Rezoning sought for Sea Esta Motel property in Dewey

January 19, 2024 30

The mid-century modern Sea Esta Motel in Dewey Beach may be demolished to make way for three residential homes, if the potential new owners receive a sought-after parcel rezoning.

Commissioners are set to discuss the application at their Friday, Jan. 19 meeting, and may possibly refer the application to the planning commission regarding rezoning the property at 24 Houston St. from Resort Business-2 to Resort Residential and amending the comprehensive map accordingly.

Located on the corner of Houston and King Charles in Rehoboth-by-the-Sea, the 1961-era motel and its property was listed by Sotheby’s International Realty for $4.2 million in summer 2023. A link on the listing states that the property is no longer available. Sussex County property records show that the property is owned by Carolyn Metz.

Vincent C. Thomas of Wilmington-based GIR Properties LLC submitted the request to town leaders on behalf of himself and two other owners of the LLC, Paul Perna and Mike Williams.

In the application, Thomas states that GIR has a binding contract to purchase the property contingent upon its successful rezoning from a single 100-by-150-foot lot with the RB-2 designation to three 50-by-100-foot lots with RR designations within four months of the Dec. 8, 2023 contract date.

Owners plan to construct three single-family homes on the three divided lots, the application states.

“Quite notably, the Sea Esta property is the only remaining parcel on the ocean block of Houston Street with a zoning designation of RB2,” Thomas states. “Put simply, the new three single-family homes and the RR zoning designation would be more consistent with the character of the surrounding properties.”

GIR intends to operate the motel through the 2024 summer season and then demolish it to begin construction on the homes in fall 2024, pending zoning approval, Thomas states.