln St ma n St h St at e S ve ocker rt ad A W Lo E No S St ilro Davis Cir Cherry St Ra S Qu S Go t en Ave een S Ne Gre ors ver n St The r St w St ghte Clare n h St k Ln Slau WN o rt B an ce St k Ln B an A tgun Sho t te r S E Wa S ning ly St B an at er WW Legend t SW Total Incidents 4-6 14-16 Proposed District est Within 200 Feet 6-8 16-18 Parcels St 0 8-10 18-22 th St 1-4 10-14 22+ Sou ¯ 1 inch = 500 feet Date Printed: October 3, 2014 MAP #7 File: m:\gis_data\projects\tech_mxds \ddd_maps\crime_data Department: Public Works GIS City of Dover, Delaware

Downtown Development District with CDBG Locations i th S t N Br Sm rd S r St ad f o Pea Mary v nsyl N Am Pen St t NG N St 207 N West St e ri c n ania ED05-076.08-02-01.00 over at e S Year 2009 ve an A Ave il St Ave t C ec NQ ors est S N Ki u ee NW rk w o n St St on St Fult sion vi E Di t 38 N Kirkwood St t 220 Fulton St od S ED05-076.08-04-12.00 ED05-076.08-05-41.00 Year 2009 Year 2009 t on S Fult S gely wy R id 19 N Kirkwood St o n St ED05-076.08-04-34.00 Kings H i vi si WD t Year 2009 S Br 49 S Kirkwood St t adfo eed S ED05-076.08-06-23.00 WR rd S Year 2009 t t SW od S 217-219 W Reed St laza an P r k wo est er m ED05-077.05-03-03.00 ock S Ki For es Lo t St St Year 2009 Lincoln St rma n St h St at e S il ocke Ra rt W Lo E No ve S St Davis Cir Cherry St dA roa S Qu S Go t en ors Gr e 684 Forest St een S Ne ED05-076.12-02-39.00 St ver n The r St Year 2011,2012,2013,2014 w St ghte Clare n k Ln Slau Ave B an ce St k Ln B an A tgun Sho t te r S E Wa S ning ly St Legend B an at er WW Proposed District CDBG Project Type Parcels 217-219 W Reed St Rental Rehab SW Rehab & Infrastructure Improvements tDover Interfaith Mission for Homeless 2003-2004 Homeowner Rehabilitation Program est 2005-2006 Homeownership Assistance Program St MHDC Emergency Home Repairs th St R C & D Emergency Home Repairs Sou ¯ 1 inch = 500 feet Date Printed: September 9, 2014 MAP #8 File: m:\gis_data\projects\tech_mxds \ddd_maps\ddd_with_cdbg Department: Public Works GIS City of Dover, Delaware

Downtown Development District With Dover Transit Center Neighborhood Plan BoundarySmith St N Br rd S r ad f o Pea St Mary v nsyl N Am Pen St t Ave N St ors e ri c ania v er n NQ at e S ve N Go an A Ave il St t u ee C ec n St N Ki N Br rk w o on S t St Fult est S sion rd S E Di vi NW ad f o t od S Rid t t gely on St Fult wy St St sion WD i vi Kings H S Br t adfo eed S S St WR rd S t od S tree r k wo t ate S S Ki SW za ma n Pla est St ker For Minor t A ly Looc es t St St Lincoln St rma n St t at e S rt h S Ra ocke W Lo E No ve S St ad A Davis Cir Cherry St ilro vern S Qu t een S Go Gre en S Ne The Ave St St w St hter St k Ln ors n Slau g Clare o rt h B an WN ce St k Ln B an A tgun Sho t te r S E Wa S ning ly St B an Legend at er WW t SW Proposed District est Transit Center Neighborhood Plan Boundary St St Parcels th Sou ¯ 1 inch = 500 feet n St Date Printed: September 9, 2014 SQ MAP #9 File: m:\gis_data\projects\tech_mxds ue e \ddd_maps\ddd_with_transit_center Department: Public Works GIS City of Dover, Delaware

Downtown Development District with Central Dover Study i th S t Area N Br Sm rd S r St ad f o Pea Mary v nsyl N Am Pen St t NG N St e ri c ania n NQ over at e S ve an A Ave il St Ave t u ee C ec n St ors N Ki N Br rk w o on St St Fult est S sion rd S E Di vi NW ad f o t od S Rid t t t on S gel y Fult wy St St sion W D i v i Kings H S Br adfo ed St W Re ate S rd S t S St od S r k wo t S Ki SW laza tree t r man P est St ock e For Minor A ly Lo es t St St Lincoln St ma n St h St at e S ve ocker rt ad A W Lo E No S St ilro Davis Cir Cherry St Ra S Qu S Go t en Ave een S Ne Gre ors ver n St The r St w St ghte Clare n h St k Ln Slau WN o rt B an ce St k Ln B an A tgun Sho t te r S E Wa S Legend ning ly St B an at er WW Proposed District t SW est Central Dover Study Area (REVISED) St Parcels th St Sou ¯ 1 inch = 500 feet Date Printed: September 9, 2014 MAP #10 File: m:\gis_data\projects\tech_mxds \ddd_maps\ddd_with_study_area Department: Public Works GIS City of Dover, Delaware

Downtown Development District with Downtown Redevelopment Target Area th St N Br Smi rd S r St ad f o Pea Mary v nsyl N Am Pen St t NG N St e ri c ania n NQ over at e S ve an A Ave il St Ave t u ee C ec n St ors N Ki N Br rk w o on St St Fult est S sion rd S E Di vi NW ad f o t od S Rid t t t on S gel y Fult wy St St sion W D i v i Kings H S Br adfo ed St W Re ate S rd S t S St od S r k wo t S Ki SW laza tree t r man P est St ock e For Minor A ly Lo es t St St Lincoln St ma n St h St at e S ve ocker rt ad A W Lo E No S St ilro Davis Cir Cherry St Ra S Qu S Go t en Ave een S Ne Gre ors ver n St The r St w St ghte Clare n h St k Ln Slau WN o rt B an ce St k Ln B an A tgun Sho t te r S E Wa S ning ly Legend St B an at er WW SW Downtown Redevelopment Target Area t est Proposed District St Parcels th St Sou ¯ 1 inch = 500 feet Date Printed: September 9, 2014 MAP #11 File: m:\gis_data\projects\tech_mxds \ddd_maps\ddd_with_target_area Department: Public Works GIS City of Dover, Delaware

National Register Historic Districts St N Br th Smi rd S r Pea ad f o St v nsyl Mary N Am Pen St t NG N St e ri c ania NQ nors at e S ve over an A Ave t u ee C ec il St n St Ave N Ki N Br rk w o St est S rd S on St Fult sion ad f o t E Di vi NW od S Rid t t y gel t on S Fult wy St Kings H St i v i sion W D S Br adfo at e S t eed S t WR rd S od S S St t SW r k wo S Ki t tree laza est r man P St ock e For St Minor A ly Lo es t St Lincoln St at e S Ra il rma n St ocke h St S St rt W Lo E No ve Davis Cir Cherry St dA roa S Qu S Go t een S Ne ors en Gr e St ver n The n w St Clare r St ghte h St k Ln Slau WN o rt Ave B an ce St k Ln A tgun B an t Sho te r S E Wa Legend S ning ly B an Proposed District St at er WW Dover Green Historic District t SW est Victorian Dover Historic District St Parcels th St ¯ Sou 1 inch = 500 feet Date Printed: October 23, 2014 MAP #12 File: m:\gis_data\projects\tech_mxds \ddd_maps\ddd_with_n_h_districts Department: Public Works GIS City of Dover, Delaware

Attachment #1 – 2008 Comprehensive Plan Goals

Table 1-1: Plan Chapter Goals: Natural Resources Goal 1: Protect the Natural Environment and Environmental Goal 2: Improve Watershed Quality Protection Goal 3: Encourage Green Development and Sustainable Energy Practices Goal 1: Preserve and Protect Historic Resources Historic Goal 2: Provide and Promote Incentives for Preservation Activities Preservation Goal 3: Increase Public Information on Historic Resources Goal 4: Collaborate with Diverse Groups and Governments Goal 1: Proactively Maintain Existing Infrastructure and Expand Public Utilities and Infrastructure When Beneficial Community Goal 2: Enhance Infrastructure to Meet Community Needs Infrastructure Goal 3: Meet or exceed the State and Federal requirements of the NPDES permit and Stormwater Management Plan Goal 1: Provide a System of Interconnected Open Space Areas and Recreational Opportunities Goal 2: The City must be prepared to face and quickly address potential Community disasters both natural and man-made. Services and Goal 3: The City should provide and Maintain high quality police, fire, and ambulance services to all residents, properties, and visitors within Dover. Facilities Goal 4: The City should work to ensure the protection and preservation of its own resources ranging from natural, historic, and cultural including the physical facilities containing these resources. Goal 5: Protect and Preserve the City Owned Resources Goal 1: Preserve and Maintain the Existing Transportation System Goal 2: Increase Coordination with Agencies Goal 3: Develop and Expand Alternate Modes of Transportation Transportation Goal 4: Create Recommendations and Policies for Roadways and Development Goal 5: Air Quality: The Ozone Challenge Goal 1: Attract and Retain High-Paying Quality Jobs by Targeting Large Firms and Businesses to Major Growth Areas in the City Goal 2: Revitalize Downtown Dover as a Vibrant Town Center Integrating the Hospital, the Colleges & Universities, the State and City Governments Economic with Business (Retail and Professional), Housing and Tourism Development Goal 3: Ensure that Zoning Requirements Encourage the Uses Desired and Do Not Create Impediments to Desired Business Growth Goal 4: Create an Environment for Long Term Economic Investment in Dover Focusing on Green Technology and Entrepreneurial Businesses Goal 5: Actively Market Garrison Oak 2008 Comprehensive Plan February 2, 2009 Chapter 1: Introduction Page 7

Goal 1: Encourage Balanced Housing Opportunities for All Income Levels Housing & and Phases in Life Community Goal 2: Preserve Existing Housing Stock Development Goal 3: Provide Safe Livable Neighborhoods Goal 4: Provide Homeownership Opportunities for Low/Moderate Income Source: The 2008 Dover Comprehensive Plan Table 1-2: Land Development Plan Goals To develop and maintain an adequate supply of housing of varying type, size, Residential Land and densities that are aesthetically pleasing and located within neighborhoods designed or redesigned to promote convenience, conservation, and access to Uses the greater community, but which are properly buffered through distance and landscaping from incompatible land uses. Enhance the role of Downtown Dover as a major employment, residential and commercial center as well as the symbolic and cultural heart of the Downtown Dover community, and recognize its unique heritage and historic resources. Provide for mixed use development allowing greatest variation of uses. • Continue to facilitate project development processes for construction in accordance with approved Master Plan Pattern Book and TND concept. • Support efforts to implement the road and walking trail connections linking Eden Hill Farm TND to the existing circulation network. Mixed Use • Encourage quality architecture within the development in accordance with the Pattern Book and intent of the TND Ordinance. • Participate in the planning for the project’s open space areas including the area of the historic farm complex, alleys, and southern portion of the project near Puncheon Run. Maintain and improve the City’s position as a regional commercial center, Commercial Land while providing its citizens convenient access to needed goods and services through well designed and spaced community and neighborhood commercial Uses centers. Maintain and improve the City’s position as a center of government, Government and education, and medicine through support of existing institutions and Institutional Land encouraging well designed campuses that are integrated into the community Uses and have room to expand. Create a more vibrant, growing economy with a broader range of job Employment opportunities through an increase in office and industrial development in Centers appropriate and designated areas. Dover Air Force Create a favorable and compatible environment for Dover Air Force Base Base through a resolute commitment to provide all reasonable planning 2008 Comprehensive Plan February 2, 2009 Chapter 1: Introduction Page 8

Attachment #2 – Documentation of Need and Impact (Photographs)

City of Dover Downtown Development District Application Documentation of Need and Impact The Central Business District West Loockerman Street is the spine of Dover’s Central Business District. The block of West Loockerman Street between State Street and Governors Avenue is mostly occupied with busi- nesses. However, the Priscilla Block Building at the northwest corner of State and Loockerman Street has been vacant for many years. Also, the amount of vacancy increases and the quality of the building stock declines as you travel west on Loockerman Street, particularly west of Gover- nors Avenue. City of Dover—Downtown Development District Application Documentation of Need and Impact 1

City of Dover Downtown Development District Application Documentation of Need and Impact New buildings, such as the Family Dollar and Bayard Plaza, have helped to move the business energy fur- ther west on Loockerman Street. These new buildings pose a stark contrast to some of the neighboring vacant buildings. City of Dover—Downtown Development District Application Documentation of Need and Impact 2

City of Dover Downtown Development District Application Documentation of Need and Impact The areas of South Bradford Street and South Governors Avenue just off of Loockerman Street experience the same challenges with building vacancy and condition. City of Dover—Downtown Development District Application Documentation of Need and Impact 3

City of Dover Downtown Development District Application Documentation of Need and Impact The Dover Transit Center Neighborhood Plan and Design Book recommends transforming the former Acme site on Governors Avenue (above left) to a multi-story, mixed use building (above right). The Downtown Dover Partnership owns the property, but the economy has made it difficult to find a develop- ment partner. The Residential Neighborhoods These buildings are located on the north corners of Bradford and Mary Streets. Moving southwest the quality of the building stock begins to decline. City of Dover—Downtown Development District Application Documentation of Need and Impact 4

City of Dover Downtown Development District Application Documentation of Need and Impact City of Dover—Downtown Development District Application Documentation of Need and Impact 5

City of Dover Downtown Development District Application Documentation of Need and Impact City of Dover—Downtown Development District Application Documentation of Need and Impact 6

City of Dover Downtown Development District Application Documentation of Need and Impact City of Dover—Downtown Development District Application Documentation of Need and Impact 7

City of Dover Downtown Development District Application Documentation of Need and Impact Division Street Delaware Route 8, or Division Street, is Dover’s principal east/west route. This road serves as a gateway to Dover, and the first impression of the State Capital, for visitors from points west, including Washing- ton, D.C. and Baltimore. Unfortunately, visitors’ first impression of the City of Dover is the view of di- lapidated buildings, litter, utility lines, and deteriorating curbing and sidewalks. Coming east, immediately after crossing the railroad tracks, the above landscapes welcome visitors to the downtown. City of Dover—Downtown Development District Application Documentation of Need and Impact 8

City of Dover Downtown Development District Application Documentation of Need and Impact City of Dover—Downtown Development District Application Documentation of Need and Impact 9

City of Dover Downtown Development District Application Documentation of Need and Impact The Restoring Central Dover Plan demon- strates both the need and the opportunity cre- ated by vacant land and buildings throughout the downtown. The Plan also shows the high poverty rate in the downtown area. City of Dover—Downtown Development District Application Documentation of Need and Impact 10

City of Dover Downtown Development District Application Documentation of Need and Impact The Restoring Central Dover Plan shows the perceived and actual crime hot spots, the community-identified areas with trash and illegal dumping, the high rate of rental housing, and the low percentage of people who live and work in the downtown area. The Downtown Development District designation could help to turn around these trends through an increased investment in the downtown area. City of Dover—Downtown Development District Application Documentation of Need and Impact 11

Attachment #3 – Demographic Summary

City of Dover Housing and Population DDD Total of Blocks Percentage POPULATION Total 1,989 HOUSING UNITS Total 873 Occupied 739 84.7% Vacant 134 15.3% OCCUPIED HOUSING UNITS, BY TENURE Total Occupied Housing Units 739 Owner-Occupied w/ Mortgage or Loan 75 10.1% Owner-Occupied, free & clear 40 5.4% Renter-Occupied 624 84.4% Source: 2010 Decennial Census, SF-1, total of all Census blocks in proposed DDD.

City of Dover Summary Demographic Data & Geographic Comparison City of Dover Kent County Delaware Tract 409 Tract 413 Tract 414 Tract 433 DDD (1) Total Population 36,259 162,785 900,131 2,540 2,077 3,283 6,060 1,989 Median Household Income $48,117 $55,786 $60,119 $25,774 $33,500 $35,083 $46,719 Poverty Rate, All People 16.9% 12.4% 11.5% 16.5% 41.9% 26.2% 15.3% % Housing Built 1949 or earlier 10.3% 9.5% 14.4% 40.5% 33.9% 8.5% 15.0% Total Units Built 1949 or earlier 1,476 6,203 58,479 451 344 137 256 Total Units Built 14,338 65,394 405,883 1,113 1,014 1,620 1,709 873 % Homeownership 55.1% 72.9% 72.7% 39.3% 36.1% 38.6% 46.5% 13.2% % Rental 44.9% 27.1% 27.3% 60.7% 63.9% 61.4% 53.5% 71.5% % Vacant Housing Units 13.0% 11.6% 17.7% 20.3% 12.6% 22.5% 16.6% 15.3% Median Home Value $187,500 $205,100 $241,100 $223,400 $162,500 $186,400 $180,100 Source: ACS-2012 5-Year Data (1) Downtown Development District, sum of 2010 Decennial Census data, by Census block

City of Dover Population Below Low/Moderate Income Threshold (FY2014) Census Geography Population Block % <Low/Mod # <Low/Mod Total Tract Group 5-BLOCK GROUP AREA 409 1 52.3% 910 1,739 413 1 56.5% 1,080 1,911 414 1 41.2% 775 1,881 414 2 82.6% 1,115 1,349 433 3 57.9% 825 1,424 Total Area 56.7% 4,705 8,304 20-BLOCK GROUP AREA 405 1 49.0% 1,155 2,357 405 2 75.5% 2,125 2,814 405 2 39.4% 475 1,205 407 1 12.3% 255 2,073 407 2 65.1% 940 1,443 407 3 33.3% 475 1,426 409 1 52.3% 910 1,739 410 1 41.8% 875 2,093 410 2 40.3% 1,400 3,473 411 2 53.9% 345 640 412 1 30.1% 620 2,059 413 1 56.5% 1,080 1,911 414 1 41.2% 775 1,881 414 2 82.6% 1,115 1,349 415 1 33.3% 785 2,357 418 3 22.1% 835 3,778 418 1 37.2% 1,160 3,118 433 1 52.3% 675 1,290 433 2 57.6% 965 1,675 433 3 57.9% 825 1,424 Total Area 44.4% 17,790 40,105 Source: PolicyMap and HUD, 2014 HUD FY CDBG income limit data using 2010 Census geographies

Walk er Downtown Ross St Development District with Census Tracts Rd Ln Colu m bia A ve N k nt Oa po Du l St C a ro ve bia A Hw lu m Tract est S Co y St ison NW N Br 409 Mad Rd n ey L ak St Rod rd S t r Willi am n St i ew Pea NG ngto ad f o Le w s h i ev Wa St n N St i Dr over s l Rd at e S t M e il l Dr t H az ra S Ave Cla t ors v nsyl N Qu N Ne Pen N Am Clar a Ex t Tract 433 een w St ania e ri c St M ap il St ve Ave N Ki an A C ec wy E D iv le L n sH isi on St King est S N Br rk w o on St ad f o sion St g Fult NW i Rid iv t rd S t ED ely t od S Park Dr Carver Rd Dr St ton i vi sion St S Br Tract Wes WD d St adfo E Re e od S t S S ta 413 ckerman St r k wo o SW rd S te S E Lo S Ki Fore s t laza Gibb s Dr St tre e an P is Leg t est ke rm Bertrand Dr L ooc St Minor t A ly St Mart in Lu d lativ th er King Jr Blv Lincoln St Ra e t v ad A Fed Reese St S Qu Cherry S Paul St ilro Je ru s a le e Av S Ne e ra l S Ea s t e een Gr e e n m Wa e Ave w St Th t Si St St k Ln R ees B an y r ghte S la u m on r t h St g t er St W No k Ln Sh ot E Wa C ir e St B an S un A ning vern at e S S Go ly B an Elm Ter Tract S St SW Ave t ls t Sau est 414 St ors l Ter S cu l bury Sch ool nS s Ele men tary Rd t Hol y Cros Rd yss Wem d u ee Llyo S New St Legend SQ Ruth Hope St St Ave n Proposed DistrictWay a racki Sack Census Tract Dover St S Bradford St Parcels d Westview Ter R Sunset Ter Monroe Ter n ¯ rto t u S Pine ar 1 inch = 900 feet Orch B Date Printed: October 23, 2014 Janeka Ln File: m:\gis_data\projects\tech_mxds Ne w Shank Rd d Ave \ddd_maps\ddd_with_census_tracts s St Department: Public Works GIS City of Dover, Delaware Lotu

Downtown BG 2 Development R os s St District with Census Block Groups Ln BG C olu m bia A ve k 2 Oa C a ro e mb ia Av l St Colu est S St ison NW N Br BG 1 Ma d R d t R od n ey BG 1 L ak ad fo am S t r St ev Pea Willi gt on NG Was hin Le w ie w St rd S N St i Dr n or s s l Rd ate S t ov e r M il l Dr e t H az Cla ra S t Ave n Pen N Qu N Ne N Am t Clar a Ex syl v BG 3 een w St e ri c ania St M ap il St ve Av e N Ki an A C ec s Hw y E Div le L n isi on St King est S N Br rk w o t on S ad fo n St Ri d Ful t vi si o NW E Di od S rd S t Park y St g el t t Dr Carver Rd to Wes S Br St i vi sion WD BG 2 d St a df o E Ree n Dr t r kwo an S S S ta rm oc k e S Ki rd S E Lo SW te S F o re s t laza Gibb s Dr St tre e an P Le g t est ke rm Bertrand Dr t St t A ly L ooc od S Minor i sl a Mart St in Lu th er King Jr Blv d Lincoln St Ra Fe d tive Ch erry S a ilr o Reese St d Av Je ru s a le S Qu Paul St e ra l Ave een S Ne Gre e Ea s t e n m Wa e St Av e t w St Si t Th ter S St R ees y gh S la u m on rth St ter St W No k Ln Sh o t E Wa C ir e St B an gun B an S Go t r th S ate S W No A ly ni ng Elm Ter S St ve rn SW St ls or s t Sau est St Ave l Ter S cu l b ury Sch ool nS s Ele men tary Rd t Hol y Cros d y ss R Lly o Wem u ee S New St Legend Ruth BG 1 SQ d St Hope St Ave n Proposed DistrictWay a racki Sack Block Group Dover St S Bradfo rd St Parcels d BG 1 Westview Ter R Sunset Ter Monroe Ter n ¯ to ur S t Pine ar 1 inch = 900 feet Orch B Date Printed: October 23, 2014 Janeka Ln w File: m:\gis_data\projects\tech_mxds Ne Sh an k Rd d Ave s St \ddd_maps\ddd_with_census_blocks Department: Public Works GIS City of Dover, Delaware Lot u

Attachment #4 – Existing Incentives A. Dover Code of Ordinances, Appendix C – Downtown Redevelopment B. Dover Code of Ordinances, Chapter 102 – Taxation, Article III – Realty Transfer Tax (excerpts) C. Dover Code of Ordinances, Chapter 102 – Taxation, Article IV – Abatement of Real Estate Taxes (excerpts) D. Dover Code of Ordinances, Chapter 102 – Taxation, Article V – Tax Credits for Historic Properties

Who we Are... The Downtown Dover Partnership is a nonprofit organization dedicated to revitalizing our Historic Downtown Business Dis- trict. The DDP works hand in hand with the National Trust for Histor- ic Preservation’s National Downtown Main Street Center and the Downtown Delaware Dover Main Street Initiative to create a variety of programs that serve to Development improve our district. Incentives DDP EVENTS  First Fridays  Second Saturdays  Capital Holiday 101 W Loockerman St, Suite 1A Celebration Dover, DE 19904  Home for the Holidays www.downtowndoverpartnership.com  St Patrick’s Day Parade  Loockerman Way Farmers Market William E. Neaton, Interim Executive Director Phone: 302-678-2940 Fax: 302-678-2132 E-mail: wneaton@dover.de.us Tel 302-678-2940

Downtown Dover Development Incentives WHAT PROJECTS ARE WHAT ARE THE INCENTIVES? DDP INCENTIVES ELIGIBLE? Waiver of Permit Fees Facade Improvement Grant  New construction or renovation  Building, plumbing, mechanical & fire protec-  Matching grants from $250 to projects tion $2500  Located within the target area Impact Fee Waiver These grants are subject to the review and  Fair market value of the materials  Requires multiple story new construction or approval of the DDP Design Committee and to be used and the labor to be per- renovation on one lot the availability of funds. formed on the project exceeds the www.downtowndoverpartnership.com sum of $15,000  Combination of retail, office, residential or commercial services (at least two)  Is for commercial, office or a residential use  Waiver of City sewer and water impact fees DDP PROGRAMS Property Tax Waiver WHAT IS THE TARGET ♦ A variety of financial incentives  10-year waiver of property tax on ♦ Small Business Development AREA? improvements Workshops ♦ Small Business Loans in conjunction  The geographic boundaries of the  10-year period begins with building permit with the US SBA downtown redevelopment area are issuance ♦ Express Technical Assistance defined in the Dover Code and Program include the Business Improvement Contribution to Downtown Dover ♦ Facade Grants to downtown property District. Partnership owners for exterior improvements to  The Dover Code can be accessed at their buildings  10 % of the value of incentives must be http:// www.cityofdover.com ♦ Special events and activities to engage contributed to the DDP Select Quick Links—Municipal the community at large Code A detailed description of these incentives and the redevelopment target area can be found in the A map of the target area is provided Dover Code, Appendix C on rear panel of this brochure.

CITY OF DOVER DOWNTOWN DOVER PARTNERSHIP PO BOX 475 APPLICATION FOR DEVELOPMENT DOVER DE 19903 INCENTIVES PLEASE TYPE OR PRINT I. APPLICANT(S) INFORMATION II. INFORMATION ABOUT YOUR BUSINESS: Name: Name of Business: Address: Address: Phone No.: Soc. Sec. No.: Phone No.: Type of Business: Date Established: # of Empls: FT______PT__________ Empl. Tax ID No.: III. SUBJECT PROPERTY DATA: Location/Address: Street/P.O. Box City State Zip Current Usage: _____________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________ Current Zoning: _____________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________ Owner's Name: ________________________________________________________________________________________________ Owner's Address: Street/P.O. Box City State Zip IV. PROJECT DESCRIPTION (Use additional sheet if necessary): Provide a description of the proposed project, including its physical features; any land and/or building acquisition and development; the status and timing of land control, zoning and permits; and the estimated cost and timing of construction and captial improvements.

City of Dover Page 2 Application for Development Incentives V. ASSURANCES: All information in the application is complete and true to the best of my/our knowledge. I/We also have read and understand the Development Incentive Ordinance and agree to contribute ten percent (10%) of the total value of the incentives received to the Downtown Dover Partnership for investment in downtown Dover. I/We further understand that if I/we do not comply with the provisions of the development incentives program, the City may terminate the incentives. ____________________ _______________________________________________ Date Signature of Applicant VI. STAFF ACTION Approved Denied Building Permit __________________ Date Approved Denied Tax Waiver ___________________ Date City Impact Fees Approved Denied ___________________ Date _________________________________________________________ Signature of City Manager

CITY OF DOVER RESIDENTIAL FIRST-TIME HOME BUYER AFFIDAVIT OF EXEMPTION BUYER/SELLER This form must be accompanied by the State of Delaware Realty Transfer Tax Return and Affidavit of Gain and Value form 5402. Only properties classified as residential on form 5402, Part C are eligible for exemption consideration. NAMES OF ALL BUYERS ___________________________________ _____________________________ ___________________________________ _____________________________ ADDRESS OF PROPERTY BEING PURCHASED * ________________________________________________ I/We swear/affirm under penalty of law, that the following statements are true and correct. I/We, either jointly or individually, have NEVER had an ownership interest in any real estate, wherever located, which has been occupied as my/our principal residence. The above purchased property is my current principal residence or i/we intend to make it my/our principal residence within 90 days following recordation. ______________________________________ ________________________________ ______________________________________ ________________________________ Buyer’s Signature Buyer’s Signature *Property must be situated in the area from Mary St. to Loockerman St. and Governors Ave. to West St. to be eligible. (Full ordinance may be viewed at www.cityofdover.com Sec102-71(a)(3))

Message from the Transfer Tax City of Dover Congratulations on the purchase of your first home! City of Dover We are proud to offer this First Time Incentive Program to our first time homeowners in Homeowner the City of Dover. Exemption If you have any questions do not hesitate to contact one of our Tax Assessor’s Office employees who are more than willing to aid you in the process and to answer any questions you may have. CITY OF DOVER Tax Assessor's Office PO Box 7100 Dover, DE 19903 Phone: 302-736-7022

Requirements Requirements Information To receive this First Time Home Buyer Exemp on, a First Time Persons who have Home Buyer form must be filled out and submi ed to the tax never owned property, This exemp on shall office at the me of payment of anywhere, have the the Realty Transfer Tax to the right to benefit from an apply to the Seller of the City of Dover. exemp on with the property that qualifies Pursuant to City of Dover City of Dover Realty for the first me buyer [Ordinance]; no refunds for a First Time Home Buyer Transfer Tax. exemp on, but only for Exemp on can be given a er the The person(s) must live property situated in the recording of the deed has been made. in the dwelling within area from Mary Street to ninety (90) days of Loockerman Street and If, however, the a orney or the buyer realizes that the their se lement day Governor’s Avenue to exemp on was not given, and and must use this West Street. the deed has not been recorded than a refund can be property as their given for the excess transfer tax principal dwelling. paid to the City of Dover. We apologize, however no other excep ons can be made.

Attachment #5 – Letters of Support

October 22, 2014 Ann Marie Townshend, AICP Director of Planning & Community Development Planning and Inspections / Parks and Recreation P.O. Box 475 Dover, DE 19901 Dear Ann Marie Congratulations on the City of Dover’s efforts to revitalize its downtown. I understand that through the leadership of NCALL and the generosity of the Wells Fargo Foundation, the Restoring Central Dover: Our Vision for Vitality represents a broad-based planning effort that identifies the challenges facing central Dover and presents strategies to address the challenges. I understand that the concerns voiced by many stakeholders through the planning process center around safety and that the Restoring Central Dover makes recommendations to improve lighting in targeted areas, both through public street lighting and residential porch lighting. The Delaware Sustainable Energy Utility is a 501(c)3 nonprofit corporation founded by the State of Delaware for the purpose of provided energy efficiency and clean energy programs to Delawareans. The Delaware Sustainable Energy Utility would welcome the opportunity to participate with the City of Dover to improve lighting and energy efficiency through programs to replace and supplement existing street lights with LED lights. We would also be willing to work with homeowners to improve porch lighting by helping to support the cost of conversion of porch lights to LED. I look forward to speaking to you further about this important project. Sincerely, Anthony J. DePrima Executive Director 109 S. State Street, Dover DE 19901 Office: 302-883-3048 I Fax: 302-736-9717 Tony.deprima@deseu.org I Energizedelaware.org

Attachment #6 – Resolution #2014-13

City of Dover MAYOR AND COUNCIL 1 DRAFT PROPOSED COUNCIL RESOLUTION NO. 2014-13 2 A RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT OF APPLICATION FOR DESIGNATION AS A DOWNTOWN 3 DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT 4 WHEREAS, under the Downtown Development Districts Act, 22 Del.C. §§ 1901 et seq. (the "Act"), 5 the State of Delaware may designate districts within Delaware's cities, towns, and unincorporated areas that 6 will qualify for significant development incentives and other State benefits; and 7 WHEREAS, these districts are known as Downtown Development Districts ("Districts"); and 8 WHEREAS, the State is accepting applications for the designation of the initial round of Districts, 9 with such applications being due on November 1, 2014; and 10 WHEREAS, under the Act, each applicant must submit a plan that includes the boundaries of, and 11 a detailed planning and development strategy for, the proposed District (the "District Plan"); and 12 WHEREAS, under the Act, each applicant must also propose incentives that address local economic 13 and community conditions, and that will help achieve the purposes set forth in the Act (the "Local 14 Incentives"); and 15 WHEREAS, if an application is successful and the City receives District designation, the District 16 Plan and Local Incentives proposed by an applicant shall be binding upon the applicant; and 17 WHEREAS, the incentives associated with designation as a Downtown Development District would 18 greatly benefit current and future residents, businesses, non-profit organizations, and others within the City 19 of Dover; and 20 WHEREAS, the City Council of the City of Dover strongly believes that it is in the best interest of 21 the City of Dover to apply for District designation. 22 NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT: 23 1. The City Council supports the Application for Designation as a Downtown Development District 24 prepared by the Dover Planning Office and dated October 27, 2014 (the "Application"); and 25 2. The City of Dover is authorized to appoint a District administrator (the "Administrator") to file 26 the Application on behalf of the City, and to provide such other documents and information as 27 may be necessary or desirable in connection with the Application; and P.O. Box 475 ˜ Dover, Delaware ˜19903 Community Excellence Through Quality Service

DRAFT PROPOSED COUNCIL RESOLUTION NO. 2014-13 PAGE 2 28 3. If the Application is successful and the City of Dover receives notice that it has been selected for 29 designation as a District: 30 a. The City shall adhere to the District Plan and the Local Incentives contained in the 31 Application for the duration of the District designation; and 32 b. The Administrator, or his or her designee(s), is authorized to execute such documents and 33 enter into such agreements as may be necessary or desirable in connection with the 34 Downtown Development Districts program and the rights and obligations of the City of 35 Dover thereunder; and 36 c. The Administrator, or his or her designee(s), is authorized to carry out all District 37 administrative and reporting requirements on behalf of the City of Dover for the duration of 38 the District. 39 ADOPTED: * 40 S:\RESOLUTIONS-PROCLAMATIONS-TRIBUTES\2014\Draft\Resolution No. 2014-13 In Support of the Application for Designation as a Downtown Development District.wpd 41 42 ROBIN R. CHRISTIANSEN DAVID L. BONAR 43 MAYOR COUNCIL PRESIDENT 44 Actions History: 45 October 13, 2014 - Introduced at Parks, Recreation, and Community Enhancement Committee

Attachment #7 – Downtown Development District Plan A. Downtown Development District Plan Summary B. Dover Transit Center Neighborhood Plan and Design Book C. Restoring Central Dover: Our Vision for Vitality (10/7/2014 Draft)

Downtown Development District Plan Summary There are a number of planning documents developed in recent years that the City of Dover uses to guide downtown redevelopment. The two principal and most recent plans include the Dover Transit Neighborhood Plan and Design Book and the Restoring Central Dover Plan, which is currently still in draft form. These documents identify a series of clear strategies for the City and other partner organizations to take in support of revitalizing the downtown commercial district and neighboring residential community. The support for these documents is found in the City of Dover 2008 Comprehensive Plan. Together, these documents provide vision, goals, strategies, and specific implementation measures to revitalize Dover’s downtown core. The Dover Transit Center Neighborhood Plan and Design Book is driven largely by design and the form of downtown redevelopment, focusing on buildings that address the sidewalk, open space and gateways, and pedestrian scale of development. The Restoring Central Dover Plan addresses many of the social challenges that have been identified as obstacles to downtown redevelopment. Each of the plans encompasses a slightly different geographic area of the downtown. Maps are included that show the overlap between the areas addressed in each of the plans and the Downtown Development District Boundary. A summary of each of the plans is provided. Dover Transit Center Neighborhood Plan and Design Book The purpose of the Dover Transit Center Neighborhood Plan and Design Book is “to use the new transit center as an impetus for redevelopment that will transform and energize the surrounding area.” The plan was developed through a partnership between the Dover/Kent County Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) and the Downtown Dover Partnership. The project included two phases: a five-day charrette where the public was invited in to discuss issues and identify ideas and solutions; and the creation of visual design guidelines that graphically represent the findings and recommendations of the charrette. The plan analyzed existing development patterns and presented concepts for infill development that would introduce the density, scale and urban aesthetic found in the historic area to other areas of the study area. Active buildings would front the street and parking would be located behind the buildings. The plan identifies the need for increased density surrounding the Dover Transit Center, as well as additional residential development in the downtown area. The plan provides recommendations to address building placement and form, parking location, downtown gateways, plazas and parks. The plan also provides a series of implementation strategies, some of which have been implemented and others which have not yet been implemented. The plan also engendered the North Street Improvements implemented by the Downtown Dover Partnership, with support of funding through the State of Delaware. The North Street Improvements include streetscape and pavement improvement to North Street between State Street and Governors Avenue, consolidation of several parking lots on North Street to improve layout and gain spaces, and the conversion of property known as the Collegian site to a plaza area. These improvements have introduced a new energy to the downtown, and the Loockerman Way Plaza now serves as the location for the Dover Farmer’s Market on Wednesday afternoons during the summer, as well as other downtown events.

The Implementation Strategies section of the Plan (found on page 46-47), include a series of goal statements, under which each of the implementation items is listed. These include: • Establish a business development and retention strategy to promote and enhance overall business and economic vitality in the study area and downtown. • Improve the gateways and entrance corridors of the study area with buildings, coordinated signage and streetscapes that frame views, and provide a sense of arrival. • Strengthen key North-South and East-West road connections to area activity centers, such as Wesley College, St. Jones River, Eden Hill Farm and Bayhealth Medical Center Campus. • Coordinate streetscape and road improvements to provide a better connection between Wesley College and the southern part of the study area. • Reinforce the study area with land use and additional mixed use, housing, retail and cultural/civic uses. • Establish a coordinated signage and streetscape program to capture and present a consistent image in the Downtown area. Restoring Central Dover The Restoring Central Dover Plan came out of a safety task force convened by the Greater Dover Committee (now the Greater Kent Committee). The stakeholders convened by the Greater Dover Committee identified a number of issues that culminated in safety concerns in the downtown area. The Dover Police Department conducted a resident survey, which identified the concerns of downtown residents. These concerns included crime, condition of housing, responsiveness of landlords, and other related challenges. The task force submitted an application to the Wells Fargo Foundation, with NCALL as the lead agency on the grant, to complete a planning study of the downtown so that we can begin to develop strategies that will improve the quality of life and safety in the downtown area. The process was led by the consultant and a Steering Committee representing stakeholder groups throughout the downtown community. There was a detailed survey that included door-to-door questionnaires administered by local stakeholders trained by the consulting team. The consulting team also completed a detailed land use survey and building condition survey. With the results of these surveys, the Steering Committee and consulting team hosted a week-long open house, where members of the public could participate in interactive processes to provide input on the challenges and potential solutions facing central Dover. Once the consulting team compiled the results from the Open House, they presented preliminary recommendations in a public workshop. Then members of the Steering Committee provided feedback on the recommendations and strategies to ensure that the recommendations in the plan met the local need. The plan is nearing completion and still in draft form, but the recommendation section has been released in draft form and addresses strategies for improving redevelopment opportunities in the downtown area. As with the Dover Transit Center Neighborhood Plan and Design Book, and other downtown studies before it, Restoring Central Dover addresses the need to improve housing, attract residents, and increase homeownership. This plan goes further with its recommendations relating to housing than

prior planning studies and includes a series of implementation strategies directly related to improving the housing stock, redevelopment of vacant residential land, and improving the homeownership rate. The Restoring Central Dover Plan compares demographic information for the plan study area with the City as a whole, and identifies some of the significant demographics that create challenges in Central Dover. As it relates to the 2010 U.S. Census, Central Dover has a higher rate of vacant housing units (14% vs. 8%), a much higher rate of rental versus owner-occupied housing units (75% vs. 48%), a higher percentage of non-family households (53% vs. 42%), and higher concentrations of crime. Restoring Central Dover is the first of the plans for Downtown Dover that includes strategies to address the complex social challenges facing Central Dover. Other studies have identified that perceptions of safety pose challenges to downtown redevelopment, but Restoring Central Dover goes further in analyzing these social challenges and developing community-based strategies to address them. Restoring Central Dover identifies a number of goals, grouped by three categories, each with specific recommendations: • A Strong Community o Build Community Capital o Prevent Crime and Increase Public Safety o Engage Youth in Community o Expand Adult and Family Services • Positive Development o Strengthen Existing Housing Stock o Support New Housing and Mixed Use Development o Encourage Reinvestment in Commercial Corridors o Focus on Economic Development and Inclusion • An Integrated Public Realm and Infrastructure o Improve Transportation Infrastructure o Enhance Open Spaces and Expand Green Infrastructure The housing strategies included under “Positive Development” provide the structure and partnerships needed to successfully increase the homeownership rate. Through housing counseling provided through NCALL, leveraging a variety of financial resources, and support through many partner providers, we can work collectively to renovate deteriorated housing stock, construct new housing, and bolster homeownership. Through leveraging such resources as Housing Development Fund, NCALL’s Loan Fund, City CDBG funds, Housing Choice Vouchers administered through Dover Housing Authority, NCALL’s housing counseling services, and the expertise of partners such as the Kent County Association of Realtors, Milford Housing Development Corporation, and Central Delaware Habitat for Humanity, central Dover’s residential neighborhoods can be successfully revived. NCALL will submit an application for implementation funding to the Wells Fargo Foundation in fall 2014. If successful, up to $750,000 would be available for implementation of the Restoring Central Dover Plan.

This funding would further leverage the investment of State dollars through the Downtown Development District. Bringing Together the Plans and the Downtown Development District When taken together, the Dover Transit Center Neighborhood Plan and Design Book and the Restoring Central Dover Plan provide a roadmap for downtown redevelopment in Dover that addresses the physical issues of building design and placement, gateways and open space, the transportation network, business retention and recruitment, the mix of land uses, and a housing strategy. Both plans were developed with significant stakeholder involvement and complement each other in terms of how they address downtown redevelopment. The geographic study area for each of the plans is slightly different, but there is significant overlap. Dover’s defined Downtown Development District boundary includes an area that overlaps with both study areas but places priority on areas with the greatest need. The Downtown Development District includes the area immediately surrounding the new Transit Center, the Loockerman Street corridor, and the residential neighborhoods abutting the downtown business district. Goals and recommendations presented in both plans provide a strategy for implementation of the Downtown Development District that balances the need for reinvestment in distressed commercial properties with revitalization of residential neighborhoods and the growth of homeownership. Success in both of these realms has shown to be costly and frequently economically infeasible. The added resources of the State’s incentives with the Downtown Development District, Kent County’s match to this investment, private investment, and Dover’s existing and added incentives will make redevelopment of Dover’s commercial and residential core economically feasible. In the coming months, the City of Dover will work with the Downtown Dover Partnership and the Restoring Central Dover Steering Committee to develop performance measures to track success of the plan implementation. Such performance measures will likely include measures such as: number of new homes constructed within the District, number of houses rehabilitated within the District, number of owner-occupied homes within the District, number of permanent jobs within the District, number of previously-vacant commercial buildings occupied, assessed value of property within the District, and other similar measures that would document the impact. Once developed, these measures will be submitted to the Office of State Planning Coordination and reported on regularly.

Dover Transit Center Neighborhood Plan

OUR VISION FOR VITALITY 10.23.2014 DRAFT

RESTORING CENTRAL DOVER LEADERSHIP STEERING COMMITTEE MEMBERS The Restoring Central Dover Plan was made possible by generous funding Debbie Armstrong, United Way from the Wells Fargo Regional Foundation, SPEER Trust, the City of Dover, Paul Bernat, Dover Police Chief NeighborWorks America, Federal Home Loan Bank of Pittsburgh, and Dianne Bogle, Capital School District NCALL Research, Inc. The plan process was led by NCALL Research, Shelly Cecchett, Greater Kent Committee Inc. and a commited Steering Committee comprised of local stakeholders, David Clendaniel, Dover Federal Credit Union elected officials, residents, and service providers. Susan Cooper, Dover Presbyterian Church Elizabeth Daniels, Neighborhood Representative PLANNING TEAM Wallace Dixon, Dover City Council Tenish Gregory, CenDel Foundation INTERFACE STUDIO LLC V LAMAR WILSON ASSOCIATES Pastor Will Grimes, Solid Rock Baptist Church Scott Page, Principal Lamar Wilson, Principal Tracey Harvey, City of Dover, Planning and CDBG Leah Murphy, Principal Clay Hammond, Delmarva Black Chamber of Commerce Rapheal Randall, Urban Designer Kent Hurst, Wesley College Chanda Jackson, Neighborhood Representative ABOUT NCALL Jeanine Kleimo, Dover Interfaith Mission for Housing Herb Konowitz, Dover Interfaith Mission for Housing The National Council on Agricultural Life and Labor Research Fund, Inc. Bishop Marion Lott, House of Pride (NCALL), based in Dover, Delaware, was incorporated in 1955 and began Mike Metzing, Bayhealth providing housing development services in 1976; added homeownership Joe Myer, NCALL education and counseling in 1989; became a U.S. Treasury-certified Bill Neaton, City of Dover, Economic Development Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) in 2004 in order to Ed Perez, Downtown Dover Partnership provide housing and community facility lending; launched financial literacy Maggie Pleasant, NCALL training in 2005; added default & foreclosure prevention counseling at Delcina Ramsey, Public Ally the end of 2007; and was selected as the Kent County partner for the Mary Reed, Dover Presbyterian Church $tand by ME® financial coaching initiative in 2012 and became lead Ida Rios, Neighborhood Representative organization for the Restoring Central Dover planning initiative in 2013. Michael Rogers, Interdenominational Ministerial Association NCALL has become a leader in affordable housing development and Reuben Salters, Inner City Cultural League services in Delaware, creating affordable housing alternatives and helping Ami Sebastian-Hauer, Dover Housing Authority families statewide to access and maintain homeownership. Pauline Smith, Neighborhood Representative Karen Speakman, NCALL Roy Sudler, Neighborhood Representative Jocelyn Tice, Central Delaware Habitat for Humanity Ann Marie Townshend, City of Dover, Planning and CDBG Amy Yarnell, Wesley United Methodist Church RESTORING CENTRAL DOVER

Restoring Central Dover, “Our Vision for Vitality,”is an initiative that grew out of the CenDel Foundation’s Safety Task Force and broadened into a community wide effort to work at revitalization planning for central Dover. The planning process has been amazing and very engaging. Thank you to Steering Committee members who invested so much time, energy, and enthusiasm throughout the past year and worked through the thoughtful and exciting recommendations herein. Thank you to Interface Studio for your expertise and guidance in crafting this creative blueprint. Thank you to residents who assisted with the community survey, attended the Community Leadership Institute, helped organize block parties, and put their heart into this effort. This plan looks at affordable housing, business development, strong community, and infrastructure needs for central Dover to become a vibrant business corridor and community as our State Capital. The plan is meant to be a living document that guides our implementation steps both now and years to come. No doubt there will be changes and modifications as efforts evolve, as new partnerships and collaboration takes place, and as new funding becomes available. The recommendations within this plan will be evaluated regularly with the goal of making them even more applicable and achievable. With the completion of this plan, Restoring Central Dover will transition into the implementation phase. Central Dover has a wealth of assets and some very real needs. We believe this plan will enable central Dover to become even a more wonderful place to live, work and play. As you view this plan and its vision, please think about what role you might play to make it a reality, whether it be your leadership, support, or funding. Sincerely, Joe L. Myer, Chair Restoring Central Dover OUR VISION FOR VITALITY

TABLE OF CONTENTS RESTORING CENTRAL DOVER IN CONTEXT 1 PLAN RECOMMENDATIONS 15 INTRODUCTION 2 ONE A STRONG COMMUNITY 17 Purpose of the plan............................................................................................................2 1. Build community capital........................................................................19 Planning context.................................................................................................................3 2. Increase public safety.............................................................................23 Planning process................................................................................................................4 3. Engage youth in community............................................................27 Putting the plan together.............................................................................................6 4. Expand adult and family services.................................................29 A SNAPSHOT OF CENTRAL DOVER 9 TWO POSITIVE DEVELOPMENT 31 Welcome to Central Dover.......................................................................................9 5. Strengthen existing housing..............................................................33 Existing conditions take-aways..........................................................................10 6. Support new development...................................................................37 7. Reinvest in commercial corridors................................................41 OUR VISION FOR VITALITY 14 8. Ensure equitable economic development............................45 THREE AN INTEGRATED PUBLIC REALM AND INFRASTRUCTURE 47 9. Improve transportation infrastructure.........................................49 10. Enhance open spaces and expand green infrastructure..57 RESTORING CENTRAL DOVER

APPENDICES 61 APPENDIX A: IMPLEMENTATION APPROACH 61 Capacity to implement: challenges and opportunities....................62 Priority action items......................................................................................................62 Implementation matrices..........................................................................................65 APPENDIX B: EXISTING CONDITIONS 73 Census data.......................................................................................................................74 Other data sources.....................................................................................................83 Physical survey................................................................................................................95 Neighborworks resident survey......................................................................101 Open house public input.....................................................................................107

RESTORING CENTRAL DOVER

RESTORING CENTRAL DOVER IN CONTEXT OUR VISION FOR VITALITY

INTRODUCTION PURPOSE OF THE PLAN In 2013, a “Central Dover Neighborhood Planning” collaboration was convened between NCALL, the CenDel Foundation/Greater Kent Committee, Dover Interfaith Mission for Housing, and the City of Dover (including the Downtown Dover Partnership and Dover Police Department) to address the high-priority needs of low-income Central Dover residents with the goal of achieving long-term benefits by way of affordable housing, neighborhood safety and desirability, opportunities for economic growth, and essential services for children and families. With generous support from the Wells Fargo Regional Foundation and other sources, NCALL and its partners initiated the Restoring Central Dover planning process and recruited a steering committee comprised of local stakeholders, elected officials, residents, and service providers to lead a community-driven vision with the goal of ultimately establishing a solid community infrastructure that will result in long-term and successful revitalization and meaningful opportunities for residents. Over the course of the year-long process, concerned residents, community groups, neighborhood-based institutions, city representatives, and local businesses were engaged in generating ideas for a better community and the ways in which we can all help to achieve that vision together. As this vision began to take shape, plan leadership recognized the need for this initiative to focus on where efforts should be placed within the next five years to establish a foundation for longer-term positive change. With an eye towards truly Restoring Central Dover, this plan is centered on short- term incremental strategies founded on the idea that revitalization is about 01 Restoring Central Dover planning area reinvesting in both people and in place. This plan is intended to: > Empower community members as agents of change in Central Dover > Bring resources to support the needs of disadvantaged residents and > Strengthen neighborhood streets and expand affordable housing families options > Revitalize Loockerman as a vibrant commercial corridor and asset to > Raise the profile of Central Dover to attract new residents, businesses, adjacent neighborhoods and investment > Coordinate the efforts of the city, nonprofit organizations, churches > Expand economic opportunity and ensure that the revitalization of and residents to make the most of resources Central Dover benefits all residents > Assure informed funding decisions and secure resources for neighborhood investments 2 RESTORING CENTRAL DOVER

This document represents extensive hours of work volunteered by the in the target area have been brought up to housing code through the many residents, stakeholders, and local leaders dedicated to envisioning homeowner rehabilitation program. a path towards Restoring Central Dover. The planning process itself was a critical step towards plan implementation, as the members of the The City of Dover’s Comprehensive Plan and annual CDBG Action plan’s leadership recognize that they will be agents of change in Central Plan have led to an increased emphasis on building codes and Dover and will continue to collaborate in realizing the goals and objectives their enforcement, resulting in the demolition of several dilapidated outlined in this plan. properties, the construction of some new buildings (including affordable apartments) in the business district, and the upgrading or renovation PLANNING CONTEXT of other properties. To a great extent, the success of Restoring Central Dover will rely upon close coordination with the City’s own ongoing A number of planning initiatives have been completed or are currently planning initiatives and allocation of resources. underway in and around Central Dover that have helped and will continue to help guide the City and local partners in bringing about positive change. > ECONOMIC INCLUSION STUDY OF DOVER This plan seeks to reinforce and incorporate the results of these prior Commissioned by the DelMarVa Black Chamber of Commerce planning efforts while providing an overarching vision for Central Dover (DBCC), the City-funded Economic Inclusion Study of Dover is coordinated with ongoing planning processes. Each of the following currently underway and is is modeled off of a similar analysis of plans provided valuable insight and direction to the development of these Pittsburgh, PA concluding that, among other contributing factors, recommendations. racial equity and inclusion are cornerstones of sustained development and successful, healthy economies for that particular region. The COORDINATION WITH ONGOING INITIATIVES: Restoring Central Dover plan and the prospects of it leveraging public It is important to realize that Restoring Central Dover is one among and private resources present a unique opportunity to advance both multiple initiatives currently underway that will bear great relevance to agendas by linking economic inclusion as a policy and practice with implementation efforts emerging from this process. Part of the mandate community revitalization as a goal. for this plan is to ensure active coordination with these other activities: FOUNDATIONAL DOCUMENTS > CITY OF DOVER BICYCLE AND PEDESTRIAN PLANS As demonstrated above, there is a lot of ongoing planning work intended During the Restoring Central Dover planning process, the City of Dover, to bring local partners together and improve Central Dover. To be truly the Dover/Kent County Metropolitan Planning Organization, and the effective, this work must also build upon the foundation set by the plans Delaware Department of Transportation released drafts of updates and strategies that have come before. These include: to the City’s bicycle and pedestrian plans. The community expressed great interest in addressing a range of mobility issues as a part of > DOVER TRANSIT CENTER NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN AND Restoring Central Dover, and the feedback and recommendations put DESIGN BOOK [JAN 2011] forth in this document are intended to serve to further inform the City’s The Dover Transit Center Neighborhood Plan and Design Book efforts to plan for improving alternative transportation in Central Dover. provided the City of Dover with a design and planning strategy to guide development around the new Dover Transit Center and to improve > CITY OF DOVER CDBG ACTION PLAN transportation infrastructure in Central Dover. The planning area Since the City of Dover became an entitlement community to receive included a portion of the Restoring Central Dover boundary south of CDBG funding in 1995 to present, there has always been an emphasis Loockerman to South Street. The plan was focused primarily on long- in the city’s annual plan to address the needs in the Downtown Target term physical development scenarios and is considered an important Area. The top priorities that were determined by the stakeholders companion piece to Restoring Central Dover, which is centered on in the community were: housing needs, infrastructure needs, public what needs to happen in the short term in order to position Central service needs, homeless needs and public facility needs. As a result of Dover for longer-term investment and positive change. the needs determined in the city by the stakeholders, several homes RESTORING CENTRAL DOVER IN CONTEXT 3

The Dover Community Partnership PLANNING PROCESS The planning process was designed to be both data-driven and people- driven. This required us to both: LISTEN through a variety of Community Outreach & Engagement activities—a key component of the plan and the basis for the THE DOVER COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP recommendations REVITALIZATION PLAN JANUARY, 2009 COLLECT & ANALYZE DATA to provide a comprehensive picture of the challenges Central Dover faces today. > DOVER COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP REVITALIZATION COMMUNITY OUTREACH AND ENGAGEMENT PLAN [JAN 2009] Restoring Central Dover: Our Vision for Vitality was conceived as a The Dover Housing Authority formed the Dover Community true, community-driven plan that will serve as a unified voice for local Partnership in 2003 to address concentrated poverty and housing residents, business owners, institutions, youth, community leaders, and issues. The general consensus was that the homeownership rate political representatives, among others. As such, the planning process was and economic opportunities in the area were poor and an initiative designed to not only engage the public, but also help to build a sense of was needed to address the issues. The resulting Dover Community community among the area’s diverse constituency. Partnership Revitalization Plan [covering a 20-block area now within the Restoring Central Dover boundary and comprising about 12% of To create a plan grounded in the realities of Central Dover requires an this effort’s planning area] set forth a set of strategies geared toward: open and ongoing public dialog. The process informed and brainstormed with residents and stakeholders using a range of outreach tools including: - Creating a safe environment for current and future residents to live, work, and play. Monthly Steering Committee meetings conducted throughout the - Providing a range of housing opportunities that address the process brought together to guide all aspects of the project. The Steering needs of the homeless to homeowners. Special care will be Committee is comprised of local residents, community leaders, elected taken to ensure that housing initiatives do not displace current officials, and representatives from local institutions. residents but instead enhance their living conditions. - Supporting the efforts of the Downtown Dover Partnership to Ten confidential one-on-one interviews with a sample of residents, promote the public welfare of the residents of the City of Dover community leaders, business owners, service providers, and City officials. via the development of the economic, cultural and historic resources of the downtown area. Three focus groups to discuss unique concerns and perspectives regarding the future of Central Dover. The focus groups brought together These objectives were considered a jumping off point for Restoring Central leaders of the faith-based community, social service providers, and Dover, the outcomes of which harmonize well with this previous effort. The representatives of the business community to discuss their perspectives overlap in leadership between the Dover Community Partnership and the and ideas for Central Dover. Restoring Central Dover steering committee, as well as the synergies between the two efforts, should capitalize on opportunities to collaborate An interactive open house to publicly launch the plan and invite in bringing needed resources to the Central Dover community. community members into provide their opinions on the community. At the beginning of May 2014, the open house utilized the 1st floor community room of Bayard Plaza on Loockerman and was open seven times over 4 RESTORING CENTRAL DOVER

the course of nine days. The planning team created temporary window installations on both sides of Loockerman to draw attention to the open house and filled the interior with information, a photo suggestion booth and other exercises designed to get residents thinking creatively. At least 177 residents participated in this event. The input provided by residents at the open house led to many of the strategies in this plan. A number of collaborative maps were used to help residents pinpoint specifically where they had concerns about their community. A large-scale collaborative map was used in the Open House that asked residents to identify mode-specific transportation issues. Residents were also engaged in public realm mapping to identify hotspots for crime, illegal dumping, poor lighting and flooding. A “do-it-yourself” budget exercise at the open house allowed participants to allocate play money in multiple denominations to piggy banks representing general budget categories, such as “transportation networks” and “housing and neighborhoods.” Community members wrote their big ideas for Central Dover on a dry erase board, which they posed next to for a snapshot in the “photo suggestion booth” at the open house. A resident perception survey to collect the perceptions and concerns of residents across all of the Central Dover neighborhoods. Community volunteers that administered the survey received 224 completed surveys representing 18% of households in Central Dover. Following the open house, a final public meeting was held in July 2014 to allow the community to review preliminary recommendations and participate in an exercise designed to set priorities among the range of ideas presented to determine where limited funds and resources should be directed. RESTORING CENTRAL DOVER IN CONTEXT 5

PUTTING THE PLAN TOGETHER To understand the underlying trends and socio-economic characteristics of Central Dover, the planning team utilized The Reinvestment Fund’s [TRF] Policy Map data sets. This data on population, race, income, housing and other aspects of the community was augmented where necessary with other US Census information, parcel data provided by the City of Dover, Dover Police Department crime data, and other datasets. In addition to the base data described above, the planning team conducted a parcel by parcel survey of every property in the Central Dover study area. The survey collected detailed information on each property, including land use and condition but also recorded physical observations regarding housing, businesses, parks, roads, maintenance, safety , and so on. The planning process consisted of three phases: 1. RESEARCH & EXISTING CONDITIONS During the first phase of work, which was defined by research and data collection, the planning team explored and documented the physical and economic conditions in Central Dover through: > A GIS parcel by parcel mapping of land use, building condition and vacancy data to create an up-to-date land use map > An in-depth examination of the physical environment to assess the existing commercial and retail mix, the quality of the natural environment, local traffic and circulation patterns, the transit system, and pedestrian / bicycling amenities > Research using Policy Map and the Census to evaluate demographic and socioeconomic changes within the community over time > A review of existing planning documents whose boundaries overlap with those of the study area > The launch of a public outreach initiative beginning with the door-to- door resident survey and followed by the public open house designed to get a handle on the qualitative aspects of the neighborhood > The facilitated discussion of specific concerns raised during the process to date over a series of three focus groups > A series of one-on-one interviews to review our work and discuss possible solutions with key stakeholders and funders > Processing the information collected during the analysis to identify opportunities and challenges for the future of Central Dover > Review of this information by the Steering Committee 02 Land use survey map and breakdown Existing land use was one of the data points collected during the parcel-by-parcel physical survey conducted during Phase I of Restoring Central Dover. SOURCE: Field survey, Nov 2013 - Jan 2014 6 RESTORING CENTRAL DOVER

2. PRELIMINARY RECOMMENDATIONS 3. FINAL MASTER PLAN During the second phase of the process, the planning team worked closely During the third phase of work, the planning team refined the with community partners to develop well-tailored recommendations in recommendations, incorporating the input collected from members of response to the research findings and community input collected in Phase the Steering Committee and the general public at the end of Phase II. I. Phase II resulted in: The analysis and revised recommendations are packaged together in this report, along with an implementation strategy to guide the next steps in > A list of goals and objectives based upon public input coming weeks, months, and years. > A series of preliminary recommendations for achieving such goals and balancing observed trends and projections with desired outcomes The Central Dover area, its network of involved neighborhood institutions > Presenting the preliminary recommendations to the community for and leaders, and all interested community members will assume feedback and critique at a public meeting, along with a prioritizing responsibility for the revitalization plan, its acceptance by the City of Dover, exercise and its implementation. RESTORING CENTRAL DOVER IN CONTEXT 7

03 Central Dover landmarks SOURCE: Field survey, Nov 2013 - Jan 2014 8 RESTORING CENTRAL DOVER

A SNAPSHOT OF CENTRAL DOVER WELCOME TO CENTRAL DOVER and below average building conditions [E]. This area has been targeted by the city in recent years to bring housing up to code and demolish Dover, the capital city of the first state, is centered on the area referred hazardous structures. to as Central Dover, comprised of a number of distinct areas clustered around the historic Loockerman Street commercial corridor. Let’s start off The Norfolk Southern rail line divides the Dover Housing Authority’s Simon by getting our bearings in Central Dover: Circle neighborhood and surrounding primarily residential streets to the west. Loockerman, once a thriving traditional main street [A], is anchored by Dover City Hall and the Dover Library on the east end and a recent The Green, a historic park located in the old downtown Dover area, was commercial development at the west end, where Loockerman connects to during colonial times a center of civic life and activity, and is now used for Route 8 (an important gateway to Central Dover) via Forrest Street. The large scale events. 79 historic buildings contribute to the Dover Green corridor features primarily two and three-story historic buildings [B], some Historic District—many of these buildings are now being used for law, with active ground floor commercial uses, but some with vacant storefronts. finance, and other professional offices [F]. The Wesley College campus [C], which serves about 2,500 students, is The Southern portion of the study area is defined by a number of large located just north of the Loockerman corridor. The campus is surrounded footprint public, government and medical uses such as Bayhealth [G], as by residential blocks featuring larger houses (some which have been well as senior housing and commercial offices. The block structure results converted to office uses) with predominantly well maintained historic in a much looser urban fabric, in contrast to the more pedestrian-friendly architecture [D]. scale found north of Loockerman. This area is a significant center of employment in Dover, but feels physically disconnected from Loockerman Just north of Loockerman between Governors Avenue and West Street lay and adjacent neighborhoods. a few blocks of distressed residential streets with concentrated vacancy [A] [B] [C] [D] [E] [F] [G] RESTORING CENTRAL DOVER IN CONTEXT 9

EXISTING CONDITIONS TAKE-AWAYS The analysis of existing conditions conducted in Phase I of Restoring relative to the rates in other areas in the City and County. As long-term Central Dover led to some important conclusions that formed the basis, vitality relies on short-term stabilization of deteriorated blocks, strategies along with community input, for the drafting of recommendations. The to retain existing residents as well as attract new neighbors broad stroke highlights of the opportunities and challenges among these should be a priority of Restoring Central Dover. follow, with additional more specific references to the analysis threaded through the recommendations chapter. The existing conditions appendix VACANCY includes any remaining elements of research and public input not included There has been comparatively modest population growth and vacancy elsewhere in the document. remains a challenge in Central Dover. As an overall percentage of parcel area, vacant land and buildings comprise 13% of Central Dover. POPULATION DYNAMICS IN CONTEXT The aggregated area of vacant land in Central Dover is equal to 25 Central Dover is predominantly African American (59%), with the number football fields. The effects of vacancy impact perception and can hinder of African American residents increasing by 6% between 2000 and 2010. reinvestment, especially when concentrated on individual blocks [Fig 05]. The 12% increase in population overall in Central Dover [Fig 04] is on par At the same time, these clusters of vacancy are also opportunities for with the City of Dover’s 14% increase; but the population of Kent County infill development. increased 28% over the same period, far outpacing local growth. The rate of population growth in the Central Dover area continues to decline 04 Change in population and racial breakdown, 2000-2010 05 Map of vacant land and buildings SOURCE: 2000 & 2010 US Census SOURCE: Field survey, Nov 2013 - Jan 2014 10 RESTORING CENTRAL DOVER

BUILDING CONDITIONS The parcel survey included rating buildings on a scale according to their apparent condition as observed from the street, with an “A” rating given to buildings in “Excellent” condition, through an “F” rating given to buildings in “Very Poor” condition [Fig 07]. Some patterns emerge in concentrations of buildings in below average condition relative to the study area overall [Fig 06], which coincide with concentrations of vacant buildings and land. These distressed residential streets speak to the need not only for infill development, but targeted home repair assistance to preserve exisiting housing stock where possible. COMMERCIAL SERVICES Though the land use survey counted a number of commerical uses in the study area, most of them are concentrated in the southern end of the study area and are offices and other commercial typologies that don’t serve the daily needs of Central Dover’s residents. Local residents typically travel outside of Central Dover to more suburban/auto-oriented commercial developments situated along Route 13 or Route 8. For existing residents without a car, this is a significant distance to travel to access services and goods or retail jobs. The Loockerman commercial corridor is an opportunity to bring commercial services within walking distance of Central Dover residential neighborhoods,. However, the challenges to overcome in 06 Surveyed building conditions It should be noted that because the building condition survey typically relies on judgments based only on revitalizing the corridor include perception of safety, high vacancy what is visible from the street, it is fair to say that the survey results overestimate the condition of buildings, as defects on the sides and rears of buildings are often not visible. SOURCE: Field survey, Nov 2013 - Jan 2014 Bayard Plaza, a recent mixed use development on Loockerman Street 07 Building condition ratings criteria SOURCE: Field survey, Nov 2013 - Jan 2014 RESTORING CENTRAL DOVER IN CONTEXT 11

and tenant turnover rates, and a lack of readily leasable spaces due to 08], compared to one in three families with single female householders deferred maintenance and lack of property owner resources to rehabilitate city-wide. Many Central Dover residents face considerable housing cost properties. burdens, with a significant portion of the study area showing 81% or more of renters paying more than 30% of their income towards gross rent [Fig Capitalizing on housing development opportunities on or within walking 09]. The preservation of and increased access to affordable distance of Loockerman would help change perception of this struggling housing will be key to providing housing opportunities to Central Dover commercial corridor, as well as bring a denser customer base to support residents. commercial revitalization. Recent developments along Loockerman, such as the large new office building at the west Loockerman gateway, the mixed Add to those factors a high unemployment rate [10% in 2010] and lower use development at Bayard Plaza, and the recruitment of The Delaware educational attainment levels, and it becomes clear that many members of EZ-Pass Customer Service Center and Division of Motor Vehicles Call the Central Dover community face a number of challenges that will require Center, can be leveraged to continue to build momentum and critical the continued expansion of local services to meet the needs of mass along Loockerman. of residents. SOCIOECONOMIC CHALLENGES Some Central Dover residents have faced disadvantages in life that have placed them at the margins. The area’s weighted average median income, $34,730 is 27% lower than the City of Dover’s $47,754. More than half of families in Central Dover are headed by a single female householder [Fig 08 Household characteristics 09 Household characteristics The concentrated college student population is classified in the “non-family” group by the Percent of renter households for whom gross rent is 30% or more of household income. Census, which likely explains why the non-family share in Central Dover is 11% higher Gross rent is the contract rent plus the estimated average monthly cost of utilities. than that of the City of Dover. The rate of 53% of families being headed by single female SOURCE: American Community Survey, 2007-2011 householders refers only to the 47% of households that are considered a “family” and does not include students. SOURCE: 2010 US Census 12 RESTORING CENTRAL DOVER

CRIME AND PERCEPTION OF SAFETY One of the most prominent major quality of life issues that arose in community discussions during the Restoring Central Dover process—and one that impacts efforts to retain residents and businesses as well as attract new ones—was crime and perception of safety. When asked what they liked least about Central Dover, 42% of resident survey participants identified “Safety in the community,” which received the greatest number of “least liked” responses by a margin of 12%. Crime data from the Dover Police Department shows that the number of violent crimes per 1,000 persons in the Central Dover area rose from 6.16 per person in 2011, to 22.76 per person in 2013, a nearly 400% increase over a three year period [Fig 10]. In 2013 alone, nearly all forms of reported crimes in the plan were 3- to 5-times that of Dover overall [Fig 11]. These figures were alarming to the Central Dover community and plan leadership, and indicates a clear need to bring more resources to ensure the safety of the Central Dover community. 10 Change in violent crime rates, 2011-2013 SOURCE: Field survey, Nov 2013 - Jan 2014 11 2013 Crime rate breakdown: Central Dover and City-wide SOURCE: Field survey, Nov 2013 - Jan 2014 RESTORING CENTRAL DOVER IN CONTEXT 13

OUR VISION FOR VITALITY This plan represents our community’s vision for restoring the vitality of Central Dover. It offers a range of achievable strategies, implemented over a five year period, designed to lay the foundation for future opportunities to fully realize Central Dover’s potential as a place to live, work, and play. GOAL AREAS A range of strategies towards achieving our vision for vitality are organized in three goal areas designed to achieve: 1. A STRONG COMMUNITY 2. POSITIVE DEVELOPMENT 3. AN INTEGRATED PUBLIC REALM AND INFRASTRUCTURE 14 RESTORING CENTRAL DOVER

PLAN RECOMMENDATIONS OUR VISION FOR VITALITY I. A STRONG COMMUNITY 15

16 RESTORING CENTRAL DOVER

1 A STRONG COMMUNITY

18 RESTORING CENTRAL DOVER

BUILD COMMUNITY CAPITAL Community support is critical to implementing the goals of this plan. Working to strengthen community cohesion through the cultivation of neighborhood groups will not only provide spaces for residents to enjoy each other’s company as well as address issues collectively; it will also encourage them to root themselves in Central Dover, as well as attract new residents looking for a deeper sense of community. ESTABLISH RESIDENT-LED CIVIC GROUPS In order to effect change in their community, residents have to work together. This means collectively developing an organizational model of neighborhood representation and community stewardship. By developing neighborhood groups, those wishing to take part in helping restore Central Dover will be better able to pursue resources to improve their neighborhood, create necessary dialogue about ways forward, and develop programming focused on engaging residents in the pursuit of positive change for their community. The resident survey led by the Central Dover Steering Committee asked neighbors how likely they think other people in the community would provide assistance in a variety of situations [Fig 12]. Roughly half of the responses indicated that Central Dover residents don’t necessarily feel they can rely on their neighbors. There is an opportunity to improve the bonds between neighbors, which could be fostered by individual involvement in neighborhood groups and resident-led initiatives. In Central Dover, there are a number of churches and religious institutions who currently conduct a number of outreach services; and these 12 Resident expectation of assistance from neighbors For a variety of hypothetical situations, surveyees generally felt they would likely receive institutions could be helpful in initiating the establishment of neighborhood help from a neighbor half the time. groups in Central Dover. Utilizing this religious network will also help lay SOURCE: NeighborWorks resident survey the groundwork for a collaborative set of neighborhood groups, working toward similar aims, as well as provide facilities in the interim while these grassroots groups get off the ground. area to determine what established networks can be built on. Existing neighborhood boundaries or affinity areas, such as Lincoln Park, Simon As a first step, develop a list of local neighborhood leaders that will help Circle, Kirkwood/Queen/New Streets, and so on, can serve as jumping to organize and map out existing groups in and adjacent to the plan off points for structuring neighborhood group facilitation and organization. I. A STRONG COMMUNITY 19

DEVELOP COMMUNITY BUILDING the campus and most visible to the general community so as to build excitement and encourage others to want to participate. Such projects PARTNERSHIP WITH ANCHOR INSTITUTIONS could include targeted beautification projects on residential blocks, Historically, Wesley College has been a good neighbor engaged with the garden tours, and public recognitions of particularly well-presented community and it is a goal of this effort to see that continue. Community flower and produce gardens and exterior home renovations. These engagement is an area of focus of the college’s strategic planning process activities would serve as initial steps for creating and sustaining model currently underway. There may be some short-term and longer-term blocks throughout Central Dover. opportunities to connect Wesley with the Restoring Central Dover plan implementation. Local partners can begin laying the groundwork for and Use experiences with Wesley to open up communication channels of with opening formal channels of communication between the Wesley College other anchor institutions located in or serving Central Dover to recruit administration, other anchor institutions, and community residents to workers from Central Dover. These companies include but are not limited connect and work on common issues affecting Central Dover. Determine to: Bayhealth, Energizer, Playtex , Kraft, the State of Delaware, other area where existing resources are available and where new ones are needed colleges and universities (DelTech and Del State), and public schools to address community building priorities that emerged from the Restoring serving the community. In addition to exploring workforce development Central Dover Plan, including: opportunities, the conversations with managers of these businesses should explore, among other objectives, student internships, summer youth > Encourage community residents and Wesley College students employment, career exploration and vocational programs, and work-study to become “We Care” team members as part of the proposed and scholarships. Neighborhood Watch Network to enhance safety and security on a block-by-block basis. Partnerships with local anchor institutions Coordinate and align these activities with the public schools and the new could also be helpful in cultivating neighborhood watch groups and community centers under construction and where the programming is coordinating communication between campus security, Dover Police already underway. Department patrols, and neighborhood watch activities. > Provide more opportunities for residents to engage with one another CREATE ANNUAL “CELEBRATING CENTRAL in social and cultural settings, informal and formal. > Build effective working relationships among neighbors to address DOVER” BLOCK PARTY safety and maintenance issues at the block level. Central Dover is perceived by some as a section of the city that should be, > Educational, vocational, and mentoring programs for children and for the most part, avoided by those from outside. However, when Central youth working with the schools serving the neighborhood and parents Dover residents were asked how likely they would be to recommend the of those students. community as a good place to live, 67% stated they would recommend it. > Community improvement projects focused initially in areas closest to This highlights a disparity between outside perception of Central Dover, and the view of those living in the neighborhood. If not addressed, this could inhibit reinvestment and revitalization efforts. While efforts should be made to continue and build on the existing events such as First Fridays and the farmer’s market on the Plaza to bring people downtown, one way to improve the view of those living outside Central Dover would be to host an annual celebratory block party showcasing the very best Central Dover has to offer. With an annual block party, residents could show what they love so much about living in here. There are opportunities to hold talent shows, market wares made by the community’s ambitious makers and entrepreneurs, 20 RESTORING CENTRAL DOVER

allow businesses and social services agencies to talk to residents about what they offer, and so on. Organizers could consider a multiple-location event to encourage unity across different neighborhoods within Central Dover. EXPAND ON “COMMUNITY CLEAN-UP DAYS” In recent years, the Dover Housing Authority, Central Delaware Habitat for Humanity, Wesley College, the Office of Senator Carper, and the City of Dover have organized a “123 = ABC” Community Event. During this event, 500 incoming students, along with faculty, staff, student athletes, and community members, have worked to improve the curb appeal and streetscape”of 20 blocks situated within the City of Dover/Carper Homeownership Program Target Area (bounded by Loockerman, West, Mary, and Governors). Volunteers clean the blocks of trash, plant flowers and shrubbery, and paint curbs. However, resources are not currently available to continue this effort. Wesley and local partners should engage in coordination efforts to resume this event, which could help kick start similar projects led by residents. Recently formed neighborhood groups and established church groups could hold similar events monthly, with the help of sponsors who support the 123=ABC event. DEVELOP AND DISTRIBUTE COMMUNITY CALENDAR OF ACTIVITIES AND EVENTS Produce a regularly updated and distributed listing of information/events/ activities in Central Dover to keep the community informed of what’s going on in Central Dover in general and, in particular, to highlight efforts towards 13 Community-identified illegal dumping/trash hot spots achieving the goals of Restoring Central Dover. The updates could be SOURCE: Public open house input coordinated with local press, distributed through mass email to subscribers, and have a constant presence online and through social media. EVALUATE LEVEL OF ACCESS TO COMMUNITY FACILITIES FOR SERVICES Two community facilities—Inner City Cultural League’s cultural arts center and Solid Rock Baptist Church’s community center—are presently under construction to provide a variety of services to Central Dover. Following the establishment of these new facilities, the City and local partners should evaluate Central Dover’s inventory of community facilities and access to social services to determine whether there is need for additional facilities to improve access within the community to these important services. I. A STRONG COMMUNITY 21

14 Aspects of Central Dover least liked by residents Residents identified crime and safety as the least liked aspect of living in Central Dover. SOURCE: Neighborworks resident survey 22 RESTORING CENTRAL DOVER

INCREASE PUBLIC SAFETY Developing a collaborative/community policing strategy which makes an at-risk community safe is imperative for any neighborhood revitalization initiative. Without a viable plan for reducing crime, attempts to attract investment, businesses, and new residents can be inhibited or even rendered impossible. For a neighborhood like Central Dover, reducing illicit activities in the area will greatly improve quality of life for current residents and improve efforts to attract potential developers, businesses and new residents. As it stands, both residents and visitors have the perception that Central Dover has a serious crime issue. According the resident survey, 42% said crime and safety issues are what they liked least about living in the community [Fig 15]. This sense of Central Dover being a high crime area is also backed by Dover Police Department crime data, indicating that the plan area has the largest concentrations of crime and illicit behavior citywide and that concentration has intensified by almost 400% from 2011 to 2013 [Fig 10 and 11]. In short, Central Dover is an area in dire need of innovative community-oriented approaches to crime prevention. What follows are a series of recommendations that can help begin reducing criminal activity and help develop better communication between the 15 Resident support for a neighborhood watch program community and public safety officials. SOURCE: NeighborWorks resident survey ESTABLISH COLLABORATIVE/COMMUNITY and improve safety in Central Dover. Residents in the plan areas are ready to take an active role in helping restore safe conditions POLICING throughout the neighborhood. A number of current residents believe Building a stronger relationship between the Dover Police Department establishing a neighborhood watch could deter criminal behavior. and the residents of Central Dover will go a long way in helping improve 60% of all resident surveyees would like to see a neighborhood public safety. Relationship-building can be aided by creating opportunities watch formed in Central Dover; and 42% of those respondents would for the community to not just report criminal activity taking place in the volunteer if it is created. With the help of the Dover Police Department community; but to take part in the decision-making in regards to the type as well as local institutions and church groups, organizers could begin of community policing initiated in the neighborhood. recruiting members for neighborhood watch groups, and educate members as to the role the neighborhood watch should play; how > CREATE NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH NETWORK best to communicate with the police department; what neighborhood- With residents using their relationships to hold each other accountable, specific crime patterns to look out for; and how to patrol the streets neighborhood watch programs have great potential to prevent crime safely. I. A STRONG COMMUNITY 23

> FORM A CITIZEN ADVISORY COMMITTEE Creating a citizen advisory committee will establish that the Dover Police Department is deeply committed to addressing the concerns of the community, and is open to hearing its ideas in regards to how it could adjust policing practices and procedure. Selecting a set of community leaders to review issues will help bring more residents forward to participate in collaborative efforts to help diminish crime in the plan area. Creating more dialogue between the community and police will also serve to educate residents and police alike about the community, improve awareness of policing and crime prevention procedures, and build mutual trust, among other benefits. DEPLOY POLICE FOOT AND BIKE PATROLS Foot and bike patrols are not only recognized as great methods to deploy officers through a neighborhood to prevent crime; they also provide opportunities for officers to build relationships with residents and business owners, which enables information sharing that also supports crime prevention. The Dover Police Department has conducted foot patrols along Loockerman Street in the past, but these were eliminated due to the budget constraints incurred due to the recent economic downturn and dwindling federal and state funding. However, residents and local business owners are calling for a re-establishment of the foot patrols to reduce loitering along Loockerman and drug activity in the Queen/New Street portion of plan area. Officers would be encouraged to check in to each business, and record 16 Known and perceived crime hotspots their visit in a ledger retained by each business owner—a technique used At the public open house, community members identified locations in Central Dover they by some other commercial corridor foot patrons to support face-to-face see as hotspots for crime and illicit behavior [shown in orange dots above]. For the most engagement between police and businesses. Community members also part, perceived hotspots coincide with Dover Police Department crime data hotspots strongly support the establishment of bike patrols along streets identified [generalized and shown in darker areas above]. Perception of high crime rates at The Green and Simon Circle are not necessarily reinforced by reported crime incidents, which as high drug and illicit activity areas in the Central Dover area. could be a factor of lack of crime reporting or simply a perception issue. SOURCE: Dover Police Department & public open house input EXPAND SURVEILLANCE CAMERA NETWORK Since the onset of the economic downturn, police departments around the country have had to expand their capacity with fewer resources to support As a first step, the Restoring Central Dover Steering Committee them. In order to address this issue, the Dover Police Department worked will meet with Dover Police to discuss an implementation strategy, with Advantech, a security camera firm based in Dover, Delaware, to put including mapping out existing neighborhood watch areas in or in place a 24-hour surveillance platform operating primarily in downtown adjacent to the plan area and determining whether existing adjacent Dover. The police department can now monitor crimes as they take place, watch areas could be expanded to include Central Dover or if new and relay real-time information to responding officers about the occurring groups should be established. incidents. 24 RESTORING CENTRAL DOVER

Department officials report that this has greatly improved capacity to fight crime and they are looking to expand the surveillance camera network to other sections of the city. Currently, the department has a plan to add 21 cameras throughout the city and better integrate the existing camera network into an improved single-user interface located at the Dover Police Departments Dispatch Center. Working with both the City of Dover and the police department to secure more funding for the network expansion will improve public safety in Central Dover. IMPROVE LIGHTING IN TARGETED AREAS Public safety can be greatly improved by the installation of better lighting in areas known for high criminal activity. Pedestrian-scale lighting along commercial corridors and throughout residential areas can enhance traffic for businesses and increase the number of residents willing to walk at night through their neighborhoods; while simultaneously deterring illicit activity. During the planning process, residents expressed concern about the lack of proper lighting and its connection to criminal activity and vagrancy. Areas identified by residents in serious need of more lighting were Simon Circle, Wesley College, the New/Queen Street section, and portions of South State Street [Fig 17]. Other areas where extra lighting could improve the pedestrian and cycling experience would be along the southern portion of Forest Street to Loockerman, and all of Division Street. > CREATE RESIDENT-ASSISTED PORCH/FAÇADE 17 Community-identified areas in need of improved lighting SOURCE: Public open house input LIGHTING PROGRAM Installing low-cost porch/façade lighting in areas with high concentrations of illicit activity will reduce crime and increase safety for neighborhood residents. Identifying funding sources would be UC BRITE PROGRAM the first step in developing a program which will assist residents with The UC BRITE program provided matching funds for property owners the purchase of motion-detecting or solar power lighting that can be around the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia to purchase affixed to their porches or business façades. and install exterior lighting. The popular program offered assistance to 114 property owners on 58 blocks in the University City area, contributing to a significant improvement in street lighting. The program > INSTALL PEDESTRIAN-SCALE LIGHTING was started in the late 1990s as a collaboration between the energy The typical cobra-style street lamps seen posted along main company and the University of Pennsylvania to improve safety in the thoroughfares in the plan area do not provide sufficient lighting to neighborhood, and later handed over to the University City District [UCD]. deter illegal behavior or enhance the streetscape. Installing pedestrian- Following the success of UC BRITE, in 2009 UCD installed 71 pedestrian lights scale street lighting will better illuminate walkways and public spaces on Baltimore Avenue from 45th to 50th Streets and the University launched while eliminating the gaps between lit areas. a Neighborhood Lighting Initiative to partner with landlords to install new pedestrian lights between Walnut and Spruce and 40th and 43rd Streets. I. A STRONG COMMUNITY 25

18 Community do-it-yourself budget results SOURCE: Public open house input 26 RESTORING CENTRAL DOVER

ENGAGE YOUTH IN COMMUNITY Finding ways to involve youth in the revitalization and stewardship of Central Dover will not only provide activities for young people to take part in or simply provide employment opportunities; this will help reinforce the need for their active participation in shaping their community and keep them accountable to sustaining it and protecting Central Dover’s vitality. Though youth of ages 17 and under make up only 15% of the Central SUSTAIN AND EXPAND YOUTH Dover population, this figure belies the actual density of youth living in Central Dover compared to the City of Dover. The share of minors is PROGRAMMING skewed by the density of the college student population aged 18 to 24, Involve local elementary and middle schools and the Capital School which comprises 32% of Central Dover’s population. However, there are District, along with youth activity service providers, to comprehensively over 1,000 residents under 18 per square mile living in Central Dover, review after school programming and GED classes available to Central which is much more concentrated than the city-wide youth density figure, Dover’s children and youth to determine where there might be areas of 330 residents under 18 per square mile. Though the youth population is improvement. In the near term, steps should be taken to ensure that youth concentrated here, there are very limited opportunities and spaces readily programming continues at Simon Circle after the Boys & Girls Club leaves accessible to them, and many residents expressed concern about how this the facility. Local partners should approach other youth-oriented nonprofits could push neighborhood youth to engaging in negative behaviors. to determine whether they have the capacity and resources to fill the gap. Feedback heard during the planning process indicated that there is a The residents of Central Dover want more opportunities available to their specific need for services addressing the needs of youth aging out of youth; the neighborhood youth deserve a chance to grow and thrive. This foster care, including housing. was evident during the “do-it-yourself” budget community engagement exercise held at the public open house in May 2014. Participants were RE-ESTABLISH POLICE ATHLETIC LEAGUE being asked how they would distribute budget resources for City of Dover amongst nine different programmatic categories. Out of the nine Building relationships between local police and neighborhood youth categories, “Youth Programs & Education” ranked as the top priority [Fig through friendly sports competition is an approach to crime prevention and 18]. Also, throughout numerous interviews and stakeholder focus groups, community building that could have a great impact on the levels of illicit many asserted the need for more youth-oriented programming and activity taking place in Central Dover. Re-establishing the Police Athletic services. Therefore, engaging youth has to become an integral component League in Central Dover in partnership with Delaware State University of plan implementation. (who will provide the necessary recreational space), will begin the process of bridging the gap in a positive way between officers and kids in the Ensuring youth have safe and positive ways to learn, socialize, and stay community. healthy will help prepare them for a productive adulthood and strengthen the community as a whole. The following efforts should be pursued, among others, to support and expand youth programming in Central Dover. I. A STRONG COMMUNITY 27

CREATE YOUTH OUTREACH AND EDUCATIONAL SUPPORT CENTER A number of residents are concerned about the lack of readily-accessible spaces or facilities where youth can congregate and take part in positive activities. To remedy this, Solid Rock Baptist Church plans to open a 4,200-square-foot Community Outreach Center on West Street. The center will offer recreational programs, as well as classrooms featuring advanced technology that tutors will utilize to provide a different and enhanced learning experience for youth. The new outreach center is scheduled to open in 2015. PROVIDE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT VOCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOUTH The experience of taking an active role in neighborhood revitalization can have immeasurable impact on a young person’s sense of both self and purpose. Helping rehabilitate housing, as well as reclaiming vacant lots and transforming them into pocket parks, teaches youth transferrable skills and shows them the importance of investing energy in their community. YOUTHBUILD USA YouthBuild USA is one example of a program that seeks to merge community development work with vocational training for at-risk youth. Eligible students learn building construction skills and the process of thorough on-site training while working to complete their high school studies. Currently, there are 264 YouthBuild programs across the country engaging approximately 10,000 young adults per year; and since 1994, over 120,000 YouthBuild students have built over 22,000 units of affordable housing. 28 RESTORING CENTRAL DOVER

EXPAND ADULT AND FAMILY SERVICES Restoring Central Dover must include strengthening support for residents who live on the margins by providing opportunities for them to actively pursue improving their employment situations. According to the American Community Survey, approximately 46% of Central Dover residents earn less than $30,000 annually. Working to reduce barriers of entry inhibiting access to the formal economy as well as providing vocational education opportunities can improve the living conditions of struggling individuals and families, as well as cultivate deeper trust between the neighborhood residents and the social service agencies identifying them as constituents. STRENGTHEN AND EXPAND TRANSITIONAL HOUSING AND RELATED SERVICES Establish and strengthen networking and coordination of housing and family support services among all local providers. This strengthened communication will facilitate broader access to information on available services and eligibility requirements through different media, including informed word-of-mouth, print and broadcast advertising and promotion, and computer/web-based/smart phone technologies. It is critical to support emerging service centers, such as Dover Interfaith Mission for Housing, to help program the space and ensure full access to services by residents. Link community residents to educational, employment and financial services that support their healthy growth. Additional transitional housing units in the Central Dover area should avoid geographic concentration, integrate appropriate programming and services targeting children and families, and seek a variety of housing types designed for families of all sizes. 19 Change in median household income SOURCE: 2000 U.S. Census, American Community Survey, 2007 - 2011 I. A STRONG COMMUNITY 29

ESTABLISH A FAMILY SERVICES responsibilities for ensuring quality services and service delivery. > Host community fairs and partner with churches to get the word out COLLABORATIVE about existing and new services Establish a formal Family Services Collaborative comprised of the providers > Sponsor and facilitate continuing education classes and life skills representing social/human service agencies and programs serving training, especially to enhance life-long learning and skill development Central Dover. The central goal of the collaborative should be to enhance abilities of residents previously incarcerated. communications and coordination among community service providers in > Create more opportunities for peer-to-peer learning through which order to better connect Central Dover residents to available services. The parents, caregivers, and enablers coordinate the support of childhood, services collaborative would: youth and family development. > Link and advertise their services and eliminate any gaps in scope EXPAND FINANCIAL EDUCATION SERVICES and delivery. (Note: the existing 2-1-1 service provides information about available services; however, more advertising of these services Involve local financial institutions such as NCALL in providing educational is needed to get the word out.) resources and training for Central Dover residents in the areas of financial > Promote their services, eligibility, performance and outcomes to management and credit repair, housing counseling and financial coaching residents services, tax preparation, and savings programs such as Individual > Assess program outcomes and impacts, and use those findings to Development Accounts. advocate for resources to fill any existing gaps. > As an intermediate term strategy where service gaps exist locally, provide transportation options for Central Dover residents to access services outside the area. > Facilitate networking and collaborations among neighborhood service providers to: better coordinate inter-agency services and service delivery; support one another in identifying, competing for and securing capital to finance their programs; and facilitate interagency collection of program data, tracking of performance and measurement of outcomes over time. > Sponsor and hold inter-organizational meetings to discuss roles and WEST PHILADELPHIA SKILLS INITIATIVE The West Philadelphia Skills Initiative [WPSI] provides workforce development for both youth and adults throughout the University City District. Employers include the Children’s Hospital Of Philadelphia, Drexel University, Mercy Philadelphia Hospital, the National Board of Medical Examiners, Penn Medicine, the University of the Sciences, and the University of Pennsylvania. WPSI’s youth program prepares local high school students for career opportunities with real world work experience through its summer jobs program, professional internships program, small business after school program, and service learning program. The service learning program encourages young people to design and implement projects in their own community. A past project included a Lancaster Avenue Corridor Management Project in which students surveyed and analyzed local businesses and corridor activity. Adult programs are based on an ‘earn while you learn’ model, where individuals develop skills and transition to full time employment after training. Career paths include certified medical assistance, health information technology, and animal care. These opportunities provide benefits, offer wages that can support a family, and sometimes include subsidized tuition. WPSI also provides career coaching, apprenticeships, and professional development for high school graduates. 30 RESTORING CENTRAL DOVER

2 POSITIVE DEVELOPMENT

20 Building condition ratings criteria 21 Surveyed building conditions of residential properties It should be noted that because the building condition survey typically relies on judgments based only on what is visible from the street, it is fair to say that the survey results overestimate the condition of buildings, as defects on the sides and rears of buildings are often not visible. SOURCE: Field survey, Nov 2013 - Jan 2014 32 RESTORING CENTRAL DOVER

STRENGTHEN EXISTING HOUSING Neighborhood building conditions shape perception of neighborhood character and potential. Distressed buildings falling into disrepair, especially when concentrated, can make streets appear unsafe, deterring new residents and investors. Developing strategies to help maintain and improve housing stock is essential to ensuring long-term neighborhood vitality and encouraging reinvestment in Central Dover. The Central Dover building conditions survey conducted as a part of this planning process indicated that over a third of properties in the study area were found to be in “Fair” condition, meaning that there are highly visible cosmetic defects as well as visible indications of minor structural issues present. Property owners have maintained their buildings fairly well in the majority of the study area, but the map of building conditions reveals concentrations of housing that is in need of repairs and potentially substantial renovations. EXPAND ACCESS TO HOUSING REPAIR PROGRAMS Housing repairs are currently available to a limited number of lower income homeowners annually through the City of Dover’s CDBG program. Help existing residents, particularly low- to moderate-income households preserve the affordability of their homes through the establishment of an expanded housing repair program. Set as a housing priority the preservation of existing and development of more affordable housing for affordable. As repayments are made, the principal is lent out again to new low- to moderate-income residents, focusing on homeownership to enable borrowers, thus the revolving nature of the loan pool to sustain it over time. families to have a stake in their community. Provide educational resources and training for homeowners in the areas of: INITIATE VOLUNTEER-BASED NEIGHBORHOOD > Repair and rehabilitation techniques HOUSING REPAIR ORGANIZATION > Homeownership and financial responsibilities 42% of Central Dover’s housing stock is in either “C” or “D” (Fair or Poor) > Financial management and credit repair condition. With a little professional guidance, resources, and elbow grease, these properties could be restored and improve block perception, helping Establish a rehabilitation revolving loan fund capitalized by CDBG funds at to stabilize residential streets in the area. Central Delaware Habitat for a low interest rate (in the neighborhood of 1%) and attract a foundation, Humanity is interested in bringing their minor repair program currently bank or CDFI to match the initial amount at a low rate of interest so it is operating in Frederica to Dover in late 2015. The program encompasses II. POSITIVE DEVELOPMENT 33

exterior painting/minor exterior repairs per home in which volunteers from STRENGTHEN CODE ENFORCEMENT business, industry and the community pitch in with the owners to take One of the issues residents raised repeatedly as a major concern by on home repair and beautification projects in the neighborhood. There Central Dover stakeholders was the lack of accountability displayed by are also similar mission-based groups active in Central Dover that could some property owners, particularly absentee rental property owners. be partnered with to help restore existing housing. Additionally, MHDC Holding property owners responsible for derelict housing by strengthening currently provides emergency housing repairs and First State CAA operates code enforcement in areas with high concentrations of renters and safety a weatherization / repair program which could be targeted to the area. code violations is essential to ongoing neighborhood revitalization efforts in Central Dover. These recommendations provide for an opportunity for Central Dover to link this kind of investment with the proposed model block concept and > Initiate a third party needs assessment to determine whether staffing related community building activities described in the previous chapter. To or technology solutions (such as a web-based permitting and that end, a task force should be created to: development resource center) would help improve code enforcement efficiency. > Identify the nature and extent of any incentives—financial and > Provide educational resources and training to homeowners and technical—needed to bring such a program to the community. landlords to help them make better decisions about their properties. > Bring it to scale over time and ensure that it targets strategic locations > Explore with City and state programs to provide financing incentives consistent with the Restoring Central Dover Plan. for code compliance for rental properties. > Leverage other investments in the blocks targeted and in other > Begin notification to the City of Dover by the Dover Housing Authority initiatives that are priorities and spelled out in the Plan. (DHA) and the Delaware State Housing Authority when Vouchers and > Improve and/or extend partnerships with local government agencies, Section 8 Rental Payments are suspended for a rental housing unit and technical and financial intermediaries to work closer together to due to a failed DHA or DSHA inspection. avoid any duplication of effort in fashioning the program. LANDLORD TRAINING The nationally recognized Landlord Training Program in Portland, OR has been adopted by over 400 cities and counties across the nation, and includes a separate focus on Section 8 housing. The training workshop focuses on keeping rental properties safe and free of illegal activity by training landlords in effective property management and techniques for dealing with illegal activities by tenants. LEARN MORE portlandonline.com/BDS/index The Good Landlord Program in Ogden City, Utah provides incentives for landlords and apartment managers who go through training and implement the lessons on eliminating code violations, illegal activity and public nuisances through discounts on business permits and disproportionate impact fees. Creating a web-based permitting and development resource center could make information more accessible than it currently is in pamphlet form at City Hall. LEARN MORE ogdencity.com/en/doing_business/ 34 RESTORING CENTRAL DOVER

EXPLORE WAYS TO BOOST HOMEOWNERSHIP From the existing tenant population of Central Dover and from workers regularly commuting to Central Dover, recruit potentially interested first- The 25% homeownership rate in Central Dover stands in stark contrast time home-buyers by introducing them to counseling programs and to the City of Dover’s 52% homeownership rate. Explore the potential financial incentives available through NCALL as well as from Delaware for employer-assisted homeownership programs modeled off programs State Housing Authority (DSHA) programs and the City of Dover. These such as Delaware’s Live Near Your Work, the University of Pennsylvania’s include: Enhanced Forgivable Loan Program, and Philadelphia’s “Home-Buy-Now” program that provide down-payment and closing costs assistance to NCALL company employees towards the purchase of a home in Central Dover. > Homeownership counseling helps households become mortgage- Start with major institutions and employers such as Bayhealth Medical ready for conventional financing and special federal financing Center, Wesley College, State of Delaware, Kraft Foods, etc. programs, such as FHA and VA mortgage loans. Explore with the City allowing qualified first-time home buyers in Central DSHA Dover to use CDBG home repair program funds to complete basic repairs > Homeownership Loan Program that provides first mortgage financing when purchasing their new home. This, along with other home repair at below-market interest rates to qualified homebuyers. programs and down payment assistance will help boost homeownership > Delaware First-Time Homebuyer Tax Credit federal income tax credit rates in the neighborhood. designed to help make homeownership more affordable to qualified homebuyers. Homebuyers who elect to use the federal tax credit are Initiate discussions with the City regarding waiving impact fees and/or eligible to claim a portion of the annual interest paid on their mortgage discounting permit fees to incentivize affordable and market rate housing as a special tax credit. in Central Dover primarily for homeownership. > Second Mortgage Assistance Loan (SMAL) assists income qualified borrowers in the purchase of their own home by providing down- payment and closing cost assistance in the form of second mortgages. > Advantage 3 grant program assists qualified borrowers in the purchase of their own home by providing down payment and closing costs assistance in the form of a grant equal to three percent (3%) of the first mortgage loan amount. CITY OF DOVER > Dover First Start provides down payment and settlement assistance to low and moderate income families who purchase eligible properties in the City of Dover. 22 Housing occupancy and tenure SOURCE: 2010 U.S. Census, 2007-2011 American Community Survey II. POSITIVE DEVELOPMENT 35

23 Resident priority uses for vacant land Residents identified new housing development as a top priority among ways to reuse the plan area’s vacant lots. SOURCE: Neighborworks resident survey. 36 RESTORING CENTRAL DOVER

SUPPORT NEW DEVELOPMENT The Central Dover area has enough vacant land to comprise 25 football fields. Opportunities for residential and commercial development in the plan area are considerable. Removing certain regulatory and property acquisition barriers to development may encourage infill construction. Encouraging more affordable and market rate housing and mixed use development can help better unify the urban fabric by eliminating vacant lots, as well as bring in new residents and businesses. ENCOURAGE GREATER ZONING FLEXIBILITY TO ENABLE INFILL HOUSING DEVELOPMENT The City of Dover is in the process of revisiting the zoning code to make redevelopment projects easier to get off the ground. This will require a new framework that will steer infill development with new guidelines and standards about acceptable building typologies and uses. Development of duplexes and townhouses—residential typologies that would be appropriate for the urban character of Central Dover—are currently not allowed within the zoning regulations. Developing a zoning overlay covering the Downtown Redevelopment District that identifies townhouse and duplex developments as acceptable conditional uses could speed up the approval process and encourage residential development. There could 24 Aggregated vacant land area SOURCE: Field survey, Nov 2013 - Jan 2014 also be allowances made as part of the Planned Neighborhood Design code, which would provide more flexibility in terms of setbacks and other block standards in exchange for architectural elements that complement the character of the area. Encourage neighborhood residents to be part of setting the neighborhood and infill standards. properties hold can be challenging. 10% of all currently vacant lots are owned by the City of Dover, meaning the majority of properties are held FACILITATE PARCEL ASSEMBLY AND privately, and in some cases, property owners are resistant to selling their holdings because of a perceived or anticipated investment and building REDEVELOPMENT boom in downtown Dover. In order to encourage investment in the plan Though there are 207 vacant properties in the Central Dover plan area area, the City should explore the following innovative mechanisms, among (73 vacant buildings and 134 vacant lots), realizing the potential these others, to facilitate parcel assembly and redevelopment. II. POSITIVE DEVELOPMENT 37

LAND BANK A land bank is “a public authority created to efficiently hold, manage and develop tax-foreclosure property” and can be utilized as a planning tool for long-term community development. Land banks use legal and financial tools to put vacant, abandoned, and/or tax delinquent properties back into the market for productive uses; and in most cases, because vacant, abandoned, and/or tax delinquent properties are found within older/economically depressed communities, the land bank encourages redevelopment in these blighted areas. Across the country, municipalities are establishing or reviewing the potential of land banks to reclaim blighted areas. A land bank can also be established by a private organization in coordination with the City of Dover. Central Dover could follow suit and create a land bank as part of its revitalization efforts. LAND TRUST A community land trust is a non-profit, community-based organization that works to provide perpetually affordable home ownership opportunities. The land trust acquires land and removes it from the speculative, for-profit, real estate market. The land trust then holds the land it owns “in trust” forever for the benefit of the community by ensuring that it will always remain affordable for homebuyers. The land trust provides permanently affordable housing by owning the land of a particular property but selling the home on the land to an income-qualified buyer. The homeowner then leases the land from the land trust through a 99-year, renewable ground lease. Local housing advocates and other partners should open dialogue with the City, potentially consulting the Diamond State Community Land Trust, about whether or not this approach would serve Central Dover well. 25 Infill development opportunity sites From a the full inventory of vacant buildings, vacant land, and parking lots in the Central Dover study area (above left), clusters of development opportunity sites within walking distance of Loockerman are identified in orange (below left). Prioritizing development close to Loockerman will reinforce commercial corridor revitalization efforts. Proposed development typologies include infill housing, mixed use campus development, and potential longer-term transit-oriented development, pending establishment of regional rail connections discussed in the following chapter. SOURCE: Field survey, Nov 2013 - Jan 2014 38 RESTORING CENTRAL DOVER

EVALUATE WAYS OF PROVIDING FINANCIAL INCENTIVES FOR DEVELOPMENT Property acquisition and construction costs are higher in Dover than in neighboring areas—without commensurately higher rents or sales prices. In order to attract developers to the Central Dover area, the City should consider waiving City impact fees and/or discount permit fees and real estate taxes to incentivize housing in general and affordable housing in particular. EXPAND ACCESS TO AFFORDABLE HOUSING Recruit and select housing developers such as NCALL, MHDC, Central Delaware Habitat and others to develop affordable and market rate housing for homeowners in Central Dover. For example, Central Delaware Habitat for Humanity serves Kent County targeting families with incomes at and below 60% of area-wide median income. Their program holds and services all the mortgages on completed homes sold to first-time homebuyers. Habitat for Humanity is currently pursuing financing and other needed resources to build homes in Central Dover and NCALL has executed support letters indicating the project is consistent with the ongoing planning process. The targeted properties are located on Kirkwood and Queen Street. 26 Barriers to homeownership 63% of surveyed residents report that they would not consider buying a house in Central Dover. Highlighting the need for more affordable housing in Central Dover, slightly more than half of renters identified their personal financial situation as the primary reason why they have not yet bought a home. SOURCE: Neighborworks resident survey II. POSITIVE DEVELOPMENT 39

PROVIDE ASSISTANCE IN ACTIVATING UPPER STORIES ALONG LOOCKERMAN STREET There have been a number of initiatives aimed at filling vacant commercial spaces along Loockerman Street. Though businesses along Loockerman have strengthened in recent years, Loockerman still has the potential to become a vibrant commercial district. One way to push it in that direction would be to encourage residents to live along the corridor in upper story apartments so they can be at the center of momentum building in Central Dover. Property owners should be supported in their efforts to create high quality housing with good tenants. Assistance can come in the form of permitting and design assitance to convert upper stories, as well as potentially relaxed regulations to facilitate conversion, as long as such flexibility does not compromise safety standards. Coordinating with the Downtown Dover Partnership, local partners should seek to establish financial assistance programs for basic systems repair and façade improvements for owners who cannot afford them on their own. Such improvements lower utility costs and enhance security for tenants, while also lowering operating costs and enhancing the property value for landlords. The upper buildings of some buildings more readily lend themselves to other uses, especially where a second means of egress cannot be created to support residential units above the first floor. Upper story artist studios, small offices, and coworking spaces would bring increased activity to Loockerman, as well as support existing businesses along the corridor. EXPLORE OPPORTUNITIES TO CREATE STUDENT HOUSING OPTIONS OFF CAMPUS Wesley College is an anchor educational institution with 2,100 students situated in the northeastern section of the plan area. The college has been looking for ways to deepen its relationship within the community it is embedded in. Neighborhood residents would like Wesley to take a bigger role in helping revitalize the neighborhood and encourage students to become a part of the community fabric. One way to do this would be to expand off-campus mixed use student housing offerings linking the campus to Loockerman. Mixed use development with ground floor retail in this area would also make it more pedestrian-friendly and encourage students to frequent stores on the Loockerman commercial corridor. 40 RESTORING CENTRAL DOVER

REINVEST IN COMMERCIAL CORRIDORS Loockerman Street is home to the main commercial corridor of Central Dover. Currently, Loockerman is made up primarily of small, locally-owned boutique or specialty shops; only one retail chain occupies space along the strip, which gives the corridor a unique character and identity. However, the turnover rate is high and there are a number of vacant commercial spaces and lots that could provide ground for new forms of retail and entertainment. Presently, there are 16 vacant build- ings, 6 partially vacant commercial spaces, and 2 vacant lots on Loock- erman alone that can be repurposed and re-imagined. The vacancy rate changes monthly as two new retail shops plan to open in September 2014. Developing a strategy to not only fill vacancy in commercial areas, but also recast corridors like Loockerman as vibrant and bustling consumer attrac- tions, will not only improve the revenue streams of existing businesses, but will also draw visitors from all over Delaware and the tri-state area to ex- perience the newly restored Central Dover and its small business-oriented retail corridor. BUILD AND EXPAND ON MARKETING/ BRANDING EFFORTS FOR THE LOOCKERMAN STREET CORRIDOR AND CENTRAL DOVER Marketing will play a big role in helping change the perception of the Loockerman Street Corridor. A review and potential revision of the current marketing tag line, “Historically Happening,” as well as the Downtown Market Plan should be completed in the near term. Identifying who the various customer groups and business types Central Dover should be targeting will help shape the type of marketing and branding plan necessary to draw- in the retail and entertainment that will position Loockerman to become a vibrant and lively commercial district. Recruitment of the needed retail and businesses will need to occur as well. Marketing materials and social 27 Vacancy and utilization of areas zoned for commercial uses media efforts tailored to potential residents, investors, and businesses SOURCE: Field survey, Nov 2013 - Jan 2014 should be developed to promote reinvestment in the area. II. POSITIVE DEVELOPMENT 41

ACTIVATE VACANT STOREFRONTS Though there a number of new businesses popping up along Loockerman Street, high vacancy and turn-over rates are persistent issues. With downtown revitalization efforts already underway, one approach to quickly turn around the negative effects of vacancy along commercial corridors is to develop an interim strategy that transforms empty commercial spaces into temporary gallery spaces showcasing the creative work of youth living in Central Dover or displays about area nonprofit organizations. Many of the commercial spaces along Loockerman have large display windows, providing an opportunity to brand the corridor as a creative place, add color and interest to the streetscape, and establish exhibition venues for emerging artists. Temporary storefront installations could also be an opportunity to merge commercial corridor revitalization with social services through an art therapy program such as the Creative Vision Factory in Wilmington, Delaware. In addition, the City and its partners should encourage “pop- up” stores and incubator businesses for a three month trial with three months free rent, which would serve to both activate gaps in the corridor and create opportunities for entrepreneurs and small retailers to establish themselves in Central Dover. 28 Conceptual visualization of temporary vacant storefront installation ADDRESS CONCENTRATED LOITERING The vitality of Central Dover’s commercial corridors relies on perception of the area. Some businesses in the vicinity of Loockerman are generating activities that deter customers and new businesses. Though such operations generate revenue for the City, in Central Dover they contribute CREATIVE VISION FACTORY to loitering and exacerbate vagrancy in the area. The perception is that the loitering and vagrancy leads to high crime incidents. Revisiting licensing The mission of the Creative Vision requirements, zoning restrictions, and potential ordinances regarding Factory in Wilmington, Delaware, is nuisance businesses as well direct approaches to such business owners to support artistic endeavors of those with behavioral health disorders and about how to change their business’ image and patronage, will be useful encourage their participation in the in protecting the commercial viability of Central Dover, and will ensure that local artistic community through the negative impact of nuisance businesses will be minimized over time. exhibitions and workshops. The factory recognizes the value of creativity and expression in assisting in the promotion EXPAND SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT of recovery. Michael Kalmbach, who developed the Factory, feels it can PROGRAMS FOR NEW AND EXISTING BUSINESS serve as a path to employment. The OWNERS communal workspace is free to those with behavioral health disorders Small business owners like those who own the boutiques and specialty and open to the community for a shops along Loockerman are entrepreneurs who have taken a risk to minimal monthly membership fee. open an enterprise to sell a product or service they believe the community wants or needs. Sustaining new and existing small businesses can be a LEARN MORE thecreativevisionfactory.org 42 RESTORING CENTRAL DOVER

difficult task in today’s fast paced economy. There are opportunities to RECRUIT MAJOR LOCAL EMPLOYERS TO help prepare burgeoning entrepreneurs and long-time business owners for the constant fluctuation of the market and consumer taste. Currently, ESTABLISH SATELLITE OFFICES ON the Downtown Dover Partnership offers some business assistance in the COMMERCIAL CORRIDORS form of information on “loan programs, available incentives and grants, and Dover is home to several notable private corporations and institutions. Kraft, available spaces” in the downtown area. A network exists among the Playtex, Proctor and Gamble, Wesley College, and Bayhealth-Kent General small business assistance providers to coordinate efforts; this collaboration are some of the major local employers within city boundaries. Encouraging should continue and an expansion of the services offered will improve the these major employers to relocate their smaller operations and/or divisions stability of Central Dover’s commercial base and broaden its diversity and to unoccupied commercial spaces within the plan area such as the new offerings. E-ZPass location on Loockerman Street will bring more employees into the downtown areas to shop and eat, which will strengthen Loockerman as a commercial corridor and encourage continued revitalization in surrounding areas. II. POSITIVE DEVELOPMENT 43

29 Top employers in Dover SOURCE: Kent Economic Partnership, Inc 44 RESTORING CENTRAL DOVER

ENSURE EQUITABLE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT The racial and ethnic composition of Central Dover has grown more diverse over the past decade. From 2000 to 2010, the plan area saw a 12% increase in total population, from 3,323 to 3,735 residents. During that period, the percentage of those identifying as persons of color increased by 6%, with the European American cohort dropping from 41% to 34%. While the plan area’s population has grown more diverse, it appears employment opportunities have not. In 2010, the unemployment rate for Central Dover was approximately 10%; and while over 3,500 employees work within the plan area, only 1% actually resides and works in Central Dover. Truly restoring Central Dover must involve community and business leaders working together to confront the lack of access and disparity Central Dover’s people of color are currently facing. DEVELOP A COMPREHENSIVE WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY Linking Central Dover residents with the skills they need to compete for quality jobs will support both regional economic strength and local vitality. Equalizing economic opportunity requires the cooperation of private, public, and nonprofit sectors. The nature of this collaboration and partnership brings benefits to all participants: local residents secure family wage jobs and employers’ participation in building a skilled workforce ensures their own success. A critical part of this effort will be to leverage existing major employers to drive growth and boost local employment. Invite local business and industry to help address the unemployment and underemployment issue in Central Dover. Among the ideas and initiatives to explore include: > Mechanisms that promote job growth and better enable African 30 Worker inflow & outflow SOURCE: Bureau of Labor Statistics Americans and other disenfranchised individuals to overcome systemic barriers to living wage employment > Development of industry partnership programs between employers and workforce representatives with targeted recruitment efforts in II. POSITIVE DEVELOPMENT 45

Central Dover > Investments in: - Prisoner and ex-offender education programs as part of workforce development. - Youth workforce and internship programs. - Entrepreneurship and capacity building programs for minority- and women-owned business enterprises. > Corporate and institutional policies that increase workforce diversity (especially at management levels), and the hiring of ex-offenders. Explore potential pilot programs with the DelMarVa Black Chamber of Commerce modeled after Incubator Without Walls and the Ice House Entrepreneurship Program. Incubator Without Walls (IWOW) is a program for developing a skilled workforce to help power economic growth and the Ice House Entrepreneurship Program promotes entrepreneurship working with young adults to achieve learning objectives. COMPLETE ECONOMIC INCLUSION STUDY As a first step towards ensuring diversity within business opportunities, complete and publish the City-funded Economic Inclusion Study of Dover – commissioned by the DelMarVa Black Chamber of Commerce (DBCC) that is modeled off of a similar analysis of Pittsburgh, PA concluding that, among other contributing factors, racial equity and inclusion are cornerstones of sustained development and successful, healthy economies for that particular region. The lack of minority participation in a number of high- profile and large construction projects (in the Central Dover community and the Dover region in general) recently and over time prompted DBCC to bring the need for such an analysis to light publicly and to seek partners to help sponsor and fund it. The Restoring Central Dover plan and the prospects of it leveraging public and private resources present a unique opportunity to advance both agendas by linking economic inclusion as a policy and practice with community revitalization as a goal. 46 RESTORING CENTRAL DOVER

3 AN INTEGRATED PUBLIC REALM AND INFRASTRUCTURE

31 Mode of travel to work: Central Dover versus City of Dover SOURCE: 2007-2011 American Community Survey 48 RESTORING CENTRAL DOVER

IMPROVE TRANSPORTATION INFRASTRUCTURE Aside from the largely institutional areas south of Loockerman, the Central Dover area is a fairly walkable urban fabric. However, the contextual land use patterns and low-density development standard in the region result in a pervasive reliance on cars for personal transportation. The worker inflow and outflow, as well as travel mode to work data also suggest the same. More than 3,500 workers come into the Central Dover area from areas outside and 84% of workers living in Central Dover use a personal vehicle to get to work. There are a number of reasons to make a concerted effort to improve and expand levels of service for alternative transportation options in Central Dover, including: > As costs of owning and maintaining a car continue to trend upward, improving public transportation infrastructure will expand access to the city and provide stability for Central Dover’s low-income residents looking to broaden their opportunities. > Enhanced public transportation and more balanced streets will improve quality of life for Central Dover’s senior population and those with physical disabilities. > Investing in alternative transportation can help boost economic development efforts by attracting new residents and businesses who are attracted to these amenities. > Promoting walking and biking can help fight the childhood obesity epidemic and encourage healthier lifestyles in general. The following recommendations seek to improve mobility and establish more balanced streets in the Central Dover area. EXPAND AND ENHANCE TRANSIT SERVICES Central Dover residents and stakeholders were vocal about the need for expanded DART bus services. Though only 3% of Dover residents use public transit, this may be due to the limited routes and times of operation provided. According to residents who participated in the May Open House, 32 Community-identified public transit issues the bus is simply not an option for individuals working late shifts, with SOURCE: Public open house input services ending at 9 p.m. and no buses running on the weekends. Also, there are no regional routes for workers who are employed in surrounding suburbs or towns. For these reasons, city officials and neighborhood civic III. AN INTEGRATED PUBLIC REALM AND INFRASTRUCTURE 49

groups should be advocating for more routes and better times of operations to ensure all workers who need public transit have a way to their jobs. As a first step, an in-depth transportation accessibility study specifically for Central Dover should be completed focusing on the needs of existing and potential transit users, as well as evaluating current levels of service. This information should be used to form the foundation of decision-making on the part of city officials and transit authorities to improve alternative transportation options and accessibility for Central Dover residents, workers, and visitors. Feedback generated as a part of this process suggested this study should explore: > Establishing a bus line with frequent service along Route 13 and 113 through all three counties > Linking Central Dover residents to employment centers outside the neighborhood to increase access to job opportunities > Feasibility of extending hours of operations on nights and weekends Dover transit depot to better accommodate workers > Potential demand for mid-day routes targeting the elderly and those accessing child care > Whether or not the renaming of lines using place names would help Bus shelters should be equipped with clear route maps and schedules, improve the user experience by boosting awareness of which lines which could also serve as opportunities to raise awareness of locations of serve which locations. For instance, the route 109 service line could arts, cultural, and historic destinations and events in the area. be renamed the “Central Dover – Dover Mall” line to readily indicate the two endpoints of the route. A comprehensive assessment of existing bus stop infrastructure in Central Dover should be coordinated with above mentioned transit access study The process for this study should include in-depth public outreach and and completed in the near term to determine: community engagement to ensure that transit service decisions are informed by local demand and feedback. > Which bus stops need to be improved to meet accessibility standards > Whether there are locations along existing routes that should become IMPROVE BUS STOPS AND TRANSIT DEPOT new bus stops In many cases, waiting for the bus in Central Dover can be a trying experience. The lack of proper bus shelters make for very uncomfortable In addition to bus shelters, other community members highlighted the conditions for residents waiting on buses. Some residents have witnessed need for improvements to the Dover Transit Center located along W. Water “people waiting in ditches…in the rain or extreme weather without cover.” Street. Proposed improvements called for included seating, shelter, public Providing covered bus shelters for frequently used locations would not only rest rooms, and real-time schedule displays. Original plans for the Transit improve the public transportation experience, they would also increase the Center called for a second building that would house bathrooms, stores, visibility and awareness of the bus stop locations, which can in turn boost eateries, and office space. These amenities would serve to activate the ridership. Attractive bus shelters also serve well as streetscape amenities Transit Center and improve perception of the area. DelDOT, the State that have the potential to raise the image and perception of Central Dover. of Delaware, and City of Dover should resume conversations about the feasibility of moving forward with completion of this plan. 50 RESTORING CENTRAL DOVER

ADVOCATE FOR A REGIONAL TRANSIT CONNECTION STUDY Though it is the State capital and is centrally located in Delaware, Dover has no regional rail transit connecting it to Wilmington or other cities along the eastern seaboard. Community leaders and residents in Central Dover see great potential in leveraging Central Dover’s proximity to beaches along the coastline, Dover Downs, and other major destinations by linking Wilmington to the mid-Atlantic passenger rail network. There is the sense that Central Dover is perceived as a “pass-through” or “pass-around” place for the visitors coming through the region. Locating a regional train station and multi-modal hub here would bring visitors to Central Dover itself, which could have great impacts on job development and reinvestment. A central component of DelDOT’s 2011 Delaware State Rail Plan was to provide an implementation framework for both passenger and freight rail improvement initiatives in Delaware. Named as a “High” priority among the proposed studies to initiate in order to continue to explore the feasibility of potential rail improvement projects, a commuter rail link between Kent County and New Castle County could be established along the Norfolk Southern rail alignment [Fig 33]. A passenger rail service along this line would bring travelers to the threshold of the Loockerman corridor, while also providing a regional connection within walking distance of Dover’s cluster of government and justice system buildings. Local partners should push for the completion of this study and advocate for the passenger rail link. Improved east-west regional bus transit connections would better link Dover to beach destinations along the shore less than 20 minutes away, as well as Washington, DC, 2 hours west. These routes would most likely be served by private intercity bus common carriers and a demand study demonstrating sufficient need may be necessary to recruit companies. The scope of this study could be folded into the DART study referenced above. 33 Potential regional rail connection SOURCE: DelDOT, 2011 Delaware State Rail Plan WORK TO SUBSIDIZE YOUTH AND FAMILY TRANSIT ACCESS 46% of Central Dover households make less than $30,000 a year. In model may be found in San Francisco’s Municipal Transportation Agency, many cases, low-income families living in the plan area are likely to spend which currently allows low-income youth to ride public transit for free. The a sizeable portion of their earnings on transportation to work and school. State Social Service Department should explore whether they may be able To help lighten their load, DART and the City of Dover should consider to integrate this subsidy as part of the benefits provided to the families and subsidizing transit costs for low-income families and the elderly. A useful individuals qualifying for specific social services. III. AN INTEGRATED PUBLIC REALM AND INFRASTRUCTURE 51

34 Community-identified bicycle network issues SOURCE: Public open house BUILD ON EXISTING BIKE INFRASTRUCTURE Parallel to the Restoring Central Dover planning process, the City of Dover conducted its own city-wide comprehensive bicycle and pedestrian planning process. The ideas related to bicycle and pedestrian improvements as a part of this study are intended to supplement this work with accessibility and public realm improvement ideas specific to the Central Dover area. The map in Fig 35 shows a network of existing and proposed improvements to the bicycle network in the Central Dover area. The network intends to link existing and potential off-street bike trails along Silver Lake Park and Capital Green to the Dover Transit Center and Wesley campus, while also providing enhanced through-access on Division/Route 8 and Loockerman. 35 Proposed bicycle network improvements 52 RESTORING CENTRAL DOVER

> The generous right-of-way width of Forest Street/Route 8 allows for opportunities to install separated bicycle infrastructure that would both improve bikeability and elevate the image and perception of this main gateway into Central Dover. The existing and proposed typical street sections demonstrate that bike trails separated from the vehicle travel lanes by a 5-foot landscaped buffer could be established without sacrificing level of service for vehicles. Rebranding the corridor as part of a major streetscaping effort such as this, “Forest Street Parkway” or “Forest Street Bikeway,” for example, could promote and highlight it as a local amenity. 36 Existing and proposed Forest Street/Route 8 right of way con- figuration III. AN INTEGRATED PUBLIC REALM AND INFRASTRUCTURE 53

> As a main thoroughfare and secondary commercial corridor, there is much room to improve the streetscape along Division Street and make it safer for bikers and pedestrians. While some blocks have been recently repaved, there are some stretches of sidewalks along Division that have eroded entirely. Reconsidering intersection circulation along Division Street could allow for more pedestrian-oriented provisions. Division Street currently requires through-traffic to continually jog over to the right outer edge of intersections, where otherwise there are mid-block on-street parking aisles except at corners. Traffic turning left is given sole access to the left travel lane. This pattern currently precludes the creation of bump-outs, which would make pedestrians more visible and reduce crossing distances. Traffic levels may not necessitate the dedication of the travel lane to left turns only. Local partners should work with DelDOT to explore other alternatives that are more equitable across modes. IMPROVE PEDESTRIAN CONNECTIVITY AND INFRASTRUCTURE For Central Dover’s seniors, getting around on the neighborhood’s sidewalks can be difficult—not just as a result of the mobility challenges of aging, but because many sidewalks are in need of repair. These issues are problematic for other users as well, including physically challenged individuals, and pedestrians pushing strollers or shopping caddies. Many property owners may not be aware of their responsibility to keep adjacent sidewalks in good shape. One result of this has been that the City has taken on the task of repairing or replacing sidewalks in need. A marketing and awareness campaign is needed to encourage property owners to repair their sidewalks. It would be more effective if this campaign included financial assistance to help with making repairs. However, the pervasiveness of broken and eroded sidewalks alongside vacant lots and buildings requires other solutions, as attempts to encourage owners of abandoned properties will likely prove fruitless. The City should be supported with increased resources for sidewalk repair to handle cases where property owners cannot be held accountable for sidewalk condition. In some cases trees may need to be removed and replaced where roots have created hazardous conditions for pedestrians. In addition to keeping Central Dover’s sidewalks in good shape, community 37 Existing and proposed Division Street right of way members highlighted the need for more signage and streetscape configuration improvements to increase visibility of pedestrians and remind motorists 54 RESTORING CENTRAL DOVER

when pedestrians have the right of way. Specifically mentioned was the CONDUCT A COMPREHENSIVE PARKING need to protect pedestrians in crosswalks from motorists, especially when they are making left turns through an intersection. In addition to STUDY FOR CENTRAL DOVER targeted enforcement of traffic laws, bumpouts, signage, and striping Parking became a somewhat contentious issue close to the completion enhancements can help improve pedestrian safety. The City and DelDOT of the planning process. Throughout the majority of conversations related should be supported in their efforts to implement improvements resulting to parking, stakeholders reported that parking is only perceived to be a from the City of Dover’s Pedestrian Plan, developed concurrently with the problem, and that only larger-scale events can present issues for those Restoring Central Dover plan. who arrive to the greater Loockerman corridor looking for parking. Some felt that many have the expectation that they or their customers should be able to park on the same block as their destination, but that this is not a realistic expectation. Some offered criticism of public parking spaces being dedicated to particular entities, which reduces their utility overall. Another facet to this is that while there is available parking in the Governors Avenue parking lot, perceptions of safety in this area make this an undesirable location for many to park. Local partners should seek resources to conduct a comprehensive parking inventory and analysis to determine what strategies might be most appropriate for a range of development scenarios along the greater Loockerman corridor area, as well as what improvements can be made to improve perception of safety in existing parking lots. Central Dover is fortunate to have had city leaders with the good sense to situate parking lots behind buildings fronting the Loockerman, rather than creating activity gaps in the commercial corridor by placing parking directly adjacent to the street. However, it can be difficult to judge from the street whether there are parking spaces available in these lots, and, if so, whether they are public or dedicated parking spaces. The parking study should explore the feasibility and desirability of developing of a smart phone app that provides real-time map information identifying parking spaces available nearby. Parking lots could also feature electronic signs near the entrance displaying the number of parking spaces publicly available at any given time. An interim solution would be to produce a printed map handout showing locations of parking lots in the Loockerman area and distribute them to local businesses. This would be an easy way for business owners to help their customers find parking available nearby if on-street spaces are not The lack of pedestrian connectivity from Simon Circle to Saulsbury Road Park and Gateway West Shopping Center [above] has forced residents to create their own path. Division available. Street at the rail line [below] is well-traveled by students walking to or from Booker T Washington Elementary, William Henry Middle School, Academy of Dover Charter School, and other schools located off of Forest Street west of the rail line. However, the sidewalk along this busy street is impassable, as it has significantly deteriorated and infrastructure has been located in the middle of the path, leaving little room for pedestrians. III. AN INTEGRATED PUBLIC REALM AND INFRASTRUCTURE 55

56 RESTORING CENTRAL DOVER

ENHANCE OPEN SPACES AND EXPAND GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOP PROGRAMMED RECREATION SPACES Central Dover community members were vocal about the need to program existing open spaces with equipment and activities to keep neighborhood youth active. Local partners should consider pursuing resources to refresh local parks and play spaces not only to improve them as community amenities, but as a venue for continued community building among residents and neighborhood dialogue. Public input should be a key component of decision making around redesigning and investing in Central Dover’s parks and open spaces. Resources for community-driven design initiatives should be secured to re-envision these community assets. STRATEGICALLY DEVELOP POCKET PARKS ON VACANT LOTS When asked what types of new uses should be prioritized in the reuse of vacant lots in Central Dover, a combined 69% of the responses identified new housing as their top or second priority. 70% identified park and recreation space as their top two priorities, with still others identifying community gardens and open spaces. Temporary improvements to vacant lots could go a long way towards improving perception of the area, especially along and near main thoroughfares like Loockerman and Division. Priority should be placed on residential and mixed use infill development on vacant lots within walking distance of the Loockerman corridor in order to promote the residential density needed to revitalize and sustain this struggling commercial corridor. That said, this study identifies clusters of vacant land at the edge of this quarter mile catchment area that should be explored as opportunities for new open space amenities, including pocket 38 Potential pocket park opportunity sites parks, community gardens, tot lots, playgrounds, and so on. III. AN INTEGRATED PUBLIC REALM AND INFRASTRUCTURE 57

CREATE A WEST LOOCKERMAN GATEWAY PARK The recent commercial real estate development at the western gateway to Loockerman at Forest Street retained a large vacant lot for a future phase development. Given the perception issues impacting Loockerman and the need to improve the image of the corridor, this vacant lot is strategically positioned to serve as a temporary gateway park amenity. Low-cost improvements including branding and plantings could go a long way towards making a positive impression for those entering Loockerman from the west. The City and local partners should explore potential improvement scenarios for this lot and surrounding streetscape. This location should also be considered for a bus shelter. ENABLE PLAY STREET DESIGNATION Playstreets are temporary street closings established during the summer months by municipal order to allow kids to play without the interruption of car traffic. This is a very low to no cost way to add safe places for kids to play where parents and neighbors can keep watch over them. Typically, residents can suggest when and where they would like a playstreet created, subject to City approval. The City of Dover should consider establishing 39 Location of potential Loockerman gateway park a playstreets policy and program to enable resident groups to establish playstreets to give neighborhood kids more accessible spaces for play. To establish a playstreet in Philadelphia, for example, an application with signatures from 75% of block residents must be filed with the Department of Recreation by the end of May. These streets can be programmed with equipment such as wading pools and sprinklers, volleyball nets, or basketball hoops, or they can be left for spontaneous play. There are several small residential streets in Central Dover that would be good candidates for playstreets—especially those that are only a block or two long and do not carry heavy through traffic. Establishing play streets could be a component of early initiatives to cultivate neighborhood groups in Central Dover. 58 RESTORING CENTRAL DOVER

INTEGRATE GREEN STORMWATER MANAGEMENT ON WATER STREET Community members identified Water Street as a problematic flooding hotspot during rain events. The City is addressing this issue through underground stormwater infrastructure improvements to increase capacity. There may also be some value in using green stormwater infrastructure at street level to retain excess runoff on Water Street and adjacent streets that drain towards Water Street. Thinking of this infrastructure as an amenity that can be designed into the street along with a stretch of the proposed bike network would allow the City to generate increased community benefits from the public investment. The rain gardens and retention beds would also serve to create a buffer between Water Street vehicular traffic and bicycle lanes. 40 Community-identified flooding areas 41 Existing and proposed Water Street right of way configuration SOURCE: Public open house III. AN INTEGRATED PUBLIC REALM AND INFRASTRUCTURE 59

APPENDIX A: IMPLEMENTATION APPROACH

IMPLEMENTATION APPROACH The Restoring Central Dover plan outlines paths for the community to Taking a first step towards that end, as a more formal structure to guide continue to guide change over the next five years. The preceding plan the plan’s implementation, NCALL should create an Implementation narrative describes multiple strategies for the plan’s leadership and Committee that is accountable for tracking the status of initiatives set forth partners to pursue, each recommendation requiring a different set of in the plan and the progress of the different individuals / committees that partners, which enables many proposals to be addressed concurrently. In are overseeing each component. The Implementation Committee should addition, many of the recommendations are tailored to low-cost solutions meet monthly to coordinate and report on implementation achievements. that can be implemented by volunteer efforts and through the existing Each sub-committee / individual must take responsibility for their part of capacity of local organizations. Looking at the range of recommendations implementation, set aggressive schedules and monitor progress. through the lens of phasing, responsibilities, costs, and sources of funds organizes the plan into actionable steps, giving guidance on how and when each initiative should be taken on. PRIORITY ACTION ITEMS The first action item for NCALL is to present this plan to city leadership for The following implementation matrix tables should be actively used, review. The intent is to get the plan recognized by these representatives as updated, and changed to track the implementation progress. It should the designated plan for the Central Dover area and to raise awareness that be noted that the costs are preliminary and will need to be refined as significant strides have been made to improve the community. This should efforts move forward with each recommendation item. Similarly, although occur immediately following the plan’s finalization in October 2014. Further a number of potential funding sources are identified for some items, it is priority actions related to transitioning the plan into the implementation the responsibility of the plan’s leadership to determine the most attainable phase are: source of funds at the time fundraising efforts are underway. > Present the Restoring Central Dover plan to the City of Dover for approval CAPACITY TO IMPLEMENT: CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES > Present the plan to the Wells Fargo Regional Foundation and submit The implementation of many of these recommendations will require for a Neighborhood Implementation Grant strong local capacity to guide actions, raise funds, organize community members and groups, and coordinate activities. NCALL has demonstrated > Organize a committee structure for implementation its capacity to implement a range of programs, bring resources to the community, and provide community leadership in Central Dover. In taking Committees should be organized at two levels. An Implementation steps toward implementation, this leadership role must be shared with Committee should be set up to provide oversight to a series of city agencies, community nonprofits, and local institutions with which sub-committees tasked with implementing recommendations that NCALL has fostered strategic partnerships. Ideally, in developing roles and fall within the five recommendations areas. The Implementation structure among the community leaders and community based nonprofits Committee should pull from the staff and Board of NCALL, the of Central Dover, these groups will recognize that this plan is just as much Steering Committee that oversaw the plan’s development, and Board theirs to implement as NCALL’s. members from other local partners and institutions. 62 RESTORING CENTRAL DOVER

The sub-committees should welcome broader participation from residents and stakeholders regardless of their affliations with any one organization. There should be one sub-committee that corresponds with each of the recommendation areas, ideally built upon the Steering Committee working groups assembled during plan development: A Strong Community, Positive Development, and An Integrated Public Realm and Infrastructure. Each sub-committee should be chaired by a member of the Implementation Committee. > Market the Plan & Expand the Local Base of Volunteers; Share the Plan with Local Partner Organizations and Foundations > Hand-deliver notice of the Plan’s completion along with printed copies of the Executive Summary and a digital copy of the full plan to adjacent neighborhood organizations, local partners, city agencies, and foundations. Leave miniature versions of the Executive Summary in local stores, churches, etc. to raise awareness among residents. > Post a digital copy of the plan and executive summary on NCALL’s and the City of Dover’s website and encourage partner organizations to do the same. Ideally, the web page should enable individuals to be able to get in touch with the plan’s leadership if they are interested in learning more or getting involved in implementation initiatives. > Write an op-ed column for the local newspaper and blogs dedicated solely to the need for volunteer assistance with the Plan’s implementation. > Seek Downtown District Designation to facilitate and fund affordable housing and business development activities The Downtown Development District Act of 2014 was enacted by the Delaware Legislature to spur private capital investment in commercial business districts; stimulate job growth and commercial vitality; help build stable communities of long term residents by improving housing opportunities; and assist local governments in strengthening neighborhoods and downtowns to be vibrant and attractive to residents from all walks of life. The City of Dover plans to apply for this designation during the first round in 2014. Selection as a Downtown Development District will entitle private construction projects with the identified District to receive grants to offset 20% of their capital construction costs as well as other benefits. IMPLEMENTATION APPROACH 63

> Explore applying for a HUD Choice Neighborhood Grant Use the “Restoring Central Dover Plan” when completed to set context for Dover Housing Authority’s potential application to HUD for a Choice Neighborhood Implementation grant. The grant would be used to support the revitalization of Authority-owned and publicly assisted housing in the 20-square block area of Loockerman to Mary, from State to West. Choice Neighborhoods Implementation Grants support those communities that have undergone a comprehensive local planning process and are ready to implement their “Transformation Plan” to redevelop the neighborhood. A successful Wells Fargo Regional Foundation grant would serve as part of the required matching funds required by HUD to be considered. Among the key partners that the Dover Housing Authority should include to strengthen its application are: the City of Dover, Wesley College Bayhealth, Dover Community Partnership, Inc., NCALL, and Capital School District. The following implementation matrix tables are sequenced according to the same chapter / recommendation areas that organized the plan itself. It is critical to anticipate that this plan can—and should—be updated in five to ten years. Funding sources, political representatives, community leaders and even some local priorities will change in ways that are impossible to fully predict. This plan serves as a beginning. As different recommendations move forward, priorities should be re-evaluated, and, if necessary, new recommendations should be considered that reinforce the principles set forth during this process. 64 RESTORING CENTRAL DOVER

1 A STRONG COMMUNITY u 1 BUILD COMMUNITY CAPITAL Estimated Non- Estimated Capital Recommendation Timeframe Responsibility / Partners Source of Funds Source of Funds Total Costs Capital Cost Cost Steering Committee / NeighborWorks ESTABLISH RESIDENT-LED CIVIC GROUPS Short Term NCALL/ CDHfH/ Dover $5,000 $0 $5,000 America Housing Authority Initial Action Steps - Determine existing groups, organize leadership, hold meetings, and develop leadership DEVELOP COMMUNITY BUILDING Wesley / Steering Wesley / Steering PARTNERSHIP WITH ANCHOR Short Term Committee / NCALL / $2,500 Committee / $0 $2,500 INSTITUTIONS BayHealth NCALL / BayHealth Initial Action Steps - Overtures to Wesley and Bayhealth Discussions with Wesley about their Strategic Plan and BayHealth on their Community Impact Plan Implement community building partnership NeighborWorks CREATE ANNUAL “CELEBRATING CENTRAL Short Term / Steering Committee / DIMH $25,000 America and $0 $25,000 DOVER” BLOCK PARTY annually / NCALL Sponsors Initial Action Steps - Develop timeframe fall or spring Assemble partners ans sponsors Plan and hold event EXPAND ON “COMMUNITY CLEAN-UP Wesley / CDHfH / DHA / WFRF/Partners Short Term $25,000 $0 $25,000 DAYS” City of Dover and Sponsors Initial Action Steps - Convene prior partners Envision new plan going forward and hold events DEVELOP AND DISTRIBUTE COMMUNITY Short Term DDP/ Steering Committee $12,500 DDP $0 $12,500 CALENDAR OF ACTIVITES AND EVENTS Initial Action Steps - Assemble dates, publish and distribute EVALUATE LEVEL OF ACCESS TO Intermediate Family Services $5,000 WFRF $0 $5,000 COMMUNITY FACILITES FOR SERVICES Term Collaborative 2 PREVENT CRIME AND INCREASE PUBLIC SAFETY Estimated Non- Estimated Capital Recommendation Timeframe Responsibility / Partners Source of Funds Source of Funds Total Costs Capital Cost Cost Dover PD / City of Dover ESTABLISH COLLABORATIVE/COMMUNITY Human Relations WFRF / Dover Short Term $25,000 $0 $25,000 POLICING Commission / Police Dept. Neighborhood Leaders Initial Action Steps - Form citizen oversight committee on community policing Create neighborhood watch network IMPLEMENTATION APPROACH 65

Dover PD / Downtown DDP / City of Dover Short Term / On- DEPLOY POLICE FOOT AND BIKE PATROLS Dover Partnership / City of $500,000 / Law Enforcement $0 $500,000 going Dover grants Initial Action Steps - Convene meeting to discuss options with partners Develop action plan and seek funding and deploy DDP / City of Dover EXPAND SURVEILLANCE CAMERA Intermediate Dover PD / DDP / $0 $100,000 / Law Enforcement $100,000 NETWORK Term Community Leaders grants Initial Action Steps - Cost estimate for expanded system Seek community buy-in Seek funding for expanded surveillance cameras Intermediate City of Dover / DDP / WFRF/ SEU / City IMPROVE LIGHTING IN TARGETED AREAS $25,000 $2,500,000 City of Dover/SEU $2,525,000 Term SEU/Community Leaders of Dover Initial Action Steps - Research and develop scenarios for resident assisted porch lighting program Work with Sustainable Energy Utilities and install street lighting in poorly lit areas 3 ENGAGE YOUTH IN COMMUNITY Estimated Non- Estimated Capital Recommendation Timeframe Responsibility / Partners Source of Funds Source of Funds Total Costs Capital Cost Cost Steering Committee / SUSTAIN AND EXPAND YOUTH PROGRAMMING Short Term Coordinator's time WFRF NCALL Dover PD / Faith Dover PD / Faith SUPPORT EFFORTS TO EXPAND YOUTH ACTIVITY Short Term Dover Police Department $25,000 Communities/ $25,000 Communities/ $50,000 PROGRAMMING - Restablish Police Athletic League Volunteers Sponsors Initial Action Steps - Dover Police Department is planning to establish PAL Market PAL to community Implement the program WFRF / Short Term / CREATE YOUTH OUTREACH AND EDUCATIONAL Solid Rock Baptist Church / Foundations / Faith Events/ Banks/ Intermediate $250,000 $50,000 $300,000 SUPPORT CENTER Inner City Cultural League Communities/ Foundations Term Events Initial Action Steps - Complete construction of facilities Develop programming and curriculum Examine access to broader community recreational assets and improve transportation to these assets for youth in Central Dover PROVIDE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT VOCATIONAL Intermediate CDHfH / Dover Housing Depts. of Labor and $225,000 $0 $225,000 OPPORTUNITIES Term Authority / DDP/ Polytech Education Initial Action Steps - Examine Youth Build or similar programs for feasibility Develop intern and mentoring opportunities in year 3, 4 and 5. 4 EXPAND ADULT AND FAMILY SERVICES Estimated Non- Estimated Capital Recommendation Timeframe Responsibility / Partners Source of Funds Source of Funds Total Costs Capital Cost Cost 66 RESTORING CENTRAL DOVER

Examine access to broader community recreational assets and improve transportation to these assets for youth in Central Dover PROVIDE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT VOCATIONAL Intermediate CDHfH / Dover Housing Depts. of Labor and $225,000 $0 $225,000 OPPORTUNITIES Term Authority / DDP/ Polytech Education Initial Action Steps - Examine Youth Build or similar programs for feasibility Develop intern and mentoring opportunities in year 3, 4 and 5. 4 EXPAND ADULT AND FAMILY SERVICES Estimated Non- Estimated Capital Recommendation Timeframe Responsibility / Partners Source of Funds Source of Funds Total Costs Capital Cost Cost Dover Interfaith / DHA / STRENGTHEN AND EXPAND TRANSITIONAL Intermediate Potter Trust/ TD Shepherd's Place / People's $150,000 $2,000,000 HDF/ FHLB/CDFIs $2,150,000 HOUSING AND RELATED SERVICES Term Bank Place Initial Action Steps - Target housing towards families with children Convene partners and develop plan Develop housing Steering Committee / Social ESTABLISH A FAMILY SERVICES COLLABORATIVE Short Term $25,000 WFRF $0 $25,000 Service Agencies Initial Action Steps - Steering Committee facilitate initial meetings Collaborative then establishes its ongoing agenda WRFR/ PROVIDE FINANCIAL EDUCATION AND HOUSING Short Term/ On- NCALL/ Credit Unions $100,000 NeighborWorks $0 $100,000 COUNSELING SERVICES going /Banks Initial Action Steps - Strategize ways to enagage the community residents Identify site for workshops in the plan area Refer to NCALL's on-going programs TOTAL COSTS $6,075,000 IMPLEMENTATION APPROACH 67

2 POSITIVE DEVELOPMENT u 5. STRENGTHEN EXISTING HOUSING STOCK Estimated Non - Recommendation Timeframe Responsibility / Partners Source of Funds Estimated Capital Costs Source of Funds Total Costs Capital Costs Short Term / Intermediate City of Dover /CDHfH / MHDC / CDBG / City of Dover / EXPAND ACCESS TO HOUSING REPAIR PROGRAMS $125,000 WFRF / Banks $1,875,000 $2,000,000 Term NCALL Coordinator DSHA / DDD Initial Action Steps - Examine recent repair program statistics to assess impact program is making in Central Dover and expand outreach to homeowners Meet with partners to determine plan to serve Central Dover and implement Provide educational resources and training for homeowners in rehabilitation techniques, homeownership responsibliites, and financial management Consider allowing first time buyers to utilize repair funds when purchasing in Central Dover INITIATE VOLUNTEER-BASED NEIGHBORHOOD CDHfH / MHDC / Catholic Intermediate Term $40,000 Sponsor Organizations $200,000 DSHA / DOE $240,000 HOUSING REPAIR PROGRAM Charities Initial Action Steps Meet with potential partners to determine plan for going forward and implement City of Dover / Independent STRENGTHEN CODE ENFORCEMENT Short Term $5,000 City of Dover $0 $5,000 Consultant Initial Action Steps Work with city to engage an independent consulting firm to assess department efficiency and identify areas for improvement Work with homeowners and landlords to provide education and financial incentives to maintain housing units City will be notified by DHA and DSHA when a housing unit or property fails a Section 8/Voucher housing inspection Short Term / Intermediate City of Dover / NCALL / DSHA / EXPLORE WAYS TO BOOST HOMEOWNERSHIP $25,000 City of Dover $250,000 $275,000 Term Employers Initial Action Steps Bringing together all parties to brainstorm on methods of boosting homeowneship such as employer assisted housing, incentives, and education and come up with an implementation plan. Recruit from existing renters and workers commuting to Central Dover and provide homebuying education and financial incentives. 6. SUPPORT NEW HOUSING AND MIXED USE DEVELOPMENT Estimated Non - Recommendation Timeframe Responsibility / Partners Source of Funds Estimated Capital Costs Source of Funds Total Costs Capital Costs ENCOURAGE GREATER ZONING FLEXIBILITY TO City of Dover / Planning / DDP / Short Term $5,000 City of Dover $0 $5,000 ENABLE INFILL HOUSING DEVELOPMENT NCALL Initial Action Steps Develop zoning overlay for Downtown Redevelopment District to allow condominiums and townhouse styles Allow some flexibility in setbacks and block standards for architectural and design elements that compliment area Engage neighborhood residents to share ideas for design and neighborhood standards in Central Dover FACILITATE PARCEL ASSEMBLY AND City of Dover / Planning / DDP / City Of Dover/DSHA/ Intermediate Term $40,000 $500,000 HDF/FHLB/Foundations $540,000 REDEVELOPMENT NCALL DDD Initial Action Steps Explore land banking and land trust options for assembling parcels and redevelopment efforts Meet with Diamond State Community Land Trust to explore what is possible Establish a parcel assembly process and make lots available for development EVALUATE WAYS OF PROVIDING FINANCIAL City of Dover / Planning / DDP / Short Term $5,000 City of Dover/ DDP $0 $5,000 INCENTIVES FOR DEVELOPMENT NCALL Initial Action Steps City consider waiving impact fees, lowering permitting fees, and real estate taxes (PILOT) for developers of new housing and especially affordable housing 68 RESTORING CENTRAL DOVER

NCALL / CDhfH/ MHDC / DIMH / HDF/ FHLB/ DDD / CDFIs EXPAND ACCESS TO AFFORDABLE HOUSING Intermediate Term $100,000 City of Dover/ DDP $12,000,000 $12,100,000 DHA / City of Dover / Banks Initial Action Steps Recuit and select housing developers to repair and to build new affordable and market-rate housing for homeownership and rental housing Secure capital for projects. Undertake predevelopmenT activiites and startthe development process. PROVIDE ASSISTANCE IN ACTIVATING UPPER Long Term City of Dover / DDP / NCALL $5,000 City of Dover/ DDP $100,000 DSHA/ DDD / CDFIs $105,000 STORIES ALONG LOOCKERMAN STREET Initial Action Steps -- Research exisiting, successful programs Pilot financial assistance programs to assist businesses and building owners to enact façade improvements and repairs to help attract residential tenants Improvements will provide incentives for upper floor renters such as lower utility costs, increased security and other amenities EXPLORE OPPORTUNITIES TO CREATE STUDENT Wesley College / City of Dover / Intermediate Term $25,000 Wesley College $5,000,000 Wesley College/ Lenders $5,025,000 HOUSING OPTIONS OFF CAMPUS DDP Initial Action Steps Engage Wesley, City, and DDP to develop list of housing options for students and faculty within Central Dover Explore off-campus mixed use student housing options linking the campus to Loockerman Street. Develop a plan. 7. ENCOURAGE REINVESTMENT IN COMMERCIAL CORRIDORS Estimated Non - Recommendation Timeframe Responsibility / Partners Source of Funds Estimated Capital Costs Source of Funds Total Costs Capital Costs BUILD AND EXPAND ON MARKETING/BRANDING Short Term / Intermediate Downtown Dover Partnership / DDP / DDO/ Kent Co. EFFORTS FOR THE LOOCKERMAN STREET $25,000 $0 $25,000 Term Black Chamber Tourism CORRIDOR AND CENTRAL DOVER Initial Action Steps Review, revise and implement current Downtown Marketing Plan with updated marketing information/materials tailored to potential investors and small business inquiries. Recruit new retail and businesses to locate in Downtown Dover DDP Downtown Dover Partnership / DDP/ City of Dover / City of Dover ACTIVATE VACANT STOREFRONTS Short Term $25,000 $125,000 $150,000 Black Chamber / City of Dover Greater Kent Committee Greater Kent Committee Initial Action Steps - Coordinate the implementation of creative work by area youth and displays by nonprofit organizations in the vacant store fronts. Encourage pop-up stores and incubator businesses by providing free rent incentives ADDRESS CONCENTRATED LOITERING Short term City of Dover / Dover PD / DDP $5,000 City of Dover/DDP $0 $5,000 Initial Action Steps Revisit licensing requirements and zoning restrictions as well as a direct approach to nuisance business owners about ways to change their business' image. EXPAND SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT Downtown Dover Partnership / PROGRAMS FOR NEW AND EXISTING BUSINESS Intermediate Term Black Chamber / City of Dover / $60,000 State of DE $400,000 DDP/ DDO/FSCLF/ DDD $460,000 OWNERS FSCLF Initial Action Steps - Continue the implementation of Downtown Dover Partnership Technical Assistance Program (Small Business Development Workshops, Intake Assessment, Loan Programs, incentives, and space referrals) Examine and pilot other possible programs that could be implemented. DDP/ City of Dover/ RECRUIT MAJOR LOCAL EMPLOYERS TO ESTABLISH Downtown Dover Partnership / Greater Kent Committee/ Intermediate Term $10,000 $0 $10,000 SATELLITE OFFICES ON COMMERCIAL CORRIDORS Black Chamber / City of Dover DEDO/ Central DE Chamber of Commerce Initial Action Steps - Implement a recruitment initiative focusing on relocating smaller operations and targeting specific, mid-size available and/or vacant office spaces within the downtown corridor IMPLEMENTATION APPROACH 69

8. FOCUS ON ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND INCLUSION Estimated Non - Recommendation Timeframe Responsibility / Partners Source of Funds Estimated Capital Costs Source of Funds Total Costs Capital Costs Downtown Dover Partnerships / Central Delaware DEVELOP A COMPREHENSIVE WORKFORCE Black Chamber / City of Dover / Intermediate Term $100,000 Chamber of $0 $100,000 DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY Greater Kent Committee/ State of Commerce/DEDO Delaware Initial Action Steps - Explore potential pilot programs such as "Ice House" Entrepreneurship Program and Small Business Development Program Phase I Implement a pilot program Downtown Dover Partnerships / COMPLETE ECONOMIC INCLUSION STUDY Intermediate Term $20,000 City of Dover/ DEDO $0 $20,000 Black Chamber / City of Dover Initial Action Steps - Implement recommendations from study that is presently underway upon approval of committee TOTAL COSTS $21,070,000 70 RESTORING CENTRAL DOVER

3 AN INTEGRATED PUBLIC REALM AND INFRASTRUCTURE 9. IMPROVE TRANSPORTATION INFRASTRUCTURE Estimated Non- Recommendation Timeframe Responsibility / Partners Source of Funds Estimated Capital Costs Source of Funds Total Costs Capital Cost Intermediate DelDOT, City of Dover, EXPAND AND ENHANCE TRANSIT SERVICES $20,000 DelDOT $0 $20,000 Term Steering Committee Initial Action Steps Learn what transportation studies have been done for the plan area and if needed, request that an indepth transportation accessibility study for Central Dover be completed Advocate for better bus routes and better times of operations to serve Central Dover with DelDOT Change name of bus route 109 to Central Dover Intermediate DelDOT, City of Dover, IMPROVE BUS STOPS AND TRANSIT DEPOT $10,000 DelDOT / City of Dover $750,000 DelDOT / City of Dover $760,000 Term Steering Committee Initial Action Steps: Meet with the community to determine placement of additional bus shelters. Construct additional bus shelters within the target area. Improve the Dover Transit Center with seating, shelter, public rest rooms and real-time schedule displays ADVOCATE FOR A REGIONAL TRANSIT CONNECTION Steering Committee, Long Term $50,000 DelDOT / Federal Govt $0 $50,000 STUDY DelDOT/ DDO/ CDCC Initial Action Steps Initiate conversation with DelDOT regarding status of study regarding the feasiblity of a commuter rail services from Wilmington to Dover Examine feasibility of additional bus service from Dover to other DE destinations DE Dept. of Social Service, WORK TO SUBSIDIZE YOUTH AND FAMILY TRANSIT DE Dept. of Social Services / DE Dept. of Social Services / Long Term Dept. of Labor, DelDOT, $10,000 $150,000 $160,000 ACCESS DelDOT DelDOT Steering Committee Initial Action Steps Examine other subsidized transit programs for low-income families and youth Seek ways to reduce the cost to low-income riders in Central Dover and implement a process with the State Social Service Dept. and Dept. of Labor to reduce bus transportation costs for Central Dover residents. BUILD ON EXISITING BIKE INFRASTRUCTURE Long Term DelDOT, City of Dover $20,000 DelDOT, City of Dover $2,000,000 $2,020,000 Initial Action Steps Support the proposed network of exisiting and improvement ideas for the bicycle network in Central Dover, especially the enhanced through-access on Route 8 and Loockerman Street. Examine the possiblities for bike lanes such as the right-of-ways on Route 8 for a separated bicycle infrastructure as well as a North - South bicycle route through Dover IMPROVE PEDESTRIAN CONNECTIVITY AND Intermediate City of Dover and Owners $5,000 City of Dover $500,000 City of Dover and homeowners $505,000 INFRASTRUCTURE Term Initial Action Steps Repair all broken and eroding sidewalks in Central Dover; widen where possible CONDUCT A COMPREHENSIVE PARKING STUDY FOR Short Term City of Dover / DDP $50,000 City of Dover / DDP $0 $50,000 CENTRAL DOVER Initial Action Steps Examine the parking study conducted by the City of Dover/DDP to determine if the allocation and number of parking spaces for business employees vs customers is adequate Conduct another study if necessary and implement recommendations such as developing a map of the parking areas, a parking ap and/or electric signage. IMPLEMENTATION APPROACH 71

10. ENHANCE OPEN SPACES AND EXPAND GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE Estimated Non- Recommendation Timeframe Responsibility / Partners Source of Funds Estimated Capital Costs Source of Funds Total Costs Capital Cost Intermediate City Dept. of Parks and DEVELOP PROGRAMMED RECREATION SPACES $20,000 State and City $250,000 State and City $270,000 Term Recreation Initial Action Steps Examine existing and other options for recreational spaces in Central Dover for best use according to community needs Upgrade, and make the existing parks in the plan area accessible and user friendly STRATEGICALLY DEVELOP POCKET PARKS ON Intermediate WFRF/DDP / City and property DDP, City OF Dover $25,000 $250,000 State and City /DDP $275,000 VACANT LOTS Term owners Initial Action Steps Create pocket parks where vacant land exists that could be used for recreation, relaxing or community gardens. CREATE A WEST LOOCKERMAN GATEWAY PARK Long Term City of Dover $5,000 Owner and City of Dover $50,000 Owner and City of Dover $55,000 Initial Action Steps Meet with the site's owner Develop plan for the park and construct the park IDENTIFY NEIGHBORHOOD BLOCKS FOR PLAY Residents / Steering Short Term $10,000 WFRF/NeighborWorks $0 $10,000 STREET DESIGNATION Committee Initial Action Steps Meet with the residents to identify the streets and best times during the year to close off a street as a play street Work with the City to determine the procedure for turning a street into a play street during summer months Establish the procedure Establish and publicize the schedule or calendar of when certain blocks of each street would be a play street INTEGRATE GREEN STORMWATER MANAGEMENT Long Term City of Dover / DNREC $10,000 State and City of Dover $0 $10,000 INFRASTRUCTURE ON WATER STREET Initial Action Steps Contact the City to learn what the plans are for stormwater improvements along Water Street and advocate for the integration of green stormwater management Total Costs $4,185,000 72 RESTORING CENTRAL DOVER

APPENDIX B: EXISTING CONDITIONS OUR VISION FOR VITALITY

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EXISTING CONDITIONS APPENDIX: CENSUS DATA 75

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EXISTING CONDITIONS APPENDIX: OTHER DATA SOURCES 83

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EXISTING CONDITIONS APPENDIX: PHYSICAL SURVEY 95

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EXISTING CONDITIONS APPENDIX: RESIDENT SURVEY 101

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EXISTING CONDITIONS APPENDIX: RESIDENT SURVEY 105

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EXISTING CONDITIONS APPENDIX: PUBLIC OPEN HOUSE 107

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EXISTING CONDITIONS APPENDIX: PUBLIC OPEN HOUSE 109

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EXISTING CONDITIONS APPENDIX: PUBLIC OPEN HOUSE 113