It’s finally happening – a $100 million construction project that will fulfill a grand vision for Wilmington’s east-side waterfront as a premier place for living, working and recreation. Whether you already live in New Castle County or are considering a home in the area https://www.activeadultsdelaware.com/neighborhood/northern-delaware/, this is an especially exciting event for everyone who loves active lifestyles.
First unveiled about three years ago, the Riverfront East project will transform the east side of the riverfront from a mostly abandoned area to an 86-acre community of residences, retail, office space and greenways with a riverwalk along the Christina River.
It’s been delayed largely because of the complicated process by which federal grant that’s making it possible is being administered. The process requires extensive review of the environmental impacts to ensure the demolition of current buildings and the essential infrastructure for the new project don’t have a negative impact.
Now that that phase is ending, the developers can count on additional funds from the Delaware Department of Transportation and the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC).
Building on history, for the way we live now
Like a lot of urban waterfronts, the area was once highly industrial, with shipyards, lumberyards and other enterprises that met essential needs without any emphasis on scenic design. As a result the area looks the same way it did 50 years ago, with abandoned buildings, junkyards and parking lots. The main natural feature right now is the marshy wetland and mud flat.
The homes, retail and recreational and entertainment venues will be environmentally sustainable and beautifully designed to attract middle and upper income residents. When completed, the community will be attractively aligned with the development on the west side of the river, where Frawley Stadium https://frawleystadium.com/, the Constitution Yards Beer Garden https://www.constitutionyards.com/, Residences at Harlan Flats https://residencesatharlanflats.com/ and Residences at Justison Landing https://residencesatjustisonlanding.com are located amid other great restaurants and stores.
The community will also benefit from its experienced and highly regarded development team, comprised of experts from the city of Wilmington, the Riverfront Development Corporation, DELDOT, BrightFields, a Wilmington environmental consulting and remediation firm, and RK&K, a Wilmington engineering firm.
When it’s completed there will be 4,300 residences, almost 2 million square feet of office space, and 350,000 square feet of retail and other entertainment space. Parking will be safe and plentiful, with 8,900 garage spaces and about 650 spaces on the street.
Construction begins in September, with the demolition of existing buildings. Then comes the removal of hazardous material, followed by a remediation phase and the importing of several tons of soil to raise the elevation of the site to prevent flooding. Based on the level of funding and the assessment phases that have already been completed, I have a good feeling about the developers’ ability to complete this wonderful new community by 2027.
By the numbers – Courtesy of the Wilmington News Journal
- Size: 86.3 acres
- Cost: $100-plus million
- 13.3 acres dedicated to open space, including parks, greenery and public-use areas
- 3,500 linear feet of Riverfront promenade
- 4.7 million square feet of residential space
- 4,300 residential units
- 1.9 million square feet of office space
- 350,000 square feet of retail space
- 179 new jobs estimated to be generated by project's first phase
- 5 to 6 stories: size of most buildings
- 8,900 planned spaces in parking garages
- 650 street-level parking spaces