Cottage & Town Awards

Presented by Rehoboth Beach Main Street
August is the time to nominate properties for the Rehoboth Beach 2012 Cottage and Town Awards. This program is a celebration of preservation and renovation in downtown Rehoboth Beach, DE.
The 16th 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 Rehoboth Beach 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:
1. Residential Preservation
2. Residential New Construction
3. Residential Renovation 4. Landscape Renovation/New Plantings
5. Commercial Preservation/Renovation/New Construction/Facade Treatment
The nominator may, but need not, own the property nominated or be the property’s primary contractor.
The Rehoboth Beach Main Street Design Committee will judge the 2012 properties nominated. One property per category will win recognition and a bronze award plaque to be displayed on their property. Those properties will be recognized in local press releases and at an award ceremony in November 2012. 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.
For further information, call Rehoboth Beach Main Street at 302-227-2772 or print-out a nomination form by going to: www.downtownrehoboth.com/Cottage_Town_Award_Nomination_Form.htm.
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Winners of 2010's awards are:
Though 2010 found fewer entries for the Cottage and Town Awards, the design committee of Rehoboth Beach Main Street still found it necessary to make many difficult choices in selecting this year’s winning entries.
In the Residential Preservation/Renovation category the competition was especially stiff. In selecting the home of Melissa and Blair Jones at 33 Park Avenue as the winner in its category, the design committee was especially impressed by the extensive nature of the project yet still conforming to features of the original structure. Especially handsome was the extension of the porch area and its beautiful railing detail.
In the category of Commercial Preservation the committee awarded the Rehoboth Beach Historical Society for its very reserved and careful reconsideration of an especially iconic Rehoboth landmark – most especially given its position at the city’s entrance flanking Grove Park and its immediate neighbors. The design committee would like to recognize Bill Bahan, Harvey Waltersdorf, Paul Kuhns and Nancy Alexander of the Historical Society, who were involved in the design process of the Rehoboth Beach Museum. The Commercial Renovation Award went to Café Azafran at 18 Baltimore Street for its subtle transformation of this commercial spot including a reserved color change, a welcoming detail modification of its balcony and stair railing and the addition of outside decking. There were no nominations for Commercial new construction this year.
The winner of the New Home Construction went to the Holland residence for the home at 105 New Castle Street. A number of factors went into this award not the least of which was respect for the site and preservation of its trees, including the magnificent pine at its front entrance. Elsewhere the large volume of the home is hidden in a series of connecting cubes which disguise the size of the place including a set of bedrooms hiding under its roof.
The Landscape Renovation/New Plantings Award went to Albert Carter for his garden at 217 Stockley Street for its creation of a quaint cottage feel incorporating stone paths and a waterfall feature.
PHOTO: Executive Director Jenny Barger and Design Committee Member Lee Mills present Harvey Waltersdorf and Bill Bahan the award for Commercial Preservation at the 2010 Award Ceremony.
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Winners of 2009's awards were:
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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