The Wilmington Renaissance Corporation is working to make West Center City greener.
The Wilmington Renaissance Corporation (WRC) purchased nine contiguous empty lots in West Center City this fall, and plans to turn them into a public green space.
“Take a good look at this space now,” said WRC’s Laura Semmelroth, "’Cause it’s going to change.”
Semmelroth says those changes include a membership-based community garden, a space for concerts or physical activities, and a space for low-key activities, like playing chess.
Wilmington Mayor Mike Purzycki says he sees these kinds of small revitalization projects as part of how to “turn a city around.”
“People go to places that they think are attractive and beautiful.”
The 17,000 square-foot space is located at the corner of 7th and West streets. It is just blocks away from another community programming space WRC manages called the Rock Lot.
Glenn Moore, board chair of WRC, says the Corporation has more in store for the West Center City neighborhood.
“This is not the beginning, this is not the end, this is somewhere in the middle of the things we’d like to do in this community and in other places in the City of Wilmington,” he said.
The Rock Lot and the new site are part of the Corporation’s Vacant to Vibrant and Creative District Wilmington initiatives.
They hope to start remediation and construction on the new site at the beginning of next year— and finish in 2020.
Remediation at the new site is being funded by DNREC.
WRC purchased the nine lots for $10 each from Mario Medori, Inc.
