Sussex County · Unincorporated Sussex County · #2026-07-07
Marlin Cove
West side of New Road, Approx. 100' North of Lighthouse Road (Route 54)., Unincorporated Sussex County, DE · 282 homes, apartments · 26.0 acres
About this project
282 affordable apartment units with a clubhouse, pool and amenities under the Sussex County Rental Program, on about 26 acres on the west side of New Road north of Lighthouse Road.
Official description: Sussex County Rental Program - 282 Affordable Housing Apartment Units with Clubhouse, Pool & Amenities
- Owner
- Marlin Cove, LLC. c/o Russ Garufi
- Engineer / designer
- W. Zachary Crouch, P.E.
- Plan type
- Site Plan Review
- Land use
- Residential
- Zoning
- AR-1 Agricultural Residential → AR-1 Agricultural Residential (Sussex County Rental Program)
- Water
- Artesian Water Company, Inc.
- Sewer
- Other
- Status
- Withdrawn
The full picture AI research · Nov 1, 2026
Marlin Cove is a proposed apartment community of 282 rental units on about 26 acres. It would sit on the west side of New Road, roughly 100 feet north of Lighthouse Road (Route 54), in unincorporated Sussex County. The county record describes the units as affordable. It also lists a clubhouse, a pool and other amenities.
The homes are filed under the Sussex County Rental Program. That is a county program that sets rules for affordable rental housing. The record does not say what is on the site now.
No news coverage, meeting minutes, developer website or state permits specific to this project were found online. This summary rests only on the county filing, which was last updated on 2026-07-01.
What it could mean nearby
- 282 apartments on 26 acres would add a lot of homes and daily car trips along New Road and Lighthouse Road (Route 54). The records found do not include a traffic study.
- The affordable rental units could add housing for local workers. The records do not say who would qualify or what the rents would be.
- Effects on schools, water and sewer service were not found in the available records.
Where it stands
A filing was made with the county as of 2026-07-01. No decisions or hearing dates were found online. Projects under this county program usually go through a site-plan review by the county planning commission. After that come engineering and permit approvals before construction.
- Jul 1, 2026 Latest county filing for Marlin Cove
Want to weigh in? The Sussex County Planning and Zoning Commission would review the site plan, and residents can check its meeting agendas on the county website for any public comment opportunity.
Who's behind it
Marlin Cove, LLC · This is the project company named on the county filing. No company website or information about its other projects was found.
Planning terms explained
- Sussex County Rental Program
- A county program that allows developers to build affordable rental housing under set rules, in return for keeping some or all units at limited rents.
- Site plan review
- A check by the planning commission that the layout, roads, parking, drainage and buildings meet county rules.
- Unincorporated
- Land outside any town or city limits, where the county government handles zoning and permits.
- Affordable apartments
- Rental homes priced so households with moderate incomes can afford them.
We searched the web for this project but found nothing beyond the county record, so this explanation is based on the filing alone. Researched by AI from public sources on Nov 1, 2026. It can make mistakes, so check the linked sources and the municipality before relying on it.
Scope estimate for contractors
Estimated construction value: $67.7M
- ~1,692 roofing squares
- ~282 HVAC systems
- ~282 kitchens / 564+ bathrooms
- ~282,000 sq ft of finished living space