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Council approves sale of Poplar Street lot to Sussex County Habitat for Humanity
Summary
Seaford council awarded the RFP for a city-owned 9,000-square-foot lot on Poplar Street/Cedar Avenue to Sussex County Habitat for Humanity; the council approved the sale with conditions restricting subdivision and resale and requiring owner-occupied affordable single-family construction.
Seaford City Council voted May 13 to award a request-for-proposal for a surplus city lot on Poplar Street and Cedar Avenue to Sussex County Habitat for Humanity.
Trisha Newcomer, the city's director of economic development and community relations, told the council the property (tax map and parcel 431-4.00-72.00) is about 9,000 square feet, zoned R-2 (medium-density residential) and had been declared excess city property. The city sought proposals to encourage owner-occupied, affordable workforce single-family housing.
Newcomer said the city received one responsive RFP, from Sussex County Habitat for Humanity. The applicant offered $32,000 for the lot and proposed to build a single-family, one-story house with at least 1,200 square feet, including one attached or detached garage. The RFP terms require work to begin within nine months of purchase, prohibit subdividing the lot, and restrict resale or subcontracting without council written approval; the city retains a right to repurchase at the submitted purchase price if the developer fails to meet the conditions.
The Economic Development Committee reviewed the single proposal and recommended awarding the lot to Habitat for Humanity. Councilman Orlando Holland moved to approve that recommendation and Councilman Dan Henderson seconded; the council approved the motion by voice vote.
City staff noted Habitat has completed similar projects in Seaford and is prepared to settle within 30 days. The city said the sale is intended to place an owner-occupied affordable home on a neighborhood lot and to encourage workforce housing through contract conditions rather than direct subsidy.
