Little Living, a non-profit organization that focuses on creating affordable home developments using stick-built tiny homes, recently learned they had been awarded the 2026 Chuck and Joan Lennon Gospel of Life Initiative’s Lennon Live Prize by the Notre Dame Club of Delaware. The award recognizes community projects that advance dignity, service and support for families.
“In our case, it honors the collaboration to build a community garden at Market Street Village in Georgetown, which will serve residents of the future cottage community,” Tony Vinciguerra, Vice-President and Secretary of Little Living’s Board of Directors, said. “The garden will include 20 raised garden beds, one for each household, designed to promote healthy living, food security and community connection.”
Vinciguerra pointed out that this award highlighted Little Living’s mission to create dignified, permanently affordable cottage homes for working families, seniors and veterans in Sussex County. On Saturday, April 25, Little Living will hold a Day of Service to begin preparing the site for the future garden, starting at 11 AM. The village is located at 315 E. Market Street in Georgetown.
“Volunteers will help with site evaluation for the future garden, light cleanup of debris, measuring area for fencing and raised beds, as well as other simple tasks to prepare the space,” Vinciguerra said. “No experience is necessary, just a willingness to help. Be sure to bring work gloves, clothes that can get dirty, closed-toe shoes and water bottles.”
Lunch will be provided for volunteers from Noon until 1 PM.
Little Living’s Market Street Village will provide affordable cottage homes for individuals and families who work hard but struggle with rising housing costs. The community garden is designed to become a shared gathering space where neighbors can grow food, connect with one another and build a stronger community.
Market Street Village has been resoundingly welcomed in Sussex County, both by town and county leaders as a way to address the affordable housing crisis. However, a similar project planned for Kent County has met with considerable resistance from county officials who have offered a myriad of excuses why Murphy’s Village cannot be constructed.
Kent County established multi-use developments in a recent Comprehensive Plan change but require all mixed-use to be contained in one building with retail on the first floor and housing above. This means that the Little Living project, which would offer individual homes for sale and rent, does not meet county standards. The organization is not requesting annexation which means growth areas should not apply.
Murphy’s Village would include cottages, a laundromat, walking trails, and a commercial offering, such as fast food or convenience stores which should meet the mixed-use requirement if Kent County changes their one building only requirement.
Little Living leaders hope that this award and the support in Sussex County will convince Kent County that their proposed project could help address the affordable housing crisis in the area.
