Gillis Gilkerson Leads Push for Increased Density in Downtown Salisbury

SALISBURY, MARYLAND – DEC 11, 2024 – Gillis Gilkerson’s second-generation development team, and its project Salisbury Town Center Apartments LLC has been leading a push for increased zoning density in Salisbury’s Central Business District, or CBD, an area which includes Downtown Salisbury. The City of Salisbury’s zoning code currently allows for a density of 40 units per acre in the CBD, but a proposed text amendment to change City Code 17.24.040(B)(2)(b) to increase density to 80 units per acre recently passed Salisbury’s Planning and Zoning Commission with a 6 to 1 vote in favor of the change. The proposed text amendment will now go before City Council for ratification in the coming weeks.

Salisbury Town Center LLC originally sought a special exception for increased density for its development project slated for surface level parking Lots 1, 11 and 15.  The proposed mixed-use project would bring 222 muti-family units within three four-story buildings, complete with ground-floor retail space, courtyards and a resident terrace overlooking Downtown’s Unity Square. With this development in mind, the City of Salisbury has transferred ownership of the parking lots to Salisbury Town Center, LLC several years ago.  The project was included in the Envision Salisbury Twenty Year Master Plan adopted in 2016. Now ready to break ground, the project’s inability to secure a special exception for increased density led to broader discussions regarding density and goals for the Downtown area, and Central Business District.

Proponents for increased density view positive benefits from more residents in Salisbury’s Downtown, citing reasons ranging from larger customer bases to support retailers, increased social interaction as a deterrent for crime and catalyst for revitalization, to increased market rate housing supply being a means to address the ongoing housing crisis. Opponents for increased density cite subjects like parking and accessibility as major concerns.  The proposed text amendment will now go before City Council with multiple opportunities for the public to participate, including a work session on December 16th followed by City Council meeting and public hearing, to be held on January 13th at 6 o’clock.

“We love Salisbury, this is our hometown.”, said Gillis Gilkerson development principal Brad Gillis. “We firmly believe that increased density and more heads in beds in Downtown Salisbury is a good thing for our community. We are actively working to ensure our proposed development will actually increase parking and accessibility.  We look forward to continuing the engage with our neighbors to create a positive future, an open dialogue and in the end, a successfully completed project that residents can call home.”

To learn more about Salisbury Town Center Apartments visit www.ggibuilds.com/sbytowncenter.