The first project advocated by the Delaware Valley

The first project advocated by the Delaware Valley Smart Growth Alliance within the state of Delaware is Bell Point, a 108-acre mixed-use new urban community at the Five Points intersection of State Routes 1 and 9 in Sussex County. “Although the applicant is still working with the County and plans are not finalized, the DVSGA jury granted a preliminary conceptual recognition, indicating that it was one of the strongest applications received to date, with a great mix of uses in an excellent location, a genuine effort to mix income levels, increase densities, meet environmental concerns, and provide community recreation,” said a statement by Alliance administrator Susan Baltake. Average density is to be 7 units an acre, compared to 1 to 3 units an acre in the surrounding area. The Alliance, a nonprofit collaboration of more than 100 government, private sector, land conservation, and environmental organizations, recognizes projects in Delaware, southern New Jersey, and southeast Pennsylvania that embody smart-growth traits. This helps the projects win needed approvals (see Sept. 2005 New Urban News). Morris & Ritchie Associates is planning Bell Point for developer Rick Stout and Lewes Investment Company.