By Benjamin Rothstein

DOVER — The dismantling of two historical South Bradford Street structures continues to stir debate.

On June 17, the city’s Planning Commission approved the demolition of 148 and 150 S. Bradford St. to make room for Downtown Dover Partnership’s proposed parking structure.

The removals had previously been blocked by the Historic District Commission, as both edifices are on the National Register of Historic Places. However, city code allows the applicant — in this case, the partnership — to appeal to the Planning Commission to overturn such a decision.

That’s exactly what DDP did, and the commission ultimately voted to take down the buildings.

Both locations are zoned central commercial, and they cover a collective 0.3 acres. One houses a law firm, and the other an environmental consultant business.

For its part, The Friends of Old Dover has voiced its opposition to the demolitions. On Monday, the organization called out for help on its Facebook page, revealing that it had submitted its own appeal, which will receive a hearing at City Hall at 9 a.m. Wednesday, during a Dover Board of Adjustment meeting.

In the post, The Friends lamented the events of the June 17 meeting, where its members were unable to speak.

“The city staff’s interpretation of the appeal process prevented any public comments during the Planning Commission’s hearing,” the message reads. “The Friends of Old Dover has filed an appeal against this interpretation and feel public comments should have been allowed.”

Members of the Board of Adjustment will decide if the correct procedures were followed regarding the comments.

The post also asked those against the sites’ removal to appear at the meeting and speak on the topic.

In response to this petition, Downtown Dover Partnership president Todd Stonesifer sent out a call to action Wednesday to the Kent County Association of Realtors, for which he is the public policy co-chair. The letter, cosigned by the association’s president Sandi Unkrur, invites members to appear at Wednesday’s meeting and show support for the demolitions.

“The Friends of (Old) Dover have raised objections, citing a lack of public comment in the process,” the note states. “The outcome of this hearing is crucial; any delay caused by their appeal risks losing the funding and jeopardizing the entire Transforming Dover 2030 plan.”

It added that the parking garage is a vital component of that development plan. Were the demolitions to be blocked once again, a seven-story parking structure with a smaller footprint would be built, instead of the planned five-story edifice. They stated that this would incur additional construction costs.

Meanwhile, Central Delaware Chamber of Commerce president Dr. Dina Vendetti sent out a similar message to alumni of the Leadership Central Delaware program Tuesday.

“We have made a great deal of behind-the-scenes progress and many various aspects of this project have aligned in an incredibly helpful way. The plan, however, is facing a serious challenge at this moment, and we really need people who understand the vision of the plan and believe in it to get involved in a very specific way,” she wrote. “We need the Board of Adjustment to understand the critical nature of this project for the future of Dover.”

Dr. Vendetti also called for the alumni to appear at the meeting in support.

Wednesday’s appeal hearing is open to the public.