Grotto hotel permitted to begin demolition early

The City of Rehoboth Beach announced April 8 that it has granted an exception to the developers of the One Rehoboth Avenue Hotel project that allows for the demolition of the Sirocco Motel and Grotto Pizza to begin as early as April 9. No work will be permitted to take place Saturday, April 12, or Easter weekend – Friday, April 18, and Saturday, April 19.

The city issued three demolition notices related to the hotel March 21, for a one-story commercial structure at 9 North Boardwalk, a one-story commercial structure at 5 Rehoboth Ave., and a three-story commercial structure at 2 Baltimore Ave. City code calls for a 30-day waiting period after a demolition permit is issued, which means none of the hotel-related demolitions were supposed to begin before Monday, April 21.

However, city code also says the mayor and city manager can grant an exception allowing demolition to occur within that 30-day window if conditions of the structure are deemed hazardous. The city said an independent review of the motel by Pilottown Engineering found hazardous structural deterioration and cracking in various areas, including the masonry at the garage support pillar.

The hazardous conditions of this site have prompted the city to enact that section of code, said the city in its notice.

“Public safety, and the safety of surrounding properties, is what prompted city officials to make this decision,” reads the notice.

In an interview April 9, Jeff Gosnear, Grotto Pizza president, said heavy demolition of the buildings won’t begin much before the week of Monday, April 14. There is staging that needs to be set up and handwork that needs to get done first, he said.

According to the city, work will begin with the removal of the beach store located at the front of the Sirocco Motel. Afterward, all dumpsters and site activities will be confined to the property. The site will be regraded and cleaned for the summer season, with fencing installed along the perimeter of the boardwalk and Baltimore Avenue.

Gosnear said the old Dolle’s building and the Zelky’s Arcade building will not be demolished this summer.

Impacts on Baltimore Avenue are likely to occur during demolition, including the continued closure of the sidewalk from the street end to the Boardwalk that’s between the buildings slated for demolition and the under-construction Rehoboth Beach Patrol building. This section of sidewalk has been closed in recent weeks while contractors install electrical equipment for the new city building.

One Rehoboth Avenue Hotel is a 60-room hotel project with Boardwalk commercial space that’s located on a piece of property stretching the width of the block from Rehoboth Avenue to Baltimore Avenue and fronting the Boardwalk. It’s being built by Grotto Pizza and Pennsylvania-based real estate developer Onix Group. The site includes Grotto Pizza and the former Dolle’s Candyland property on the Boardwalk, the Sirocco Motel on Baltimore Avenue and Kohr Bros. Frozen Custard on Rehoboth Avenue.