It’s time for the Rehoboth Beach Cottage and Town Awards for 2009. Presented by Rehoboth Beach Main Street and Echelon Homes, the program is a celebration of preservation and renovation in downtown Rehoboth Beach, DE.

The 13th Annual Cottage and Town Awards, follows the tradition founded by a group of local citizens with an interest in preserving the charm of downtown Rehoboth Beach.
 
In 2005 those citizens passed the torch to Main Street, a non-profit organization affiliated with the National Trust for Historic Preservation with the mandate of keeping downtown Rehoboth Beach economically strong and architecturally unique.
 
The program recognizes residential and commercial property owners who contribute to the charm, beauty and ambiance of Rehoboth Beach through preservation/restoration, new construction and landscaping. The aim is to celebrate and thank those who make significant contributions to our community. 
 
There are five award categories (NEW! This year, the preservation and renovation categories are combined)
1. Residential Preservation/Renovation
2. Residential New Construction      
3. Commercial Preservation/Renovation   
4. Commercial New Construction
5. Landscape renovation/new plantings
 
The public was encouraged to nominate candidates in each of the five categories and the work must have taken place within the last three years (since July 2006).  Click Here for a 2010 Cottage & Town Award Nomination Form.
 
The nominator may, but need not, own the property nominated. Please keep in eye out for any property where you have observed efforts which you believe deserve recognition.  Remember these properties are for nomination in 2009 (Property owners are not required to provide access to the interior of the properties).

A new and expanded Design Committee of the Rehoboth Beach Main Street met recently to discuss and evaluate the 2009 submissions for the Cottage and Town Awards. Competition is always keen for these prestigious local awards; and the committee’s deliberations delve into the true nature and intent of the prizes. First and foremost is a design reflection of Rehoboth’s history of seaside homes on small lots with modest scale and polite demeanor. Construction renovation and preservation is intended to reflect that long history of the “good neighbor” policy. New construction must similarly relate to design and style constraints that echo those same standards. Winners of this year’s awards are:

RESIDENTIAL PRESERVATION/RENOVATION
161 Columbia Avenue
In keeping with the Rehoboth tradition, this home essentially retained its profile and façade. A very modest addition connected the two separate structures on the property and the entire place was redressed with authentic shingles in a simple and straightforward exterior refurbishment. The committee was impressed with the restraint and a strict adherence to the structures’ original footprints in modernizing this classic Rehoboth cottage.

Design Committee members congratulate 223 Rodney Street with an Honorable Mention. The transformation from a closed off, jalousie-windowed porch (from a sadly 1950’s remodel) into the open-faced façade with river rock columns is a remarkable one indeed.

RESIDENTIAL NEW CONSTRUCTION 
1006 Scarborough Avenue extended
Here is a classic Rehoboth colonial – quiet and unassuming – surrounded by long-term trees and shrubbery. The home is so comfortably situated that it is difficult to believe that it is new construction – but it is. This reassuring look back into history made the entire design team do double-takes to be sure of what they were seeing.

COMMERCIAL PRESERVATION/RENOVATION
“Grub”, 305 Rehoboth Avenue
Aside from the ease and convenience of a new food purveyor on the avenue, the design committee applauded this renovation for its simple reclamation of what was once an exceedingly unattractive and essentially inconvenient service station and food mart. Colorful umbrellas and plentiful picnic tables now punctuate the plaza in front of this simply and refreshingly reconfigured structure.

COMMERCIAL NEW CONSTRUCTION
City of Rehoboth at 306 Rehoboth Avenue
Here the committee honors the restraint the town exercised in erecting its new Building and Licensing offices. Offering a bridge-design between higher profile commercial facades and the more reserved residential elevations nearby, this building underscores the continuing mixed-use nature of much of Rehoboth Avenue beyond second-beach-block.

The Hotel Rehoboth is awarded an Honorable Mention in this category as well. While the design of the overall building does not embrace Cottage and Town standards, the building nevertheless remains more in scale with the town profile and is well sited on its land to reduce its front-foot façade.

LANDSCAPE RENOVATION/NEW PLANTINGS
600 Scarborough Avenue
Richly conceived and densely planted, these fully realized beds look like they were planted some years ago – and promise continued pleasure and pride as they actually mature. The gardens are clear evidence of the homeowner’s commitment to completing the project – including a fully realized landscape plan.

The formal rear garden at 8 Fifth Avenue has been awarded an Honorable Mention. An earlier remodel of the guest house on the same property was honored with a Cottage and Town Award. This garden warmly embraces the low-key elegance of that structure and promises much for the refit of its primary residence and its street-front façade. Stay tuned for future developments.
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The winners of the 2008 Rehoboth Beach Cottage & Town Awards are as follows:
(Please note that for 2009 the preservation and restoration/renovation categories were combind)
 
Residential Preservation: 85 Sussex Street
    The committee redefined this entry as Residential Preservation because the owners essentially restored the cottage character of this residence without increasing its size - nor disturbing its treed setting - transforming what was once a run-down eyesore into the refreshing corner/anchor of its neighborhood.
 
Residential Restoration/Renovation: 8 Fifth Street
    This handsome and inventive renovation of the "guest" house of this property promises much for the future plans of the main house street-side. Impressive architectural detail, an inverted floor plan, well designed windows and an appropriate sense of scale welcome this beauty to the block.
 
Residential New Construction: 15 Oak Avenue
    As always, this was a very competitive category full of worthy nominees. 15 Oak won because of its careful and considerate but nevertheless, dynamic design. This is an impressive home on one of North Rehoboth's more important streets; yet the residence sits on its lot as if it has always been there. Good design and a stunning use of materials provide this new Rehoboth classic with a contemporary edge on tomorrow.
 
Landscape Renovation/New Plantings: 30 Lake Avenue
    A contender for New Construction as well, 30 Lake manifests a thoughtful landscape design significantly adding to the home's profile on the street. While providing an essentially residential feel to the home itself, this landscape also acts as both buffer and mediator to the predominant commercial properties surrounding it.
 
Commercial Restoration/Renovation: Echelon Home Center (Penny Lane) at 42 Rehoboth Avenue
    The work here reflects a very sensitive approach to renovating within the confines of an iconic Rehoboth location - Penny Lane. Look what cedar shake, new paint, flower boxes and awnings can do in promoting a fresh new look and an alternative use for this great space.
 
For further information, call 302-227-2772.