Georgetown Town Council approves Little Living's tiny home community

The vote marks the last major hurdle for the nonprofit to break ground on the 20-home project.

Published on Feb. 14, 2026

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The Georgetown Town Council voted 3-1 to approve a rezoning request from the nonprofit Little Living, allowing the organization to move forward with building a 20-home tiny home community in the town. The vote marks the last major governmental hurdle for the project, which has faced backlash from some residents concerned about property values and the town's leadership. Little Living founder George Meringolo said the organization will now just need to get site plan approval before beginning construction, which he expects to start by the end of this year.

Why it matters

The Little Living project has become a divisive issue in Georgetown, with residents questioning the town council's decision-making and leadership. The approval of the rezoning highlights the ongoing tension between the need for more affordable housing options and concerns from some residents about the potential impact on their community.

The details

The rezoning changed the property at 501 and 503 E. Market St. from commercial to single-family residential, allowing Little Living to move forward with its plan to build 20 tiny homes between 450 and 800 square feet on the roughly 1-acre site. The town's cottage housing ordinance, passed in December, paved the way for the project by allowing up to 12 tiny homes per acre. Other organizations, including Springboard Delaware and Hearth and Shelter, have also expressed interest in building similar cottage housing projects in Georgetown.

  • The Georgetown Town Council approved the rezoning request on February 9, 2026.
  • Little Living expects to break ground on the project by October or November 2026 and have all 20 homes completed by spring 2027.

The players

George Meringolo

The founder of the nonprofit Little Living, which is behind the tiny home community project in Georgetown.

Penuel Barrett

A Georgetown Town Council member who voted against the rezoning request.

Bill West

The mayor of Georgetown, who defended the town council's decision to support the Little Living project.

Sue Barlow

A former Georgetown Town Council member who has criticized the proposed tiny homes as "sharecropper shacks" and is worried they will lower nearby property values.

Faye West

The wife of Mayor Bill West, who defended her husband against criticism from residents.

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What they’re saying

“Basically we're done. It's just a matter of going through the normal requirements for any site plan.”

— George Meringolo, Founder, Little Living (Spotlight Delaware)

“We deserve elected officials that will look out for our interests, the people who have worked hard all our lives in this town. One small housing development is going to ruin a lot of our lives.”

— Sue Barlow, Former Georgetown Town Council member (delawareonline.com)

“The hate in town is coming from the 'racist website' - referencing Make Georgetown Great Again - and not my husband, who she said spends every day working to care for residents.”

— Faye West (delawareonline.com)

What’s next

With the rezoning approved, Little Living's next steps are to work with its engineer to submit the site plan to the town's planning commission and respond to any concerns from the planning department. The organization has already received the necessary approvals from state agencies to move forward with construction.

The takeaway

The approval of the Little Living tiny home community in Georgetown highlights the ongoing tension between the need for more affordable housing options and concerns from some residents about the potential impact on their community. The divisive nature of the project reflects the broader challenges facing towns and cities as they grapple with issues of housing affordability and development.