More of Walls’ Apartments in Rehoboth to be demolished

Four more of the Walls’ Apartments buildings in Rehoboth Beach are going to be demolished.

Demolition applications for 22 and 28 Christian St. were submitted to the city Nov. 18. Permits for a two-story, single-family dwelling and accessory structure on each property were issued Dec. 1. Demolition is not allowed to begin before Saturday, Jan. 2.

The Walls’ Apartments complex has a long history in Rehoboth Beach. The Lorenzo Dow Martin House sits on the corner of Christian Street and Scarborough Avenue. It was built before 1870 and is considered the oldest house in Rehoboth.

Ann Walls McCool purchased the property in 1951 with her first husband, William Walls. She operated the business with him until his death in 1966. She operated the business with her second husband, Doyle McCool, until he died in 1983. She ran the business until her death in 2013 at the age of 96.

The Lingo family and real estate company purchased Walls’ Apartments in March 2014.

In an email Dec. 8, Bryce Lingo, associate broker at Jack Lingo, said the buildings are too old and compromised to rent. There will be two new single-family houses built to replace them, he said, adding there are still many units left to rent at Walls’ Apartments.

This is the second set of buildings demolished in the Walls’ Apartments complex. In April 2019, 16 cottages along the Scarborough Avenue side of the property were removed. That portion of the property is still vacant.

More demolition permits issued

• The city issued a third demolition permit Dec. 1. That one, number 226 since April 2012, was for a one-story, single-family dwelling at 312 Sandalwood St.

• The city issued a permit Dec. 10 for a one-story, single-family dwelling and an accessory structure at 127 Rodney St.

• The city issued a permit Dec. 17 for a one-story, single-family dwelling and an accessory structure at 302 Munson St.

DEMOLITION PERMITS ISSUED IN REHOBOTH BEACH SINCE APRIL 2012

Permits issued annually since April 2012:

• 2012: 14
• 2013: 15
• 2014: 23
• 2015: 23
• 2016: 30
• 2017: 30
• 2018: 27
• 2019: 34
• 2020: 32 to date

Permits issued by month since April 2012:

• January – 19
• February – 12
• March – 24
• April – 8
• May – 6
• June – 3
• July – 9
• August – 50
• September – 28
• October – 32
• November – 21
• December – 16