Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Restoring Central Dover making housing affordable for first-time homeowners

A revitalization plan called Restoring Central Dover was launched in 2014. That ongoing effort now includes building – and selling – new, affordable homes in downtown Dover.

Affordable housing nonprofit NCALL has been providing housing counseling – and helping build affordable apartment units – for years. But they’ve just recently gotten into the business of purchasing housing lots, building new homes, and reselling those homes.

“We started getting involved with Restoring Central Dover, and we felt that we should sort of put our feet where our mouth is so to speak, and we should starting building houses," said Karen Speakman, NCALL’s Deputy Director.

NCALL has managed all aspects of the process – from purchasing the lots, to securing construction financing to working with realtors to sell the homes.

The group announced Tuesday that the first two homes they've built so far in Dover’s downtown development district have been sold to first-time homeowners like Susan Sartin and her husband Robert Sartin, Sr.

 

 

The couple's son Robert Sartin, Jr. lives right around the corner, and says his parents moved from Newark to be closer to family.

“I’m excited for them," Sartin said. "It’s the first time that they’ve had the opportunity to have a home to themselves, they’ve always rented. So the opportunity to actually own something, have something they have equity in….”

Qualifying families must attend the non-profit’s homeowner counseling program, and the family’s combined income can’t exceed 120% of Kent County’s median income. Speakman says that could range from $40,000-$60,000 depending on family size.

NCALL’s Executive Director Joe Myer says they have offers out on a few additional lots and hope to start construction on three new homes this fall.

 

He says NCALL received special assistance from the Delaware State Housing Authority (DSHA) through the Strong Neighborhoods Housing Fund: $40,000 for each home. They also received a rebate after the sale of the homes – worth 20% of the homes' sale amount because the homes are within Dover's designated downtown district. DSHA says the rebate amount comes in at about $30,000 for each home.

 

“That rebate allows us to go out and buy another lot and do this again," Myer said.

 

There are two different model homes, Speakman says: one called The Harriet - named after Harriet Tubman - with a garage in the front of the home, and the Wesley, with a garage in the back. Both models have three bedrooms, stainless steel appliances and are energy efficient. 

 

Dover City Councilman Matthew Lindell says the housing program fits what the downtown district designation is designed to help do: reduce blight and reinvigorate downtown areas.

"I think a part of this program – by promoting home ownership – you’re promoting people that have a stake in the community, have a stake in their neighborhood, where they live on their particular streets and they’re not going to put up with some of the things that have gone on for many years as far as crime that lead to deterioration of the downtown area," Lindell said. 

Related Content