Showfield luxury development planned near Lewes

A development nearly a decade in discussion is finally coming to fruition near – but not in – Lewes.

The Showfield subdivision, described as a luxury high-end development with custom-built homes off Gills Neck Road, is set to break ground around July 1, according to Bryce Lingo, principal of developer Jack Lingo Asset Management.

The decision to go to the county was made after years of attempts by the developer to have the entirety of the development within the city confines.

Initially, the developer sought as many as 607 townhouses and duplexes on about 230 acres of land, 90 in the city and 140 in the county. The county land was marked by the city as future annexation lands, Lingo said, so the developer wanted the city to annex the county land into Lewes, for one cohesive subdivision.

Jack Lingo Asset Management first proposed Showfield in 2006, but after years of debate – including preliminary approval of a site plan from the city’s planning commission in 2008 – nothing came of it.

Meanwhile, a Lingo development across Gills Neck Road featuring larger lots and high-end custom homes, was performing well, giving Lingo a sign that more was needed in the area. Sales in the Hawkseye development started in 2007 and, as of press time, just six of the 162 lots remain available.

The developers spent 2013 in meetings with city officials trying to work with them to commit to the Showfield project – smaller in scope – and move forward.

“They were unwilling to do it,” Lingo said of city officials.

Lewes Mayor Ted Becker, who was on a committee that, prior to the economic recession, determined the county land had potential for annexation, disagrees.

In 2013, city officials were discussing whether the committee’s prior report was valid when a letter was received by the developer that they no longer sought annexation, Becker said.

“It was their decision,” he said of the developer. “It was nothing we precipitated.”

Ultimately, the Showfield subdivision was downscaled to not include the city land. A 132.05-acre subdivision divided into 166 lots, all on county land, went before the Sussex County Planning and Zoning Commission, where it was given unanimous final approval April 9. The site plan includes a portion of the Junction and Breakwater Trail, allowing for the completion of the bicycle trail.

With approval from the county, there is no desire for the developer to bring the subdivision to Lewes, Lingo said.

“There’s no advantage to the developer or a future homeowner to annex in,” Lingo said. “It would be expensive and there’s no need to have the county review all the engineering and then have the city of Lewes do it, too.”

In the first phase of construction at Showfield, 42 lots will be developed and the hope is to have a recreation center designed, Lingo said. His hope is to have all 166 lots be purchased within a decade.

Becker said the city would always be willing to consider any annexation.

“If they decide to change their mind, we would be more than happy to sit and talk about it,” he said.

James Fisher of The News Journal contributed to this report.

Contact Jon Bleiweis at jbleiweis@dmg.gannett.com or 443-210-8125