Good afternoon,
Claymont received some disappointing news earlier this month when the new owner of the decrepit Tri-State Mall disclosed plans for an “eCommerce center,” a fancy term for a distribution center/warehouse.
This month, it did not help that an outdoor festival that would build awareness of the transforming area was delayed until next year, thanks to Covid-19.
The Claymont Renaissance Development Corp., a group, made of people living or having an economic interest in the area, developed a Preferred Development Scenario that made its way into New Castle County’s planning guidelines.
The preferred approach called for a mixed-use residential and retail development.
As Claymont Renaissance noted in a social media post, the concept faced an uphill battle due to the vibrance of the Route 202 corridor, the agonizingly long decline of Tri-State Mall, and commercial real estate momentum.
Route 202-Concord Pike has issues that include a struggling Concord Mall, the site of a shooting over the weekend. Still, retailers flock to strip centers and converted big box stores along the corridor. And don’t forget tax-free shopping for big-ticket items.
Moreover, distribution centers are a hot commodity these days in northern Delaware, with developers perfectly willing to build without a tenant signing on the dotted line.
Fast-tracking a distribution center site is made easier by the possibility that environmental remediation work may not be needed.
Meanwhile, Claymont’s successful big boxes, Total Wine and Home Depot are perfectly content with their current strip center locations despite an influx of customers on the weekend that fills up their parking lots. Total Wine went so far as to take additional space in the center.
The good news is that thanks to the efforts of Claymont Renaissance, county government, and the private sector, the future is promising. The new owner of the Tri-State property, unlike its predecessor, seems willing to work with the community on appearance and other concerns.
A new SEPTA train station will be a drawing card for residential growth and the upscale Darley Green townhouse residential development with access to retail and health care services seems to be thriving.
Finally, the St. Louis company that is redeveloping the former Claymont Steel tract is taking a measured approach as it cleans up the industrial site for future development.
Overall, the future is bright for the former steel mill town where President Joe Biden spent his formative years. But patience will be needed as any renaissance can take decades and sometimes a century to come to fruition. – Doug Rainey, chief content officer.
