[mglan80]

Here's an update on the Juniper headquarters:

http://www.addresswilmington.com/10-29-05-Juniper.JPG

The form work for the walls are up in the rear of the site, and along the side closest to AAA (along West and Justison).

[Joey D]

The concrete base of the River Tower is finally in place. I can now visualize where it will be situated.

The interior of the Residences is actually changing the exterior glass of the completed level to a different shade of light blue.

Any estimates on the first floor of WSFS Headquarters? It's hard to get a good view because of the fencing they have up.

[mglan80]

^WSFS is still working on the pile caps I guess. I haven't climbed that garage yet and taken a good look at what is actually going on. Maybe next Sunday.

[mglan80]

An update on the move by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Delaware to a new office building on Delaware Avenue on the city's western gateway to downtown:

Blues "Very Close" to Relocation Insurer in Talks to Move to New Downtown Wilmington Headquarters

By MAUREEN MILFORD
The News Journal
11/15/2005

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Delaware, the state's largest health insurer, is "very close" to wrapping up an agreement that would move the company's headquarters to Delaware Avenue in downtown Wilmington, a top city official said Monday.

The city has delivered an economic incentive document to the Blues designed to help the company consolidate and relocate its operations into new space at 800 Delaware Ave., near I-95, according to William S. Montgomery, chief of staff to Mayor James M. Baker. The agreement is under review by the insurance company and an announcement should come before the end of the year, he said. The terms of the agreement are proprietary, he said.

"They have a proposal and I suppose there will be some fine-tuning. We're very, very, very close," Montgomery said.

Ernest F. Delle Donne, president of Delle Donne & Associates Inc. in Claymont, which owns the Delaware Avenue location, would only say "things are progressing in an orderly fashion."

A move would mean about 650 workers relocating to the area known as the city's western gateway, Richard V. Pryor, the city's economic development director, said in September. About 400 of those employees would be new to the city, said Pryor, who is on vacation and was not available for comment Monday.

The insurance company is now at 14th and Orange streets and employs about 235 people downtown, Pryor has said.

Blues officials, who began negotiating in the summer for a new headquarters in the city, said in September a final decision on the company's real estate plans was expected in mid-October.

"It's taking us a little longer than we thought," said Darelle Lake Riabov, director of corporate communications with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Delaware.

Riabov declined to comment further.

If the Blues were to relocate from its building on the Brandywine River, it would help solidify the city's western gateway as an office corridor. For a time in 2002 and 2003, it appeared the area was losing ground.

That began to change in 2004, when ING Direct, the country's fourth largest savings bank, spent about $15 million to renovate 802 Delaware Ave. The 14-story building, constructed in the mid-1980s for Chase Manhattan Bank (USA), had been a vacant, hulking presence along I-95 for more than a year. Today, it houses one of the bank's Internet cafes on the ground floor facing Delaware Avenue.

Earlier this year, WSFS Bank decided to relocate its corporate headquarters from a historic building on North Market Street in downtown Wilmington to a new $90 million glass office tower at Delaware Avenue and Washington Street.

The 15-story WSFS Bank Center, now under construction, is the first multi-tenant office tower in the Rodney Square area since the late 1980s. The bank will be a major tenant, as well as a minority owner, in the 350,000-square-foot building being developed by Wilmington real estate developer Buccini/Pollin Group Inc. on land owned by the bank. The law firm Morris, James, Hitchens & Williams also has committed to space.

The Blues' real estate representative at Jones Lang LaSalle Americas Inc. could not be reached Monday for comment.

[frank_pentangeli]

Haha, Richard Pryor

[mglan80]

The Juniper building is moving along quickly now. There is some steel work up along the Justison Street side of the site. The poured concrete garage is beginning to take shape as well:

http://www.addresswilmington.com/12-04-05-Junipersite.JPG

http://www.addresswilmington.com/12-04-05-Junipersite2.JPG

There'll be four more floors on top of what's already here. Needless to say, it'll dramatically change the feel of this part of West Street. Also, it'll give visitors and conventioneers a better impression of the city than the decrepit warehouses that were once here (even though I kind of miss them). And, thankfully, the sidewalk will be much wider.

There is also updates on the WSFS Bank Center (http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/showthread.php?threadid=87330) and Christina Landing (http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/showthread.php?threadid=68678) threads.

[Joey D]

Nice pics, Mglan. I noticed some steel while getting onto 95 the other day, yet didn't get to drive down Justison Street to see it.

[mglan80]

Just another update from the city of Wilmington:

1) A tower crane foundation is in place for the Blue Cross Blue Shield building at 800 Delaware Avenue. I never thought about this, but where are they going to store the materials? Four cranes on the skyline (whenever River Tower puts theirs up)!

2) Some privacy netting has been put up on the fencing around the garage site on Shipley Street. Perhaps work will shift into construction mode now that excavation and stabilization is done. I'm still in the dark as to how this one will look when finished. I don't think it'll be that large or aesthetically impressive when finished, though.

3) The Juniper building is rolling along quickly. Steel goes so much faster than poured concrete.

4) The River Tower's pile caps and grade beams are still being poured. Work seems kind of slow lately. Maybe Gilbane was splitting crews between River Tower and WSFS Bank Center?! Looks like the interior work on the apartment tower have about five more floors to go.

5) No word on Renaissance Centre. It's probably dead in the water until after Bank of America annouces how much space is going on the block in Wilmington and the county later this month. It's a shame, that building could have done so much for the area.

[Joey D]

No real news here... just wanted to remark on a few things that have caught my interest lately.

To my surprise, the AAA building's steel is more prevalent in the skyline than I would have previously thought. That sight is really huge (space wise). This is one project I really kinda shit on.

There are cranes all over the skyline, with one/two more coming for the River Tower. I love that look.

The interior lights are up to about the 5th floor on the Residences, and really are starting to light up the skyline.

Another thing I noticed - Is it just me or does it appear that a crane is in place for the Blue Cross Building?

Any news on Justison Landing yet? I'd be interested in seeing a render on the new hotel they're planning on building there.

That's all for me ;)

[mglan80]

Another thing I noticed - Is it just me or does it appear that a crane is in place for the Blue Cross Building?

See #1 in the post above.

To my surprise, the AAA building's steel is more prevalent in the skyline than I would have previously thought. That sight is really huge (space wise). This is one project I really kinda shit on.

You mean Juniper? Also, since they were acquired by Barclays earlier this year, the sign will be changing soon. Hopefully it'll be their crest, not just their name:

http://re2.mm-b1.yimg.com/image/957233507

Nothing new on Justison yet. They've kept that under pretty tight wraps, which is hard in this town.

[Edit: I guess they replaced the Juniper sign over the weekend. I went by today and noticed it is replaced with both the name and crest.]

[Joey D]

^Ehh. I had a big brain fart on that post.

And btw... yeah. Juniper.

Even handsome, intelligent, successful individuals like me make mistakes at times ;)

[mglan80]

An update on Juniper and the Blue Cross Blue Shield buildings:

Juniper, or should I say Barclays, is up first:

http://www.addresswilmington.com/1-8-06-Juniperfar.JPG

http://www.addresswilmington.com/1-8-06-Juniperclose.JPG

I thought it would be a bit more imposing, but then the cladding isn't on yet either.

The Blue Cross Blue Shield building has the first few floors up:

http://www.addresswilmington.com/1-8-06-BCBSearly.JPG

[mglan80]

Some other general updates and developments:

1) A former junk yard on S. Market at Howard Street was cleared out about a month ago and the few buildings there demolished. It's not known if this will be part of the second phase of the Christina Landing townhome project, or something else. Either way, I'm sure BPG is the developer.

2) The Burns McBride site on S. Market across the street from Christina Landing was also vacated about a month ago. Again, I don't know if this is due to future development, or just to clean up the area for potential renters and condo owners for the two high-rises.

3) There have been crews out at the Market Street buildings on the Renaissance Center site. There isn't anything going on over on the King Street side, so that leads me to believe that the prognosis for the tower is negative, but good for the rehab of the retail/residential. However, a CBRE seminar I went to last night suggested that there was little new Class A space in Wilmington, and that it wouldn't be surprising to see another 500-600,000 sq. ft. of space added by 2007 or 2008 (read: Christina Centre 2 and possibly Renaissance Center).

[Joey D]

I was really suprised when I saw a newer rendition of Christina 2 on Philly IV (page 490ish) that showed a total redo of the building.

Although I'm sure MBNA will be devistating to the city, the momentum of everything in the city is promising. I can almost smell it in the air.

I hate to say it, Mglan... but your area of the woods is starting to concern me. It doesn't appear (besides Parcels) that the area is progressing, HOWEVER, I will say the Chinatown bus, as menial as that may be, may be a positive effect on the area.

I can almost see a small Chinese microeconomy developing now around 4th and Market. Hopefully, this new mini-transit center will positively elicit business in the immediate area.

I can almost say there is a microscopic Chinatown at 4th and Market (don't laugh.)

Anyway... ships ahoy on 500 Delaware!

[mglan80]

I honestly don't think that BoA will be dumping many of the buildings in the complex. In fact I wouldn't be surprised if a few of the smaller buildings in the county (the one in Greenville for instance) are sold and the people consolidated into the downtown campus. Also, the buildings like the old courthouse and the daycare buildings on French Street will probably be dumped, but I don't see them getting rid of the larger Bracebridge I-IV buildings. There will not be a doomsday scenario with job cuts in the city. The cuts will be relatively minor compared to the massive cuts that will happen to BoA call centers elsewhere (MBNA has their business wrapped tight, BoA does not).

As for my neighborhood, there is progress but it takes time. Hell, it's only been three years since the Mews opened (or half of it to be exact). Things don't turn around that fast, at least not in Wilmington. The powers that be are trying to position the neighborhood as an arts district (which I think might have been better around DCAD, but what do I know). Here's what's going on:

1) The 300 block should get moving within weeks. An experienced Philadelphia redeveloper, Don McGinley, is fitting out 12 apartments (maybe rental or condo, he's changed his mind a lot) in the yellow building, the brown builidng with the small mansard roof and the two greenish buildings along Market. They will be considered "luxury," which means nice finishes and well managed and about $1,000-$1,200 per month for a one bedroom. There'll be a small courtyard in the interior light well. Also, he'd like to buy the vacant lots between the Bar Assoc. and the corner building on 4th to build three story walk-ups with retail on ground (but that's at least a year out).

http://www.addresswilmington.com/1snow-3rd.JPG

2) The garage should start soon. There's been survey crews from Verizon, the City, and DP out that I've seen. Also, there was a crew preparing the two southern-most of Al's buildings for demolition (very preliminary and with a very noisy desiel generator running the entire night).

3) There's been a three new shops that are in various stages of opening/construction besides the pizza shop that I don't think will ever open (it's been two years on construction!).

4) The buildings on Market but closer to 4th Street are undercontract by someone. WSFS didn't finance that one so I have no idea who that is or what will become of it.

As for the Chinatown...not quite. Most of the businesses around that area or either Chinese or Korean owned, but that doesn't make it a Chinatown. If the shops offered authentic cuisine, authentic butchers, or authentic merchandise, then yes, but these shops sell fried you-call-it (the Fry Korner), generic Chinese food (J Farmers and Golden Panda), and various "urban" clothing. Close, but no wonton.

500 Delaware: 11 months and 17 days until occupancy.

[Joey D]

Take your wonton and shove it. :D

No matter what you say, I have lived in Wilmington my whole life and that is the most asians I have ever seen attracted to that area, although that being not many.

I guess what I was implying was more of a dream than a probability, but it isn't too far-fetched. Asians have always been very economic people, and hopefully, with the Chinatown buses the low-cost, high-standard economy will lure them to stay. After all, the Chinese ARE one of the largest immigrant groups in the country.

Mexicans, and Chinese fuel economies. We've got our Mexicans, now I want our Chinese.

On a side note.. I had no idea Baker lived in such a small rowhome when I saw it on the news. He's still the man either way, tho.

[mglan80]

^I knew where you were going with the Chinatown comment, I just had to inject my bluntly rational thoughts. I can't help it. Asians seem to own many shops and businesses in the poorest areas of cities, I guess because they're cheap to buy and moderately profitable. To grossly generalize, their work ethic always astounds me.

Oh yeah, and there's a Mexican restaurant that is an on-again-off-again rehab at 2nd and Market. I'd be nice to have that open so maybe I can get a cheap Mexican dinner in my own neighborhood.

On Baker, last I read he rents it. It's kind of strange he's never married or bought a home in the 20 years or so he's lived in Wilmington. I wonder, did he lose wife, or is he a confirmed bachelor? He's still the man, and always ready to give a shot of reality with a insult chaser.

Damn, we really need more than three guys from the area on here.

[horatio_the_hermit]

As a curious Neorthwesterner. What is in Delaware. What is it known for other than being the first state.

[Kitchen Guy]

the Mayor was once married and has a Daughter (who works for DelDot but that's a scandal for a different web site). He appears to be a man of simple tastes. For decades he lived on his city council salary.

[Kitchen Guy]

http://www.delawareonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060119/NEWS/601190332/1006

New complex coming to Riverfront
$400 million plan includes condos, offices, shops
By ADAM TAYLOR and PATRICK JACKSON
The News Journal

01/19/2006
A prominent Wilmington developer plans to build a $400 million complex of condominiums, office space and retail shops on a Riverfront parcel targeted last spring for a smaller project anchored by a hotel.

The site, on the east side of South Madison Street, south of the AAA Mid-Atlantic headquarters building, is to be cleared of buildings including the city's public works garage, a state Department of Transportation maintenance building and the Wilmington Rowing Center.

The development planned by Buccini/ Pollin Group Inc., to be known as Justisons Landing, no longer includes a hotel, which was part of the original plan announced in February, partner Robert Buccini said Wednesday.

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The project now involves 700 condominiums, 300,000 square feet of offices and 75,000 square feet of retail space.

"The group that oversees development on the Riverfront would like a hotel to be built closer to the Chase Center on the Riverfront," Buccini said of the former arts center now marketed as a convention site.

Buccini said construction on about half of the condos will begin in May, with the entire project taking about four years to build.

Preliminary development plans are scheduled for introduction at the City Council meeting tonight.

To make the deal work, the state has agreed to buy two parcels for more than $13 million using transportation funds and a loan from its economic development program.

One parcel is about 10 acres owned by Delmarva Power along the I-95 viaduct west of the 12-acre site to be built on by Buccini/Pollin. The other is a site west of the viaduct along Beech Street owned by the DuPont Co. and formerly used for laboratories.

The state will use the Beech Street land as a new site for its maintenance building. The Riverfront Development Corp. will use some of the Delmarva Power site for a multilevel parking garage for AAA Mid-Atlantic and the Buccini/Pollin complex, which also will have its own parking.

AAA employees are now parking on a surface lot Buccini will soon start building on. The parking lot was part of the city's and state's commitments to AAA when it relocated its headquarters to the Riverfront.

Mayor James M. Baker said the city is pleased by the promise of more development.

"This is a successful partnership between the state, the [Riverfront Development Corp.], the city and the private sector," he said. "It is bringing people, jobs and energy back to the city and we hope the progress is able to continue."

The state commitment was nailed down in Dover on Wednesday during a meeting of the General Assembly's Joint Bond Bill Committee.

But it won't happen exactly the way Transportation Secretary Nathan Hayward III wanted it to.

Hayward wanted to draw the $13.2 million from the Transportation Trust Fund. Instead, the committee voted to commit about $10 million as a loan from the Delaware Economic Development Office's fund, with the rest coming from the transportation fund.

The DelDOT maintenance building and the parking garage will not use up all of the land on either parcel. The state and city plan to market the rest for more redevelopment down the road.

When the excess land is sold for future projects, the proceeds will be used to replenish DEDO's loan fund.

To prepare the Beech Street and Delmarva Power sites for resale, the state also plans to use up to $3 million in "brownfields" cleanup money controlled by the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control.

Contact Adam Taylor at 324-2787 or ataylor@delawareonline.com. Contact Patrick Jackson at 678-4274 or pjackson@delawareonline.com.

Mayor James M. Baker said the partnership will bring more jobs and development to the Wilmington Riverfront.






--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Copyright © 2006, The News Journal. Use of this site signifies your agreement to the Terms of Service and Privacy Policy (updated 10/3/2005)

[mglan80]

I wondered who would be the first to post the article.

It's interesting the hotel was pulled as part of the project. I knew the Riverfront Development Corp. really wanted a hotel to be adjacent to the Chase Center, but I didn't think they'd push for BPG to redesign their plans. I guess the question now is when will a hotel chain sign on to build on that parking lot across Madison from the Chase Center.

Also, I thought the city was going to move the public works yard over by the port. I guess when I heard the river, I associated the Delaware River. I really don't think that location will be good for anyone in Browntown. They recently lost NVF and DuPont, and now will be a parking lot filled with city vehicles. That's shitty. That reinforces the idea that many old timers have that the new development is strictly for the new money people moving in. While I don't agree with that, I think the city could have come up with a better location for the yard (like over by the port!).

Oh yeah, and 700 units (~1300 people)...this train is really picking up steam.

[Joey D]

More great news for Wilmington -

I'm glad they finally announced this project. The thing that is on my mind is, although they cancelled the hotel, I see they are using the terminology "condominiums."

Being that they have altered their original plans substantially, and we no longer have a hotel, it seems obvious that they have changed their minds about the community of townhouses.

In conclusion, are we to expect another couple highrises, as there is no way in hell 700 townhouses could fit on that parcel alone?

Maybe we can look forward to being the "larger" Wilmington in the 2010 census?

Very exciting news, indeed.

[Joey D]

Actually, I did some thinking.

The parcel for Justison is roughly twice the size of the parcel for Christina Landing.
Since Christina Landing has the equivalent of 60 rowhomes, and about 300-ish condos, this would mean that this project, originally slated smaller with townhouses, would now include highrises at or above the scale of Christina Landing.

Anybody concur? In addition, they are doing mixed use retail and 300,000 sf of office space.

Something of decent size HAS to result from this, no?

$400 Million is alot of farking money.

[Kitchen Guy]

Since B/P is a hotel developer/opperator also, I am sure it was an easy sell to get to delete the Hotel from Justisons landing.

I'm sure the conversation went something like this: Hey B/P, instead of building a hotel there, build it over here, next to the Chase center on land we will give you.

[mglan80]

The thing that is on my mind is, although they cancelled the hotel, I see they are using the terminology "condominiums."

Condominiums is very misunderstood word. A condominium is an ownership arrangement where the buyer owns their unit (either highrise, midrise or townhome), but is not responsible for maintaining anything outside of their home. So things like sidewalks, driveways, landscaping, etc. are taken care of my a condominium association, which funds these repairs and maintenance through condominium fees.

The 700 number has been around for awhile, and the only massing models I've seen has the project having only townhomes. And although that site is big, I agree with you that I doesn't look big enough for 700 units. At the latest, we'll find out in May. I should have gone to the council meeting.

[mglan80]

I'm sure the conversation went something like this: Hey B/P, instead of building a hotel there, build it over here, next to the Chase center on land we will give you.

That's about how I imagined it, too.

Here's an article about Renaissance Center project. This project is like Mike Myers, just won't die.

Developer Adds New Twist to Renaissance Centre
Amended Plan calls for New Hotel Atop Scaled-Down Project

By ADAM TAYLOR
The News Journal
01/20/2006

WILMINGTON -- The developer of a $50 million project intended to help revitalize the heart of downtown has proposed another change to a one-city-block development that has been stalled for years.

Brock J. Vinton of Renaissance Centre LLC told City Council he wants to again use a portion of the proposed development -- bounded by Fourth, Market, Fifth and King streets -- for a hotel.

Vinton has until mid-March to show construction will begin on the Renaissance Centre. If he can't, he will forfeit $2 million of the $2.5 million sale price he paid the city for the one-acre block, said city Economic Development Director Richard V. Pryor. The land would return to the city as well.

Some consider the project key to the redevelopment of the downtown area, helping link the lower North Market Street area with Rodney Square to the north.

The project has changed more than once. In 2000, a hotel and an office were on the drawing board. A year later, the plan called for a 225,000-square-foot office building and a 650-space parking garage, with no hotel. In 2004, the plans were scaled back to a 140,000-square-foot office building and 325-space garage.

Now, Vinton is proposing a hotel on the top half of a building of the same size, about 10 stories, Pryor said. The garage would shrink to 192 spaces.

"The latest proposal would save him money, first and foremost," Pryor said. "I think it's gotten smaller because the marketplace and competition have stolen prospective tenants over time."

Vinton could not be reached for comment.

The request was introduced without discussion at Thursday's City Council meeting. It will be deliberated publicly at a committee meeting next month.

Last year, Vinton asked that the agreement be changed to allow him to knock down all historic buildings on the block. The agreement with the city called for the facades to remain. The city protested and Vinton withdrew the request, Pryor said.

The project has been plagued by problems. Some of the historic structures were damaged by a demolition contractor. And city officials said contractors removed asbestos from the roofs of some of the buildings improperly. Instead of hosing down the tops of the buildings and using tarps and chutes, workers simply used sledgehammers, sending asbestos dust flying into the air.

The project has remained stalled since the summer of 2005. Located directly across King Street from the $137 million New Castle County Courthouse that opened in 2002, the site is now part empty lot and part half-demolished, vacant buildings in disrepair.

Vinton's negotiations with a hotel operator have not been finalized, Pryor said.

He is working to maintain the historic facades with a group called Preservation Initiatives, city Communications Director John Rago said.

Pryor said Vinton doesn't want to gamble on a multimillion-dollar construction loan without some commitments from tenants.

Yet, Pryor remains optimistic. The talks with the hotel firm, which Pryor wouldn't identify, are only three weeks old. "But it's the most hopeful activity I've seen in the last 18 months," he said.

Mayor James M. Baker said the city would move to take back the land and keep the money if signs of imminent construction aren't happening in two months.

"This isn't a phony deadline," he said. "We're giving them every opportunity to break ground, but if they don't, there's no shortage of other developers waiting to take over the site."

----------------------
While more hotel rooms will make the city more attractive for conventions and trade shows, I don't the market is strong enough for two new hotels. Personally, I hope Commonwealth does not succeed and the parcel is taken back and resold to someone else. The city will get $2MM and the money from the resale, and would get a competant urban developer. Commonwealth just doesn't understand how to market urban properties. If they do somehow pull this off, it is encouraging that Preservation Initiatives is working with them. PI is the same guy who is renovating the buildings at 3rd and Market. He's a guy who knows how to build and market an urban project.

[Joey D]

Brock Vinton (name belongs on a crime drama) is starting to realize that Wilmington will take the land back at the end of the stipulated time.

Really, it is a bit uncertain as to which way the market will sway, but he should realize with the amount of development in the area, that he will have more than supple interest in his project in the long run, if not the short term.

In regards to the "historic" buildings, I have to assert my personal opinion. Technically, the trolley tracks on 4th Street were historic, however they had to make way for the future.

It is nice, wherever possible, to conserve history, but if it stands in the way of future progress (future history) it really cancels itself out. The city needs to progress, and the future is more crucial than a 80 year-old building with a Coca-Cola sign. Sorry Nimbys.

Do the math, MGlan... no way in hell could you fit 700 condos in a 2.5 block area without having somewhat of a NY-style density. You fit 50 rowhomes in a two block area, and it already surpasses 88% of modern U.S. cities in terms of density.

700 condos in that dense an area has to result in a vertical fashion.

Obladi, Oblada.

[mglan80]

^Vinton (Commonwealth to be more specific) was dealt a wild card with the MBNA/BoA merger. With any project, the Bank and the Borrower have to be sure that the building will generate cash to repay the loan and operate and maintain the building (Vinton needs to make sure it doesn't come out of his pocket or have his assets liquidated). With the merger, everyone looking to move or expand is waiting around to see if BoA is going to flood the market with space and drive down rents. You simply can't build a building on spec these days (banks won't fund it and owners/developers stand to lose their shirts, literally). WSFS Bank center is moving forward because Morris James signed on before the merger was annouced, and WSFS is a minority owner of the building. The other two buildings (BCBS & Barclays) are single tenant buildings built to suit, and so rental rates are out of the picture. He knew full well there was a possibility that no tenants would sign on and he'd loose the purchase price and the lot. He took a chance and lost, that's business.

As for the historic buildings, aside from my favorite (the Coca~Cola one you mentioned), nearly all of the others have been so modified or are so generic that they hardly qualify as "historic" in my opinion. My view is a building should be saved if it is architecurally worthy of saving. Just because a building is old, doesn't make it worth saving. On the trolley tracks subject, there was a line down Market too, that the city wanted to re-lay and run trolleys again. Unfortunately that was shot down by merchants who complained it would remove parking and hurt business. Geniuses.

I think we agree on the 700 units, there is simply no way to fit that many on that parcel.

[Edit: Damn Joe, 4 A.M.?]

[Joey D]

Yes, 4 A.M.

I'm amazed that post came out that decent considering how drunk I was.

Then again, I'll be amazed if this reply comes out legitimately considering how drunk I am.

I won't be surprised if Jasonhouse slaps me with a P.U.I. (Posting Under the Influence.)

By the way, I was dismayed when I read the News Journal for the past two days. I was expecting to see some rendition of Justison Landing as a result of the introduction of the project to City COuncil two days ago.

It is quite possible I missed this, but since I don't see this on this thread, I take it the story has not yet been written up in the paper. I am more than interested to see the layout/plans of Justison Landing.

I'm crossing my fingers, and knocking on formica.

[Kitchen Guy]

Ignore this comment and scroll down for the corrected math. KG

2.5 acres is slightly less than 110,000sf
now for the assumptions:
1) 50% lot coverage net after roads, sidewalks and green stuff
2) 1,500sf per condo

700 condos x 1500 = 1,050,000sf
offices per the NJ = 300,000sf
retail = 75,000sf

1,425,000sf / 55,000sf bldg foot print gives us 26 storys plus parking levels.

look for collection of towers in the 30-45 story high range.

Now that's just math and opinion, I have no inside information. (yet)

[Joey D]

You better not have inside information and not tell us
(pounds fist repeatedly)

I think anything over 30 stories in this city is a little on the fantastic side, but it would be sweet, however embarassing if we have condos taller than our office towers.

But hey, what the hell.

[Kitchen Guy]

since they are at the bottom of the hill, they will look shorter than the business district.

you won't be able to see juniper or AAA from 95N anymore.

needs a better name though. what is a justison and why plural? 8)

[Kitchen Guy]

RE Trolly
if they had left market street a mall, they could have run a tram up and down, like they have on the boardwalk.

[FlyersFan118]

Holy hell, Wilmington's on fire!!

Figuratively, of course.

[mglan80]

needs a better name though. what is a justison and why plural?

Justison is the name of the short street that runs down the center of the parcel (or will when DelDOT paves the new section of it). I think the name stinks, too. It sounds like some townhome community in Smyrna or something.

I agree with your math, there is simply no where near enough room for 700 units. Even if you assume a 400 sq. ft. for a row home, it still isn't enough not counting streets and sidewalks. The tower may be 26 floors, but the parking will not be in the building, at least that's what I got from the article. The way I read it was that a garage would be built on the current Delmarva Power substation on Beech near the viaduct and NEC. This would be a logical place since it is the least desirable of all the parcels. I'm really curious as to the price points. If they do the $250M-$300M range they could probably build out in 4 or 5 years like the article said. Absorption of units this size above that price would be hard pressed to hit 14 per month.

if they had left market street a mall, they could have run a tram up and down, like they have on the boardwalk.

The plan was to have two way traffic and a trolley. I still think it would have been great. They could have gone right by the Justison Landing site, within walking distance of Christina Landing. As soon as it was running, there would be demand to have it stretch up 12th street to Delaware Ave.

[Kitchen Guy]

oooops

I miss read Joey D's coment... He Said 2.5 block, not 2.5 acres.

rereading the article, the BP parcel is 12 acres

so lets try the math again

12 acres is slightly less than 522,000sf
now for the assumptions:
1) 50% lot coverage net after roads, sidewalks and green stuff
2) 1,500sf per condo

700 condos x 1500 = 1,050,000sf
offices per the NJ = 300,000sf
retail = 75,000sf

1,425,000sf / 261,000sf bldg foot print gives us 5.5 storys plus parking levels.



Now that's just math and opinion, I have no inside information. (yet)


Sadly, this is much less dramatic.

[Kitchen Guy]

where will the AAA employees park during construction?

B/P is going to build on the flat lot they use now, some day a garage will be built on the Delmarva land.

it will be a nice hike from the Delmarva parcel to the AAA building.
a pedestrian crossing on S Madison will make for even bigger traffic back-ups on game day.

[mglan80]

^That seems more like the massing models I've seen. Too bad there won't be another substantial tower, though. I'd imagine that they'd build on the Wilmington Rowing Club site and the still standing DelDOT building and public works sheds first. The garage would only be a block or two from AAA, and I believe the Barclays garage will be large enough to allow for non-Barclays parkers. It'd be nice if DelDOT and the city allowed Madison to develop as a true commercial street and not just a throughway to the stadium and outlets.

[Edit: Also, the Bank One signs on top of the Christina Centre towers were taken off last weekend. Well, half of them were. I'd guess the other half will be taken down this weekend.]

[mglan80]

Here's a shot of the almost complete steelword for the Blue Cross Blue Shield building at 800 Delaware:

http://www.addresswilmington.com/1-29-06-bcbs.JPG

Also, the Bank One signs are off the Christina Centre buildings, and most of the Chase signs are up; the top of Three is naked though. It's strange to see it without the Bank One since I've been looking at it for nearly three years since I've moved into my apartment. Although I'd expected the change sooner since the Bank One signs have not been lit since last spring. Anyways:

The cranes from last weekend:
http://www.addresswilmington.com/1-29-06-changingcranes.JPG

The plain:
http://www.addresswilmington.com/1-29-06-nakedbankone.JPG

The old:
http://www.addresswilmington.com/RoofDMB.jpg

[Joey D]

^WEIRD. That looks horrible.

I am gonna admit I am a somewhat newby in terms of construction and development of buildings, but I never noticed how much faster steel rises as opposed to concrete.

The interior lighting in Christina Landing seems to be nearing completion. I must say, with the interior lights on, the building does hold rank in the night skyline.

Anybody remember what was happening with that condo which was being negotiated a few months ago? It was the one that would have been off Delaware Ave by Wilmington Hospital.

I had to kind of laugh at myself the other day. I imagined a Wilmington forum meet. If 50% of the Wilmington crew came, we'd have 1.5 people at the meet!

Haha.

[Kitchen Guy]

The one off Washington Street is still negotiating the sale of the land, as of 4 weeks ago. I saw a rendering in a magazine, a midrise in brick. it will have a beautiful view to the south.

[mglan80]

^I'm certain I read that the land was sold to the Baltimore developer for $2.5MM and did not go to McConnell and his group. I hope I'm wrong. Unfortunately the Baltimore group has a horrible design (there was a rendering in City Life, I believe): 8-10 story brick with nearly the entire facade covered in balaconies, and a large rounded faux "cornice." There was opposition from the neighborhood about McConnell's proposal for a 20+ story tower and he was offering $2MM for the parcel. It would very unfortunate to squander such a good site, both for the prospective unit owners and people driving through or walking in the park.

I really can't express how irritating it is to have people so short sighted and selfish. You can stand on any block in that neighborhood and see Hercules and Chase Manhattan Center, but neither "overpowers" the neighborhood or would in any way detract from their quality of life.

Joe: It seems to goes much faster, but they still pour concrete on the floors of a steel building, fireproof, and (in WSFS Bank Center's case) pour the elevator and service core on the rear. All told, steel'll go up just a little faster (correct me if I'm wrong Kelvin), you just get the visual of the scale more immediately.

[Kitchen Guy]

the Balto group was named the succesful bidder... but last I heard they still had not settled.
That may be a strategic delay - why go to settlement while your architects are still drawing and have the property sit idle after you have paid for it.

[mglan80]

^Settlements take months. Especially for a relatively large real estate transaction like this. Seven or more months isn't unheard of. The attorneys have to wrangle.

[mglan80]

Some updates:

The Barclays building:

http://www.addresswilmington.com/02-5-06-Juniperelevation.JPG

http://www.addresswilmington.com/02-5-06-Juniperlight.JPG

Also, demolition was going on this morning at the DART building on the riverfront. It looks like there won't be much more work to get this site ready for site work for the Justison Landing project, just busting out the paving.

[mglan80]

Here's the latest rendering of the Renaissance Centre. It was definately chopped. It looks like most of the garage from the base is gone. Work on the site is moving forward, at least on the Market Street buildings. There's a dumpster and a steady crew of contractors out now.

http://www.addresswilmington.com/444KingSt.jpg

[Kitchen Guy]

since it looks like BoA isn't leaving town, I hope the Ren Cen will go tall.

any good rumors out there?

[Joey D]

:whatthefuck: :censor: :eek: :twoguns: :pissed: :mad: :gaah: :tantrum: :hell: :hell: :hell: :hell: :yuck: :gtfo2: :brickwall:
http://www.addresswilmington.com/444KingSt.jpg

I'm gonna sabotage that piece of crap. MGlan, unleash a can of NIMBY on his ass. That is horrible news.

Anyway... I noticed that they put the red blinking airplane beacons on the top of the Residences at CL.

Looks nice and noticeable now from faraway, being that those lights are now there, and the exterior lighting seems to be somewhat finished.

I also noticed that the River Tower is on its first floor. I'm wondering, however, where the damned crane is.

HOPEFULLY, that small piece of Dover will allow Two Christina some leeway.

[mglan80]

The crane shouldn't be too far off. The Residences had the crane up just about where River Tower is now:

http://www.addresswilmington.com/AptTowerStage2.JPG

I thought that rendering might cause a stir. I agree with general sentiment here: it stinks. It's doubtful, but Commonwealth may have overengineered the foundation to allow for future vertical expansion. Then again, even if they did, that almost never happens. It's a shame when a decent design gets the ax.

[Kitchen Guy]

http://www.delawareonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060216/NEWS/602160354/1006

Council to vote on major development
700-home, $400 million project proposed for Wilmington Riverfront By ADAM TAYLOR
The News Journal

02/16/2006
An agreement to build what officials are calling the largest economic development project in Wilmington's history is up for a City Council vote tonight.

The $400 million Justison Landing project proposed for along the Christina Riverfront would bring about $7 million a year in tax revenue to the perpetually strapped city government, project developer Rob Buccini said.

But equally important, the project's residential component -- 700 condominiums and apartments -- would provide the thing that could make the riverfront development that has taken place during the last decade a lasting success: people in the area around the clock. It also would put 300,000 square feet of office space and 75,000 square feet of retail space along the Riverfront.

Advertisement




"When you think about it, this project is as good for the city as a casino," Buccini said.

While the project could create that kind of revenue without the social worries that would accompany a gaming facility, not everyone is happy with the plan. Councilman Kevin F. Kelley, who represents the district that includes the part of the Riverfront on which the development would take place, said he will vote against the agreement tonight.

"My constituents in Browntown and Hedgeville feel like the residents of the neighborhoods in Atlantic City," he said. "They live near where all the development money is being spent but get none of the benefits."

Hedgeville resident Claudia Brady said she would like to see a program that would have Buccini's Buccini/ Pollin Group renovate existing properties in neighborhoods near the Justison project.

Buccini said he would listen to any ideas the community has. Buccini/ Pollin has invested in other parts of the city where it has built new projects, he said.

Council President Ted Blunt and Councilman Norman Griffiths said they support the project. Mayor James M. Baker's Chief of Staff William S. Montgomery said the tax revenue the project would create would help all neighborhoods in the city, including the ones mentioned by Kelley.

Kelley said he would like to delay voting on the development agreement until the community hears more about it. He also would like to see the city earmark some of the new tax money for police, youth programs and code enforcement. And he would like Buccini/ Pollin to make some sort of commitment to Browntown and Hedgeville.

Montgomery said the agreement needs to be inked now. Interest rates and other issues could kill a deal in the near future.

"If we don't move on these kinds of developments and seize the opportunities when they arise, we lose," he said.

Developer to clean up site

The 11-acre development site is owned by the city and state. It includes the city's Public Works Yard, a state Department of Transportation maintenance building and the Wil- mington Rowing Center. They would be cleared to make way for the development.

About 500 of the 700 residential units would be sold, and the rest would be rental apartments. Most of the condos would be sold for $350,000 to $500,000. A one-bedroom apartment would go for about $1,100 a month. Prices for the condos have not been set.

Construction would begin in April and would take at least three years to complete, Buccini said.

Christina Landing complement

Michael Purzycki, executive director of the Riverfront Development Corp., the agency created by state officials to spearhead private development on the riverfront, said the Justison project is the perfect complement to Buccini/Pollin's Christina Landing, a residential project on the other side of the river.

"We've always felt you need residential to transform the riverfront, and I think Justison Landing will change the riverfront and the city forever," he said. "Christina Landing is a magnificent start, but we need a certain amount of critical mass on the north side of the river as well."

Contact Adam Taylor at 324-2787 or ataylor@delawareonline.com.





--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Copyright © 2006, The News Journal. Use of this site signifies your agreement to the Terms of Service and Privacy Policy (updated 10/3/2005)

[Kitchen Guy]

"While the project could create that kind of revenue without the social worries that would accompany a gaming facility, not everyone is happy with the plan. Councilman Kevin F. Kelley, who represents the district that includes the part of the Riverfront on which the development would take place, said he will vote against the agreement tonight.

"My constituents in Browntown and Hedgeville feel like the residents of the neighborhoods in Atlantic City," he said. "They live near where all the development money is being spent but get none of the benefits.""

are we allowed to say "PUTZ" on this forum?

[soynog]

I live in Kelley’s district and he’s pretty good, although I think he’s mistaken on this one. I do share his frustration though that there are some areas just on the other side of the freeway from the riverfront in Browntown that are ripe for redevelopment. These are the old Vulcan Fiber and DuPont sites.

Here is a Google Satellite shot (look just to the left of I-95):
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=19805&ll=39.736102,-75.561261&spn=0.007244,0.021458&t=k
(BTW, how do you insert pictures?)

Unfortunately, DelDOT wants to build a maintenance yard here, per this NJ article:
http://www.delawareonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060119/NEWS/601190332/1006

None of this is B/P's fault though. In fact, having this development just on the other side of this area could help a lot.

[soynog]

Damn it, try this link and click the plus sign 3 times:http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=200+Beech+St,+Wilmington,+DE+19805&ll=39.737125,-75.564909&spn=0.014488,0.042915&t=k

[Joey D]

Anxiously awaiting the crane, MGlan. I had almost forgotten the Residences was once so small.

So, is Kevin Kelley related to Gerry Kelley? I know there are lots of Irishmen in Wilmington, but I would figure they are related being both politically inclined.

[soynog]

Gerry's last name only has one "E".

So where is the parking garage going versus the 2nd tower at Christina Landing? The renderings on their web site, http://www.christinalanding.net/ , don't seem consistent unless my perspecive is off.

[Joey D]

^Aah. Well, that would explain it ;)

[mglan80]

I generally like Kelley, but he's pretty simple minded on some issues; this one in particular. Requiring a developer or potential developer to renovate homes in a neighboring neighborhood is exactly the kind of special interest nonsense that keeps projects like this away from the city. What exactly is Kelley asking for? Does he want BPG to just pick people's homes at random and do a complete renovation for free? If they did buy up a few of the vacant homes and renovate or put up some new units on a few of the vacant lots, should these be sold at a stiff discount because it benefits the community? They should suck it up and take a loss on a home because they want to build near a neighborhood where most people make less than their potential buyers? That is not what a public company is there to do. BPG gives a lot money to the non-profit groups in the city that do build homes for the working poor, and that's acceptable.

The problem with people like Kelley is that he wants it both ways: a safe and stable neighborhood with well-kept homes for working people, but he doesn't want gentrification, which is necessary for a safe and stable neighborhood with well-kept homes. When a project like Justison Landing comes along, people like Kelley talk about how their neighborhood is being threatened with becoming the next Trolley Square where working people can't afford to live. Well, I'm sure the people that own their homes in Browntown are glad to have a new highend project close to their neighborhood because that spill over of more affluenent people may just happen and improve the quality of the neighborhood. Those that rent will be priced out, but that happens to everyone, not just the poor. If my building went condo and I had to buy my unit for $250,000, I'd have to move. I wouldn't cry about it to my council woman, I realize that the owner wants to make his money and I need to find another place to live. That's business.

Sorry to ramble.

Soynog: Welcome to the thread, it's nice to have some people to discuss this stuff with. I couldn't agree with you more about the site of the new Public Works yard for the City. The DuPont site is a horrible choice. It's decisions like that the should anger a neighborhood, not new construction. The City should have put it out by the port or the treatment plant. The parking garage will go on the river side of the condo tower, between the apartment tower and Market Street. Here:

http://www.addresswilmington.com/12-04-05-CLsite.JPG

[Kitchen Guy]

Mglan80,

that wasn't rambling, that was well reasoned.

BP's Justisons Landing is going to be a big boost to Browntown.

the shops will have more customers and people who come to look at JL but can't afford it will look over at Browntown and think "wow I can get a fixer-upper here for a song and be next to this cool new neighborhood".

Also, I got the impression (maybe wrong) that the site of the maintenance yard was temporary, until the next big development deal comes along.

[Kitchen Guy]

the townhouses at CL look Dutch to me. I don't know why, since I have never been to Holland.

[Kitchen Guy]

I think that the city maintenance/truck yard and the septa depot should be moved to higher ground. (remember New Orleans)

Perhaps the old Slocum window plant on the east side or out near 23rd and Get Shot (N Market).

[mglan80]

the townhouses at CL look Dutch to me. I don't know why, since I have never been to Holland.

Well, they do have the gable end out pointed out to the street like old Dutch row homes.

[Kitchen Guy]

Mglan80

I met With the Preservation Initiatives folks, nice people, big plans for your neighborhood. I hope the city gets some parking built down there soon.

Interesting appartment layouts for that tan and green bldg (#300?)

[greggpow]

Kitchen Guy-

What was the area you referenced in the above post? What are the apartments you mentioned?

G

[greggpow]

Drove by the Justison Landing site over the weekend. The size of the lot really is much bigger than I realized...it's the entire space between AAA and Kahuna. The Riverfront units should have great city skyline views.

Also think the retail aspect is great. Hope they put at least a small grocery store in there somewhere, the area really needs one.

G

[mglan80]

Mglan80

I met With the Preservation Initiatives folks, nice people, big plans for your neighborhood. I hope the city gets some parking built down there soon.

Interesting appartment layouts for that tan and green bldg (#300?)

They are pretty interesting, although I've only seen the floor plans. No renderings or actual materials list. Don is good guy; he always has ideas and vision. Don't worry about the parking (except the price!), the garage is still going to be built. Since the closing was pushed back into November, EDiS decided to wait until early spring before starting work. The steel, which was in Oklahoma for five years, was delivered to Wilmington in November. The garage will take at least a year to build though.

What was the area you referenced in the above post? What are the apartments you mentioned?

Preservation Initiatives is redeveloping four buildings in the 300 block of Market Street into 15 apartment condominiums. The yellow, green, and grey buildings here:

http://www.addresswilmington.com/1snow-3rd.JPG

[soynog]

I think like a Trader Joe's or similar small grocery store would do well down there. (And save me the drive up 202.)

Does BPG have any sketches yet of what the project will look like? They must have some ideas if they're able to give square feet for commercial and retail and the number of residential units.

[Kitchen Guy]

soynog

here are some numbers for Justisons landing

12 acres is slightly less than 522,000sf
now for the assumptions:
1) 50% lot coverage net after roads, sidewalks and green stuff
2) 1,500sf per condo

700 condos x 1500 = 1,050,000sf (assumed)
offices per the NJ = 300,000sf (reported)
retail = 75,000sf (reported)

1,425,000sf / 261,000sf bldg foot print gives us 5.5 storys plus parking levels.

Now that's just math and opinion, I have no inside information. (yet)

[Kitchen Guy]

"700 new units"

This can't be good news to the speculators who are sitting on Christina Landing townhouses or who were expecting to flip their tower condo's for big bucks.

[mglan80]

This can't be good news to the speculators who are sitting on Christina Landing townhouses or who were expecting to flip their tower condo's for big bucks.

Hell with 'em. They bloat the market for buyers and make money without producing anything.

The market is generally pretty confident in the Wilmington market. Don't forget Brian O'Neill is still looking at 500 or so units over by Bancroft Mill in the Highlands.

Oh, and the tower crane is being erected over at Christina Landing.

[greggpow]

I think Justison Landing is actually a good thing for Christina Landing. The more people we get down on the river, and the more retail, the more demand there will be to live down here.

I don't look at it as there are just 500 people out "there" who want to live on the river and if you build more at Justison Landing it will be taking away from Christina Landing. I think what's going to happen is that this new larger development is really going to tip us into that "critical mass" zone where city living takes on a completely different feel and attracts much more demand then there currently is.

Remember too, Justison Landing won't be livable for close to 2 years, and the River Tower at least a year. The only place to buy and live for the next year are the Townhouses at CL, so I think they'll do fine, resale wise (as long as sellers are realistic with asking prices).

G

[mglan80]

^That's exactly right. It's an example of the much over used phase, "critical mass."

BPG would not be gambling hundreds of millions of dollars on a large project like this just to chase the same buyers who might be looking at their own project across the river.

It's strange to imagine how much has changed in just the three years I've lived in town now. There was no AAA, no Barclays headquarters under construction, no Christina Landing, and the Residences at Rodney Square were just opening, and the Ships Tavern Mews was only partially complete. Wow, three more years like that and we'll have something.

[Kitchen Guy]

hurah for the crane!

O'neill has a 1000 units planned for the Bancroft mill site. the buildings were more contaminated than first believed, which has raised his land cost and makes it unlikley he will downsize the number of units.

look for at least a year of clean-up and demolition at the site before construction begins.

the first units will probably deliver around june 2008.

check out the O'Neill Properties website, they have an amazing number of projects planned for the Greater Philly region!

[mglan80]

^Yeah, his Conshohocken project looks pretty good. Was it 1,000? I posted it in this thread I think, but I was too lazy to look for it. He still needs approval first I believe.

[greggpow]

Sorry, I'll try to refrain from using the term "critical mass".....

Your right, the amount of change in just a few years is incredible. Did you notice an ironworker fell off the new Barclay building a few days ago...not sure how serious his injuries were,but pretty sure he lived.


mgan- is that a new "general store" across from Al's on Market Street or has that been there? Been in there? Store any good?

[Kitchen Guy]

a couple of years ago (er probably 12), I had the chance to buy a laundrymat with 2 appartments in browntown for 50K... Problem was neither my brother or I wanted to live in wilmington at the time. we each lived and worked in Newark with sub-10 minute comutes.

Browntowns problem is that the houses/lots are tiny... no room for cars. Delaware is a suburban state and nobody considers life without a car.

That said, I would consider scouring browntown for some rental bargains.

[mglan80]

greggpow: The iron worker fell about 35' and had two broken legs. The store isn't open yet (Tuesday), but looks pretty good. It'll be nice to not have to go to Trolley Square for everything.

Kitchen Guy: Browntown's alright, I've never really spent any amount of time there. The polish parts are pretty decent. As for the lack of parking, there is street parking, which is sufficient. The homes aren't smaller than the average row home elsewhere in the city. I think that, generally, people' percieved need for space is greater than their actual need. The real problem with almost all row homes is no closet space.

[Kitchen Guy]

Mglan80,

you mean you don't shop at that suburban shopping center on 4th street (adams 4?) 8)

I suspect you will see a Trader Joe's/Whole Foods type market at Justisons landing. Unfortunately you will have to wait until 09 for the grand opening.

[Joey D]

Great news on the crane for Christina Landing.

Damn it's hot today. Must be around 90. Dont yous agree?

Oh yeah, I forgot, you guys are in Wilmington. I'm in Costa Rica :D

[Kitchen Guy]

That Joey D, he's such a nice boy...

any tall buildings going up in Costa Rica?

[mglan80]

you mean you don't shop at that suburban shopping center on 4th street (adams 4?) 8)

No, but I hear their organic truffle selection is unrivaled.

[soynog]

The Payless Shoe store is one of the nicer ones in that chain (a qualified endorsement) and there is an authentic Mexican place that's pretty good. I'd pass on the rest though.

[soynog]

Browntown has great access to the riverfront through Beech Street which is a fabulous shortcut during games or when there is traffic. (Feel free to use that route but keep it between us.)

I would love to see some condo high rises on the west side of the freeway to pschologically tie in the two neighborhoods. You would have to angle them so that you weren't staring at the freeway though.

Mglan80: I think if you get a tape measure, you'll find that the rowhomes in the Browntown/Lancaster Ave. area are pretty small compared to the ones in Trolley Square or Quaker Hill.

There may be some confusion as to boundaries of neighborhoods. The bottom of the hill is Browntown (small homes), the middle of the hill is Hedgeville (larger row homes and duplexes), and the top of the hill is Bayard Square (pretty pricey). Most people from outside call all of that whole area of south Wilmington "Browntown" and, as long as you don't call it South Bridge :yuck: , we usually let it slide.

[Kitchen Guy]

Welcome aboard Soynog!

I wouldn't dismiss a view of 95 so fast. From the right distance, it adds a sense of dynamism.

The best view (in my humble opinion) from the Christina landing apartment building is north from floors 3-7. You see the city skyline AND the trains moving in and out of the station and in the late afternoon, the rowers on the river.

[mglan80]

Browntown has great access to the riverfront through Beech Street which is a fabulous shortcut during games or when there is traffic. (Feel free to use that route but keep it between us.)

I use that street alot. I think it's an arguement against a new ramp for the Riverfront area.

Mglan80: I think if you get a tape measure, you'll find that the rowhomes in the Browntown/Lancaster Ave. area are pretty small compared to the ones in Trolley Square or Quaker Hill.

I wasn't clear in my post. What I meant was that the average row home in Wilmington is a "one window, one door," type (the front is one double hung window and the door). There are larger ones, in Forty Acres and Brandywine Village areas that are "two windows, one door," but there are alot more of the "one window, one door" types. The "two window" jobs are pretty spacious in my opinion, but are usually two floors as opposed to the three floors of the usual "one window" homes.

As for the neighborhood names, I didn't know that about Bayard Square. There's alot I still don't know about this town, being an outsider. People calling Browntown/Hedgeville Southbridge is pretty bad, but it can't be nearly as annoying as people calling the Christina River the Christiana River. That always eats me.

Just a little bit of information: the garage going in between Orange and Shipley will be 361 spaces and will have 14,400 sq. ft. of retail on the ground floor. That's real progress for Orange and Shipley. New space is what alot of new retail businesses are looking for. Sorry, but I haven't been able to get my hands on any renderings (need someone at WTC for that one since they're financing it).

Oh, and a crane is back on the Renaissance center site...for whatever that's worth.

[soynog]

We share a pet peeve then!

I was able to confirm my long-standing suspicion that “Christiana” is just a misspelling of “Christina.” There is actually a little town along the Christina called Christiana south of the mall and hospital that is kind of cute, albeit illiterate. There is a marker there that the town was originally called “Christiana Crossing” which *has* to refer the river there.

Unfortunately, I think we have a loosing cause. Even the old Metroform disaster area (http://www.neilbert.com/roads/photos/other/otherstatepix.html) along Churchman’s is calling itself Christiana now. I can only think of Christina Place Centre (the Chase/Bank One high rises), Christina Landing of course, the school district, and the river itself that are on our side.

Maybe opening up Fort Christina Marina will help.

[mglan80]

^I had thought the town of Christiana was named after a Swedish prince Christian, and the river was named after the princess Christina.

Metroform...who were the ad wizards that came up with that one?

I mentioned it a few pages (and months) ago, but the City was soliciting bids for a redevelopment of the Fort Christina marina last summer. I had asked a few people about it, but mum was the word. All I got out of them was that two bids were received.

[Joey D]

I got home last night from Costa Rica. Of course, the first thing I did was to drive downtown to see what was up with the city.

I was remarkably surprised by a few things. First, I was greeted with a couple new cranes. I see Christina River Tower is now up to the first floor with a new attractive crane.

The WSFS HQ is looking bigger than I thought it would look against the backdrop of its taller neighbors. It appears to be on the 15th floor, however I see some more beams protruding from the top as if there were to be another floor on top of what there already is. Can Anybody explain?

I also saw that there is concrete now toward MLK on the Barclay building.. looks pretty big now from 95.

Wilmington is on FIIIIRE!

[soynog]

You left out the most surprising development. Something might actually get built across from the court house!?!

I was driving by Renaissance site yesterday, and a gentleman was urinating on the back of the (asbestos-ridden) historic buildings still on that block.

I'm not sure if that was the official groundbreaking or not though.

[mglan80]

^Yeah, the project in the now in the full-on construction phase. They've been ripping down the rear of buildings fronting Market Street, and diggin around the site. I noticed on my walk home today that they've got a new foreman trailer on 5th Street, too. It sucks that the 14 or 15 story version isn't getting built, but I'll take anything to get rid of that eyesore block. Once the Ships Tavern Garage is built, this part of King Street might look respectable.

[soynog]

Hey MGLAN80,

After the parade today, I stopped by the coffe shop in your neighborhood. The sidewalk by the Renaissance Centre was closed, as I expected. And what a quality job it looks like they're doing :( .

On the block below that, they also have the sidewalk closed on the opposite side of Market by the old Farmers Bank. This makes it very pedestrian unfriendly, which seems to go against the whole idea of Ships Tavern.

Are they doing something worthwhile at that site?

[mglan80]

^The fencing is from the street work that went on most of last year for sewer main replacement down Market from 6th to 2nd. The contractor stored their equipment on the street there and fenced it in at night. They left the fence when they moved the equipment last fall. I've thought about moving the fence myself, but then I really don't feel like doing it. At least the trash in the lot was cleaned up on Friday before the parade.

[Kitchen Guy]

Mglan80
a phone call to the mayors office and to wilm econ dev. might get those fences moved. It's worth a try.

I am sad to see the city repeating the same stupidity of the 80's.

The new brick Market street has already been torn up and patched with blacktop for utility work. Just like the old Market Street Mall.

Why waste the money on a premium surface if you are not going to maintain it?!?

[Joey D]

Hmm... seems I was the only one who didn't know that the River Tower had been upped to 27 stories.

By the way, guys... did we ever get an official height on the Residences? I was guessing around 80 meters.

[mglan80]

^I'm pretty sure it was 79 meters. I didn't know River Tower was upped. The site still has floor plans only up to the 23rd.

I hear you Kitchen Guy. The street portion is already settling and the snow plows have bashed chunks of granite curb off, too. The actual sidewalks haven't been patched, only the old portions which haven't been redone are still a mess. By the way, why doesn't anyone build sidewalks with the rounded steel curb anymore? I'd rather have just a plain concrete and steel curb than some cutesy "period" brick.

Oh, and the southern-most building of Al's is being ripped down. The garage begins...

[ryukyova]

mglan80, I was pretty close to the Barclays/Juniper office & garage project before I moved a year ago. I've been following the construction through your photos. Any new ones?

[mglan80]

^You lived close, or worked close?

The photos: I've been lax in getting some shots around town. I've been busy every weekend since January. I'll try to get some Sunday; WSFS Bank Center has already topped out!

[ryukyova]

I actually worked quite a bit on the project during the design phase. However it apears that, judging from the last rendering a saw, the design of the office building was dumbed down a lot.

[soynog]

What did the dumb down? They're still keeping the bell tower, right?

(I hope that's funny cuz Im intoxicated and cant really tell.) :cheers:

[mglan80]

^^Yeah, dumbed down how? You have to explain that, there's too many curious minds on this thread for a vague statement like that. Also, what was the firm? I'd like to update the first page of this thread with that.

By the way, welcome to the thread. Did you move out of state, or just out of town?

[ryukyova]

I worked for the architectural firm (Moeckel Carbonell) that designed both the garage and the office building. We weren't unfortunately the "architect of record" for the office building portion. The developer (Pettinaro) has an in house design firm that took our design and ( again I'm just going by the one rendering I saw) took what was a very contemporary, yet responsive, design and tried to make it more in keeping with the turn of the century brick industrial aesthetic of the adjacent Juniper headquarters building (and that god awful AAA building) It's quite sad for me because our original client had a very progressive notion of what this part of town could be. Only to have a schlock developer decide that progress means pushing architecture forward into the 19th century :koko: Anyway, I don't blame the architect, I am quite sure they were directed by Mr. Pettinaro himself to do the dumbing deed. Anyway, I moved out of town, far out of town but I still hold hope for the garage, which if it stays true to the original design will be a far more interesting building than the office building.

...at least they they didn't put a clock tower on it....I hope.