Demo underway on Sea Esta Motel in Dewey

July 31, 2024 406

Demolition of the mid-century Sea Esta Motel is underway in Dewey Beach.

Located on the corner of Houston and King Charles streets, the three-story, 1960s-era motel was listed by Sotheby’s International Realty for $4.2 million in summer 2023.

In January, partners Vincent C. Thomas, Paul Perna and Mike Williams of GIR Properties LLC applied through the municipality to have the property at 24 Houston St. rezoned from Resort Business-2 to Resort Residential.

In the application, Thomas noted that GIR’s purchase of the property was contingent on its rezoning from a single 100-by-150-foot lot with the RB-2 designation to three 50-by-100-foot lots, as the three LLC owners plan to construct three single-family homes on the divided lots.

After going through the town’s process of multiple public hearings, the rezoning was granted in April with an effective date of Oct. 1 in case the motel opened for the summer. Sussex County property records show GIR Properties LLC purchased the property for $3.6 million in May 2024.

On June 21, Thomas appeared before commissioners to request an immediate change to the rezoning date. For reasons beyond their control, he said the motel would not be opening for the summer and LLC owners wanted to move forward with developing the property. The request was granted.