Capital City 2030: Transforming Downtown Dover
The Downtown Dover Partnership (DDP), working in concert with the City of Dover and multiple public and non-profit agencies, engaged Mosaic Development Partners of Philadelphia, PA, an experienced, dynamic, and diverse professional planning consultant team to develop a Strategic Master Plan for the downtown and closely surrounding neighborhood area within the City of Dover, Delaware. The target area is designated as a Downtown Development District and also as an Opportunity Zone, indicating that this is the high priority target area for redevelopment and reinvestment. The area is adjacent to the state legislative campus, City Hall, the public library, numerous state offices, the historic landscape of Delaware’s National Park known as “The Green”, the new Dover Post Office and Family Court locations, and other amenities that make the core of the city unique.
The process to develop the Downtown Dover Strategic Master Plan invited grassroots input by engaging the community and includes implementation and investment strategies to guide redevelopment and reinvestment in downtown Dover, with the goal of bringing this vital core of commerce and housing to its highest and best potential by a target date of the year 2030.
Directory
- Master Plan Documents
- Revitalization Boost - $25 M in State Funding
- Downtown Dover Spotlight from Governor John Carney Video
- Property Development Director
- Redevelopment Properties & Updates
- Expression of Interest
- Presentation Video
- Video Overview by Zachary Foust
- Downtown Dover in the News
- Reflections from DDP Board President
- Progress Documents from Mosaic Development Partners
- RFP for Planning Team
Downtown Mobility Center Design Open House
- Community members were invited to drop by, consider various options, and offer thoughts for the Downtown Dover Mobility Center, Mon. June 3 at the Dover Public Library.
Click here to learn more about the Downtown Mobility Center.
- Downtown Dover Master Plan Executive Summary - Download PDF | Alt. Download
- Downtown Dover Master Plan Overview Presentation - Download PDF | Alt. Download
- Downtown Dover Master Plan Full Document - Download PDF | Alt. Download
“The State of Delaware has a vested interest in the success of downtown Dover, not only because it is our capital city, but because it is where thousands of state employees work and where many would like to live,” said Governor Carney. “The current downtown Dover revitalization plan builds on years of ideas about how to breathe new life into the area, with specific projects laid out by an experienced redeveloper to attract residents and businesses. This is the jumpstart downtown Dover has been waiting for, and we are proud to be a part of it.”
Learn about plans to revitalize our state's historic capital city. Published March 28, 2024 by Governor John Carney.
Click here to learn about Ken Anderson.
Current Redevelopment Projects
- Mobility Center
- 120 S. Governors Ave. - ITB RELEASED FOR BIDS JULY 23, 2024
- 680-684 Forest St.-DEMOLITION COMPLETED
Click here for updates on the redevelopment process and projects underway.
In an effort to develop the local workforce, contractors may indicate their interest in providing services related to redevelopment projects in Downtown Dover by completing an Expression of Interest (EOI). Wherever possible, the Downtown Dover Partnership (DDP) intends to provide this contact information to vendors (developers, contractors, and others) involved in the redevelopment of the downtown.
- Contractors may complete an Expression of Interest to be considered for work on local projects. CLICK HERE.
- Residents may complete an Expression of Interest to indicate interest in considering downtown housing when it becomes available. CLICK HERE.
- Business Owners may complete an Expression of Interest to indicate an interest in beign considered as a prospective tenant for existing and/or new commerical building spaces in downtown Dover. CLICK HERE.
View a summary of the master plan created by downtown business owner, Zachary Foust of Loft Realty.
"Dover 2030 Project Breakdown + Reaction ($500M Budget!!)"
On Wednesday, March 22, 2023 at the Kent County Levy Court, Mosaic Development Partners delivered a public presentation of the master plan. Use the links below to view a recording of the presentation.
- View Presentation on YouTube
- Video starts at 13:47
- View Presentation on WebEx - Audio Captions & Larger Slides.
- Password for WebEx: MasterPlan23
- Video starts at 13:47
- Biden-Harris Administration Announces $1 Million Brownfields Grant Through Investing in America Agenda to Rehabitate and Revitalize Communities in Dover, DE - Press Release from Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) - 5/20/24
- Dover looks to find balance when it comes to revitalization plan - Article from Mike Finney at the Daily State News - 5/16/24
- This Delaware city is on the list of 25 'cities on the rise' in Southern Living magazine - Article from Ben Mace for Delaware Online - 4/16/24
- A Capital Plan - Inside Downtown Dover's bet for rebirth - Article from Maddy Lauria for Delaware Business Times - 4/2/24
- A New Vision for Downtown Dover - Article from Michael McCloskey for Delaware Business, Issue March/April 2024.
- Plan seeks to extend Dover's Downtown Development District boundaries - Article from Mike Finney at the Daily State News - 3/21/24
- Zoning changes are early step to revitalizing downtown Dover - Article from Benjamin Rothstein at the Daily State News - 3/18/24
- Plans to transform downtown Dover launched with $25 million in state funding - Article from Johnny Perez-Gonzalez at WHYY - 2/20/24
- Start your shovels: Gov. Carney tours Dover a week after supporting revitalization efforts - Article from Mike Finney at the Daily State News - 2/11/24
- Downtown Dover Partnership hosts tour of new development lots in transformation project - Article and Podcast from Sarah Petrowich at Delaware Public Media - 2/10/24
- Downtown Dover plan now fueled by $25M in State Funds - Article from Katie Tabeling at the Delaware Business Times - 2/5/24
- Downtown Dover to tear down, then build back up - PDF from the Daily State News - 1/26/24
- Dover Seeks Developer to Kickstart Transformation - PDF - 06/23/23
- Downtown Dover Partnership continues search for development director - PDF from the Daily State News - 6/6/23
- The State of Downtown Turnarounds - PDF from the National Association of Realtors - 6/6/23
- Downtown Dover Partnership finds funding to help 10 properties - PDF from the Daily State News - 5/30/23
- Dover 2030 Project Breakdown + Reaction ($500M Budget!!) - Video from Zachary Loft, Loft Realty - 5/19/23
- Downtown Dover plan starts to take shape - PDF from Delaware Business Times - 4/3/23
- Delaware officials unveil multi-million dollar plan to transform Dover - Link to WHYY News - 3/25/23
- Downtown Dover Master Plan Unveiled - Article & Video from WBOC - 3/22/23
- DDP Seeks Project Director - Media Release - 2/22/23
- Dover City Council hears master plan for downtown revitalization - PDF from Delaware Public Media - 2/19/23
- EDGE Grants awarded to 10 Delaware Businesses - PDF from Delaware Business Times - 2/15/23
- Exclusive: Downtown Dover plan envisions $500M investment - PDF from Delaware Business Times - 1/20/23
- Mosaic Development looks at Dover with fresh eyes - Link to Delaware Business Times - 10/24/22
- VIEWPOINT: Transforming Downtown Dover through planning, action - PDF from Delaware Business Times - 8/2/22
- Sixers owner invests $10M into Philly’s Mosaic in bid to build firm into Black-owned real estate juggernaut. - PDF from The Philadelphia Inquirer - 1/20/22
- New Direction for Dover? City Leaders to Start Master Plan for Downtown Area - PDF from Daily State News - 1/17/22
- Firm selected to develop strategic master plan for Downtown Dover - PDF from Daily State News - 12/9/21
- Consultant to help plan future for downtown Dover - Link to Delaware Business Times - 12-08-2021
- Mosaic Progress Presentation - 05/25/2022 - PDF
- CLICK HERE to View Video Presentation - YouTube
- Mosaic Master Plan Progress Report # 1 Presentation - 04/18/2022 - PDF
- Dover Q1 Presentation Report #1 - 04/18/2022 - PDF
- RFP Process and Timeline - 01-07-2022 PDF
- RFP Dover Strategic Master Plan - 6-22-21 - PDF
- Responses to questions from Vendors - 07-23-2021 - PDF
More about the Downtown Dover Partnership:
The DDP is committed to driving an improved quality of life for the residents and visitors of Dover, Delaware, through collective collaboration, economic development and promotion of downtown Dover’s unique historic properties. As such, core areas of DDP’s responsibility are strengthening economic opportunity in the central core of the Capital City of Dover through effective business recruitment, retention, and expansion; creating an environment that is conducive to effective property redevelopment and reinvestment; and revitalizing the community to increase viability and sustainability of the business district and surrounding neighborhoods.
The Downtown Dover Partnership (DDP) is committed to diversity, equity, inclusion - both in the organization and in the Dover community.
It is the policy of the DDP to grant equal opportunity to all qualified persons without regard to race, color, age, sex, religion, marital status, pregnancy, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristics protected by federal, state, or local laws.
This policy applies to all terms and conditions of volunteerism, employment, contractual hire, and otherwise.
Want to learn more about doing business in downtown Dover?
Visit our Resource Page for information to assist your small business!
Whether you are just starting out or looking to expand/relocate your business, there are resources available to support your small business goals.
New businesses are encouraged to visit Kent Open For Business, a monthly, free & public one-stop-shop to access various organizations, agencies, and resource partners who assist small businesses in Delaware. Learn more at http://www.cdcc.net/education/open/