State kicks in $26.4 million in Rescue Plan funding for northeast Wilmington housing development

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Gov. John Carney and Lt. Governor Hall-Long kicked off a string of announcements on American Rescue Plan projects with news of funding for a housing community in Wilmington.

The state’s congressional delegation joined Carney and Hal-Long in announcing $26.4 million in housing funding for the community in northeast Wilmington. The announcement will accelerate the development of 350 affordable homes to completion in two years.

The development will be constructed in Wilmington’s Riverside neighborhood, an area targeted for revitalization.

“This purpose-built community will accelerate the development of safe, affordable housing for hundreds of Delaware families and help rebuild a Wilmington community that has been hard hit by the Covid-19 crisis. That’s exactly how these American Rescue Plan funds are meant to be used,” said Carney. “The Riverside redevelopment will support a mix of housing options for city residents, as well as providing wraparound social services in the community. Thank you to the WRK Group for their commitment to our city, and to members of our federal delegation and President Biden for providing these important resources through the American Rescue Plan Act.” 

“Delaware is so fortunate to have Logan Herring and REACH Riverside at the helm of the redevelopment of the Riverside neighborhood in Wilmington,” said U.S. Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester. “ This $26.4 million in funding from the American Rescue Plan, which your federal delegation voted to pass in March of this year, will allow for REACH Riverside to continue its critical work of providing safe, affordable public housing to Delawareans. Despite the challenges brought on by Hurricane Ida last month, Riverside remains a place of opportunity and hope, and I am proud to play a part in helping this neighborhood become a more safe and vibrant one.”

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“The WRK Group (The Warehouse, REACH Riverside, and Kingswood Community Center) is so grateful for the generous investment in the Riverside community,” said Logan Herring, CEO of the WRK Group. “The Riverside neighborhood is a real example of the impact of systemic racism and poverty in a local community. The Riverside neighborhood was originally built to create an affordable neighborhood for white veterans returning from World War II. The GI bill, which gave many returning veterans the opportunity to obtain a mortgage, home, and in time, the development of generational wealth, didn’t necessarily extend to returning Black veterans. Decades later, the effects of the flawed GI Bill and other contributing factors to systemic racism, such as mass incarceration, are widely felt by today’s residents. Gov. Carney’s announcement of ARPA funds being invested into our community, is a welcomed one and illustrates Delaware’s ongoing commitment to empowering a traditionally underserved community.”

“As a family-owned business based in Wilmington, DiSabatino Construction is thrilled by the historic investment of these funds into the Riverside community,” said Larry DiSabatino, president, DiSabatino Construction. “Building affordable housing in Wilmington has been a vital part of the DiSabatino family businesses for five generations now. We are proud to be a partner in providing our fellow community members a safe, beautiful, and affordable place to call home.  We are thrilled to be working with The WRK Group on phase one of the project as the construction manager.”

“Pennrose would like to congratulate our partners in the Riverside Redevelopment for the substantial investment announced by Governor Carney and Lt. Governor Hall-Long,” said Ryan Bailey, senior developer at Pennrose. “We are honored to partner with The WRK Group and Wilmington Housing Authority to develop a brand-new residential community for Riverside.”

 

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