Bidding process underway for downtown improvement projects in Millsboro

MILLSBORO, Del. – Millsboro is on the fast track when it comes to developing their town. Besides residential growth, the business sector is growing as well.

With this boom, the town is trying to keep up with the pace and that’s why multiple improvements projects are in the works.

Just to show you how quickly they are growing, Millsboro issued 48 building permits for new homes in January, which means over 100 residents have been added to the area in just one month.

And the town council is keeping up with the demand. They have finally approved a downtown improvement plan for three major downtown projects and have opened the bidding process.

Town manager, Sheldon Hudson says, “The first one is Main Street, which is known as East Bound 24 to do new pavers and lights as well.” There’s also the West State Street sidewalk project, which runs from Route 24 north and west up to W B Atkins Memorial Park.

Sidewalks may seem minor, but for business owners they can be huge. Besides being safe, it’s also more attractive for customers.

Owner of Gunshooter Enterprises LLC, Roger Perry says, “Make access to the stores a lot more accessible to the shoppers, it’s a lot better for us.”

The downtown demolition project is the last part of the trio. The town will take over this property, but it’s still up in the air, who will take the police department’s place.

Chief Brian Calloway says, “This is still a potential location for our police station but we also have a possibility of it moving to town hall.” Town hall and the police station may flip flop their locations, but no matter who claims this new home, they want this to be an ideal spot for their renovation vision.

“As you’re coming in on Route 24 from east, go up an incline and we envision a nice civic building when you get to the top of the hill,” Hudson tells us.

The town council has also voted to ease the bonding requirements for developers, so they can now makes improvements without securing a bond. Something they say will make the town even more business friendly.

Beyond that, they are considering building two new parks on the west side of Millsboro, which would include a dog park along Hardscrabble Road and a multi-purpose park along Laurel Road.