UPDATE: Confirmed Remedial Action Plan to the Abandoned NVF Building in Wilmington
This is a still-developing story and simply describes the information that is available online. For more information I recommend contacting the DNREC or the city council. To read the original article please scroll down…
UPDATE: Patrick Boettcher of the DNREC responded to my email inquiring more information about the project.
Boettcher is the project office manager for the Wilmington site where the abandoned NVF building currently stands. He also manages the site directly south of NVF.
“The site to the south of NVF is Anchorage Street and has a site identification number of DE-1752. In April of this year, [Boettcher] approved a Remedial Action Work Plan for the NVF property. Primarily, the site will be capped with an impervious material. This will include unfinished portions of any basements.”
The impervious material is needed, because as described in my previous article, the NVF company building manufactured materials that used hazardous and harmful chemicals. These impervious materials will ultimately remediate these hazardous elements. The remediation approval is documented here, publicly. Brightfields is currently handling all of the remedial work.
Boettcher went on to say,
“It is the developer’s plan to meet the requirements of our Final Plan of Remedial Action (published in 2021) and then begin development of the property. After development, the site will likely be residential. The two remaining buildings will stay and additional ones will be built. The road behind the site will likely be developed in conjunction with NVF. [Boettcher] has reviewed and issued comments for the investigation report for the Anchorage Street property (DE-1752) and is awaiting revisions. Anchorage Street does not have a remedial action work plan yet.”
Comments from Boettcher have also led me to suspect the Reddit post is also true. However, it is not confirmed whether these will be apartments or office space as far as I know. But Boettcher expects the development to be for residential purposes as he stated in his email.
The DNREC also has an agreement with Reybold Venture Group, LLC. The document is available to view here. Reybold builds and manages properties, handles leases, and develops construction technologies. Reybold “invests in the region’s good works, improving the quality of living and working throughout New Castle County” according to their website.
I think with this information, it is safe to say that apartments will be built once remediation is finished and development starts. I am still looking to confirm the accuracy of the renderings that are published in the Reddit post within my original article.
So when will this happen?
Boettcher stated, “Unfortunately, I don’t have specifics for development timeframes. However, I suspect work to begin next year. Plans are being discussed with the City and County with DNREC involvement when necessary.”
With more information to come, I will continue to update this developing story with any additional information I find out.