On the agenda for Thursday night’s Wilmington City Council meeting is a proposal to annex parcels from New Castle County for use as part of the 76ers Fieldhouse complex.
Also included is a separate tract near the stadium area of the Riverfront.
The tracts are owned by the Riverfront Development Corp., an entity under the umbrella of the State of Delaware.
The ordinance calls for the annexation and rezoning of 800 South Market Street, 810 South Market Street, 800 South Walnut Street, 0 Garasches Lane, and a separate but adjacent property also known as 0 Garasches Lane.
The properties would be used for parking, street access and athletic fields in the area of the arena that will be known as the 76ers Fieldhouse. The fieldhouse is a joint effort by the NBA team and Buccini/Pollin Group.
The ordinance also includes annexation and rezoning of 787 South Madison Street. The tract contains approximately 3.72 acres next to the city.
The rezoning would allow manufacturing and commercial development within areas that were established for that purpose, as well as parking for the Riverfront and stadium area.
Wilmington has only limited powers of annexation, due to legislative restrictions.
The restrictions led to the city seeing a sharp decline in population after World War II as residents moved to the suburbs. The city does provide water services to a number of suburban areas near its boundaries.
Click here for a public notice and maps covering the annexation proposal. See earlier story below.
Updated with video: 76ers, Buccini/Pollin to build sports complex
