Dover summer outlook: Pickleball courts, housing development, manufacturing facility and more taking shape
DOVER – The city is embarking on one of its busiest summer construction seasons ever, with everything from pickleball courts to a 30-home subdivision to a $49 million manufacturing facility taking shape over the next few months.
That manufacturing facility would be the 300,000-square-foot Schaeffler plant on the north side of Dover. Mayor Shane Gunnoe says the company is nearly finished with the site work. He expects work on the actual building will start in the next couple of weeks. The company’s goal is to have it done by April of next year.
“The company did file its construction permit. The estimated building value on the construction permit is $49 million just for the building in Phase 1. The building is obviously bigger than what we talked about last year which I think bodes well for the company’s commitment to the city.”
Gunnoe later this month will ask Council to approve nearly $2 million of infrastructure work around the facility, including widening Crown Road and adding new traffic signals on Wooster Avenue. He says state funding will cover the cost.
Meanwhile, the city is accepting bids for road and waterline work related to the 30-home Crimson Cove subdivision. Gunnoe says Lawver Homes anticipates building houses before the end of summer.
The city is also accepting bids for the construction of four new pickleball courts at the city park. Gunnoe believes people will be playing pickleball on them hopefully by fall.
The city is also looking for a contractor to do the work to turn the former First Federal Bank building to turn it into a new City Hall. Gunnoe thinks the city can move in before the end of the year.
“It’s a very busy summer for us,” he says. “We have about seven projects that in a normal year would probably be the biggest project we would be undertaking.”
Gunnoe also has his eye on next year. Council Monday gave him permission to apply for a state grant to fund the installation of a splash pad at the city pool in 2026.