By Glenn Rolfe

GEORGETOWN — The town’s growing Hispanic community is the focus of a revitalization project stakeholders say would benefit the entire town and make the county seat a huge destination.

Tentative plans for Plaza Latina de Georgetown — presented during a virtual Town Council session Wednesday by project director Mary Dupont of the Delaware Hispanic Commission — drew more than 60 viewers, by far the most to participate in council’s remote sessions during the COVID-19 pandemic.

North Race Street, the commercial hub of the Latino community in Georgetown, is the cornerstone of Plaza Latina, whose goals are to develop a vibrant commercial corridor, create retail/restaurant opportunities, bring businesses and jobs to local residents and increase the town’s tax base.

Bricks-and-mortar revitalization along North Race Street “would transform that street (and) corridor into a very lively commercial area that would combine the best of Georgetown architecture and … a Latino flair that comes from Latin American countries that many residents come from,” said Ms. Dupont. “Georgetown will become a new destination in Sussex County, along with the coastal communities.”

Plaza Latina would also attract high-dollar investors and leverage Georgetown’s Opportunity Zone, Downtown Development District and New Market Tax Credits as a catalyst for new economic-development activity, Ms. Dupont said.

“The goal of this whole strategy is really to blend and incorporate the historic nature and the traditional architecture of Georgetown with the Latin American culture and architecture,” she said. “This program is really designed, in terms of the business development, to help to build capacity for the Latino businesses that are in Georgetown and also to help the families … with the goal of achieving that American dream.”

Plaza Latina has a three-pronged approach to community and economic prosperity.

The projected timeline begins with fundraising to support businesses, community services and the redevelopment planning process in 2021. Then, in 2022, organizers hope to solidify site control and establish Opportunity Zone funding to finalize their plan. Finally, in 2023-25, there would be full implementation of the strategy, amid ongoing work with businesses to prepare for growth and property ownership.

“We’re looking at a five-year plan,” said Ms. Dupont, who noted that nothing at this point is “carved in stone” and that townwide input is welcome. “Everybody would weigh in,” she said, adding that there will be “plenty of opportunity for everybody to have input and be part of the process.”

Ms. Dupont’s presentation, translated in Spanish by Maria Freudenthal, culminated with the plaza’s Advisory Board requesting that Georgetown Mayor Bill West and Town Council:

• Provide Plaza Latina a letter of support to share with funders and investors.
• Issue a formal resolution supporting the concept and project development.
• Attend important meetings with investors or other key stakeholders, as necessary.
• Support funding efforts as the “flow-through” entity for the likes of community transportation funds, U.S. Department of Agriculture support and other funding, as needed.

The majority of council members — Penuel Barrett, Angela Townsend and Vice Mayor Rebecca Johnson-Dennis — opted to table Plaza Latina’s request in lieu of more discussion, preferably through workshops.

“I still have some concerns about this,” said Councilwoman Townsend. “This changes the whole dynamics. The problems that we are facing now in town, especially in Ward 2 with the conditions of the houses, the neighborhoods, trash. … I just have a lot of concerns about this.”

Councilman Barrett agreed.

“I don’t think our infrastructure right at this minute in the town of Georgetown can handle something like this,” he said. “We’ve got a lot of issues to handle. I propose we table it, have some discussions on it, some workshops, and then possibly move forward then.”

However, Mayor West pressed council for approval.

“Well, we know it’s been an issue, and if we keep putting the issue off, we’re never going to move forward. This is an opportunity that doesn’t invest any money from the town,” said Mayor West. “If we need infrastructure, we can work on that when we get there. They are not asking us for a million dollars. They are just asking us for support to move forward with this to try to help the town of Georgetown.”

Councilman Steve Hartstein also favored approval of Plaza Latina’s requests, saying, “It sounds like a great situation. I think we definitely should back it.”

Vice Mayor Johnson-Dennis agreed, adding that “it’s nice to see the Latino community is getting involved. … I would like to read through the presentation again, but I am interested in seeing how we can make things move forward.”

Ms. Dupont called the proposal a unique opportunity, pointing to the benefits that are available through the Downtown Development District, the Opportunity Zone and some upfront cash investments.

“You could do an amazing revitalization project and have the costs actually subsidized by as much as 40% with all of the tax credits,” Ms. Dupont said.

Georgetown’s Hispanic population, comprised of immigrants, many of whom are relatively new to this country, is increasing, she said, adding that the latest census shows the town’s population was 39.5% Latino, primarily from Mexico and Guatemala.

According to Ms. Dupont, research by the Delaware Community Foundation revealed that, from an employment standpoint, 68% of Latinos in Sussex County were employed versus the average of 56% of the general population.

The study also found that 25% of business startups were by Latinos, and in Georgetown, there were 67 licensed businesses among the more than 800 with Latino business connections in the county.

“In spite of how hard-working they are and entrepreneurial, nonetheless, 80% still live in poverty, where they are making very low incomes. They are hard-working, but they tend to stick to themselves and stay under the radar screen,” Ms. Dupont said.

The project’s hope is that revitalization will entice more Latino business owners to become part of the entire community and the Greater Georgetown Chamber of Commerce.

A key point, Ms. Dupont said, is that the project would provide opportunity for properties to be owner-occupied.

“They would have control of their own property. They would become vested members of the Georgetown community,” she said. “These are people who want to make it here. The plaza would build that innate capacity, help those businesses to grow and help the community to build personal wealth, investment and pride in their community.”