Delaware officials address housing inspections and revitalization funding

Delaware officials are addressing diverse housing issues across the state, ranging from senior living conditions to urban revitalization funding.

In Wilmington, city officials have announced plans to inspect several publicly supported high-rise housing complexes. The move follows testimony from over 50 senior residents at a City Council meeting, where they reported persistent issues including inconsistent hot water, rodents, bedbugs, mold, flood damage, and broken elevators. City Council President Ernest ‘Trippi’ Congoto criticized the Wilmington Housing Authority for failing to maintain decent living standards, suggesting the agency may no longer be suitable to manage the buildings.

Separately, the Delaware State Housing Authority has awarded $3.43 million in funding reservations to eight large-scale revitalization projects. These projects, located in Wilmington, Dover, Georgetown, and Smyrna, aim to spur the development of commercial, mixed-use, and residential buildings. The Downtown Development Districts rebate program is designed to leverage private investment; according to state officials, every dollar of state investment in the program leverages nearly $15 in private capital.