A developer’s plans for a mixed-use community in Greenville could feature a Wegmans grocery store.
Newport-based Pettinaro Commercial Real Estate’s proposal would bring more than 100 residential units, plus office and retail space — including a Wegmans— to the former DuPont Barley Mill Plaza at Lancaster Pike and DE-141.
Company representatives say the project would bring several hundred jobs.
The plans have not yet been submitted to New Castle County government for approval.
Dee Durham is the County Council representative for the area. She says so far her constituents’ reactions have been positive, but that "the devil is in the details.”
“There was concerns about bike and pedestrian paths and sidewalks through the project as well as along 141— traffic concerns,” she said.
CEO Greg Pettinaro says he feels the community is receiving the plans well. “The overall public is good to see Wegmans come, I think they’re good to see the size of the project scaled down. I think they’re happy to see some plan there because it is vacant buildings," he said.
According to Pettinaro, the residential portion of the plan would total roughly 150,000 square feet. It calls for 33 three-story “upscale” townhouses starting at around $600,000 and 80 four-story “luxury” condos to be priced at $300,000. Also planned are amenities such as a swimming pool and a fitness center.
Pettinaro says the office plans call for two three-story structures totalling 160,000 square feet.
The retail plans include a Wegmans grocery store of up to 115,000 square feet, a bank branch and two other retail buildings, intended to attract restaurants and “boutique” stores. According to Pettinaro, the company signed a conditional lease with Wegmans in January.
He says the plan would bring up to 500 construction jobs over three to four years, roughly 400 permanent jobs through the Wegmans and 700 for the “rest of the development" — including the retail and office spaces.
Pettinaro is not the first developer to try to transform the site.
More substantial plans from former property owner Stoltz Real Estate Partners were opposed by community groups. The Delaware Supreme Court ruled against County Council’s rezoning for the project in 2014.
Durham says she thought the Stoltz redevelopment plan was “too much for the area” and might have caused traffic problems.
Pettinaro notes that his company’s proposed plans represent a “significant downsizing from either of the two Stoltz proposed plans.”
In a statement posted to social media Wednesday, New Castle County Executive Matt Meyer said, “I applaud Pettinaro Commercial Real Estate, Dee Durham ... and members of the community for meeting tonight to reimagine the Barley Mill site. I am encouraged that the proposed design better reflects the needs of the community. Welcoming Wegmans, rated as one of the best employers in the country, to [New Castle County] is a win-win for the community.”
The Pettinaro company expects to begin submitting its preliminary plans to the County in the next few weeks.
Durham expects it will be several months before Pettinaro’s plans come before the Council.
