Discovering downtown Rehoboth Beach is like uncovering a rare jewel. With a major revitalization project completed, the “Nation’s Summer Capital” has a new luster.
Visitors to downtown Rehoboth Beach will find plenty of treasures, including more than 200 unique shops, galleries and spas, 19 hotels and 20 B&B’s, 75 gourmet restaurants and casual eateries, 25 spots for sweets, treats and coffee, plus mini-golf, arcades, sports, kites, crafts, history and more.
The $11 million downtown revitalization project, authorized by city officials in 2002, was designed to “bring downtown Rehoboth into the 21st century,” but efforts have also been undertaken by the Rehoboth Beach Main Street Association to maintain the resort’s quaint architectural style and its charming ambiance.
Visitors can see the progress with new street lighting, more landscaping and reconfigured parking. And they may also feel the openness created by burying all utilities and widening sidewalks. The first phase of the work included a new traffic circle and a replica of the old Cape Henlopen Lighthouse at the entrance to town.
While all this work has been underway, the Main Street Association has been working with businesses to upgrade their signage – moving away from old-fashioned “box signs” and toward more appropriate – and more artistic – signs. Businesses have also been encouraged to restore the character of their buildings, which has in many cases been obscured by earlier renovations.
Main Street honored some of the best efforts to retain Rehoboth Beach’s charm last year. The association said its Cottage and Town Awards were meant to “recognize and encourage the contributions of property owners to the charm, beauty and ambiance of the community through recent restoration/renovation, new construction or preservation initiatives.” The improvements made by the winner in the commercial category, Ann Batemen Ltd., were described this way: “This building is a bright, cheerful, cottage-style presence on upper Rehoboth Avenue. It’s like Sleeping Beauty, now awakened, with light and color, and an inviting porch. This project celebrates the architectural elements that were always there, but never really noticeable.”
Work on a new bandstand – to replace the structure at the east end of Rehoboth Avenue – began in November 2005. The goal of the new bandstand is to bring “a sense of place” back to the bandstand area, just west of the boardwalk. To that end, the Main Street Association has worked with a city committee, as well as local residents and organizations, to bring new life to the bandstand area in the ocean block. In addition to the new bandstand pavilion, visitors this summer will find new handicapped-accessible restrooms.
The revitalization has taken three years of construction – and while the work has created its share of headaches for business owners and some inconvenience for visitors – now that the final touches have been completed, Rehoboth Beach is more inviting than ever.
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