By Benjamin Rothstein

DOVER — A series of meetings is addressing Fox Hall residents’ concerns that a home for recovering addicts is coming to the neighborhood.

However, those worries — mostly about potential crime — were exacerbated during Wednesday’s town hall because Oxford House representatives did not show.

The facility, which would house six to 10 rent-paying individuals, is planned for 10 Merion Road and has outraged neighbors, some of whom have been attending the meetings, set up by City Council members Andre Boggerty, Gerald Rocha and Julia Pillsbury.

The home was sold March 25 for $279,000, according to Kent County records. It is now owned by a limited liability company, J.S.F. Properties.

At an April 10 town hall regarding the property, several pieces of information came to light. Namely, that Oxford Houses’ federal protections mean that their installations cannot be stopped and that another meeting would be set up where representatives of the facility would attempt to alleviate fears.

Wednesday was the date of that gathering at City Hall, but Oxford House spokespersons did not appear.

Instead, Dover Police Chief Thomas Johnson attended with crime statistics for the 13 current Oxford Houses in Dover. The report covered April 2019 to March 2024.

According to the chief, crime rates at the houses were in line with averages from any other random sampling of 13 city homes. Specifically, he reported three calls for overdose situations and nine instances of disorderly conduct during the five years.

Chief Johnson later admitted, however, that these numbers do not account for any incident that did not have a specific address listed in the crime report — meaning his numbers might not include crimes committed by Oxford House residents who were not physically at the location.

Wednesday’s meeting also included public comments about safety concerns. One resident, who lives adjacent to the house in question, said she spoke to the owner and that the experience was less than positive.

“I was outside, and a gentleman came over to me. His name is Jim. He is (part of the LLC that owns) the house,” Carol Pedrotty said. “He told me he owns 13 of these houses. He (lives) in Newark, Delaware. And he just couldn’t understand why everybody was all up in arms. I said, ‘Well, maybe because we have no information.’”

Other residents corroborated their dismay at the alleged lack of communication with the owner.

According to Ms. Pedrotty, the man she spoke to said that residents in the house would be the ones to keep each other in check; there will be no outside supervision. He told her that occupants would be moving in May 15, she added.

“He goes, ‘I do hope you don’t plan on calling the police,’” Ms. Pedrotty continued. “And I’m like, ‘I hope I don’t have to call the police.’ He goes, ‘I’m going on vacation next week, but I will give you my phone number, and I will give you my office manager’s ... phone number and please call them before you call the police.’”

Chief Johnson responded, saying he was surprised to hear Ms. Pedrotty’s claim about being told not to contact law enforcement, but he ensured her that she should absolutely do so should she need help.

The Daily State News attempted to reach J.S.F. Properties but received no response to its voicemail messages.

Also at the town hall were a handful of members of the Unsheltered Working Group, including chair Alex Cropper, who had positive things to say about Oxford Houses.

“A lot of people here have concerns about Oxford House, but (the residents) are citizens, too. They’re taxpayers, too,” he said. “The reason why Oxford House normally (looks) for recovery houses in neighborhoods (is) to get them in environments (where) they can recover. The keyword is ‘recover.’ They’re in recovery.”

Mr. Cropper added that those living in Oxford Houses do, in fact, get weekly drug tests, with positive results potentially meaning an eviction.
He ended with an appeal to the community.

“Get to know them,” he said. “If you go in with negativity, and you think negative, guess what? We always end up in a self-fulfilling prophecy.”

Wednesday’s meeting ended with the council members pledging to learn more about the house. This includes an inquiry about parking, as the Fox Hall residents said the road could not handle as many cars as there would be people in the house.

They also said they would research whether Oxford House has a business license for its operation and how the facility is going to handle real estate taxes.

The next town hall has not yet been set.