Coming Soon to New Castle County: Pocket Neighborhoods

New Castle County residents may soon see the development of “pocket neighborhoods”—groups of small, detached homes arranged around a communal open space, such as a courtyard or garden.

The county passed an ordinance in December to encourage more of this small-scale, community-oriented housing that can add density to neighborhoods with single-family homes. AARP Delaware supported the measure.

The measure will spur the development of more affordable starter homes for Delaware families, “as well as for seniors who want to age in place in their communities,” former county executive Matt Meyer said in a statement to the Bulletin. Meyer, now governor, noted that the county also recently passed an ordinance that paves the way for more accessory dwelling units. An ADU is a small unit, such as a garage apartment or in-law suite, built on the same lot as a single-family residence.

Meyer said that together, the two new measures will generate “meaningful change” in the local housing supply.