Sussex council removes building size restriction for Nanticoke cultural center
A condition of approval limiting the size of a planned addition to the Nanticoke Indian Cultural Community Center on Route 24 between Long Neck and Millsboro has been rescinded by Sussex County Council.
At its July 16 meeting, council unanimously removed a condition restricting the size to 20-feet-by-50 meet, or 1,000 square feet. No size was included in the approval.
Attorney David Hutt, representing the Nanticoke Indian Association, said now the association can proceed with plans for a 2,613-square-foot addition to house a new commercial kitchen, restrooms, food bank and renovate the office, provide flex space for children’s programs and a community computer workspace.
The original building, dating back 75 years, will also be renovated. The entire building will be nearly 4,900 square feet, which is double the size of the current building.
Hutt said that building contains a tribal affairs office, food bank, room for presentations, programs and lessons and healthcare services.
The center is located about a mile west of the Nanticoke Indian Museum, which is located at the intersection of Route 24 and Mount Joy Road.
The Indian River School District deeded the property to the Nanticokes to be used as a cultural community center.
The property has a long history and was the site of the Indian Mission School, a one-room school that served children in the Nanticoke Tribe from the 1920s to 1961. The original wooden structure was destroyed by fire and a stucco building was constructed in 1948.
