FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – March 10
Office of Sen. Robert Marshall
Contact: Patrick Jackson, (302) 744-404 or (302) 242-0036;
Jesse Chadderdon, (302) 744-4282 or (302) 743-0945
Office of Sen. Robert Marshall
Contact: Patrick Jackson, (302) 744-404 or (302) 242-0036;
Jesse Chadderdon, (302) 744-4282 or (302) 743-0945
Marshall seeks panel to study ways to revive downtown Wilmington
It worked to set a new course for Wilmington’s riverfront and Sen. Robert Marshall said he hopes a new expert panel can help find a path that will lead to a revitalization of the city’s downtown.
In a resolution introduced Thursday in the Senate, Marshall, D-Wilmington West, called on Gov. Jack Markell to name a blue ribbon task force drawing from a broad cross-section of experts, developers, leaders in business and industry and downtown residents, to develop a blueprint – including actions and investments the state can take – to help revitalize center city.
“I think everyone would agree that a strong, vibrant downtown is essential to having a healthy city and, for all the baby steps we’ve taken, I’m sorry to say we don’t have a lot to show for it,” Marshall said. “When you look 30 miles up the road at what’s happening in Center City Philadelphia, you know it can be done. We just need to put our heads together, come up with a bold plan and make it happen.
“We’ve done it before,” he said, “and I’m absolutely sure we can do it again.”
Marshall drew inspiration for his new measure from a similar one he spearheaded in 1992. That resolution called on the state to empanel a group look at the Wilmington Riverfront – then essentially an industrial wasteland – and devise a strategy to turn it around. That plan, released in 1994, led to the creation of the Riverfront Development Corporation and the investment of hundreds of millions dollars in state money to help amass properties and to improve the streets, lighting, water and sewer lines needed to make redeveloping the riverfront a viable prospect.
“Because we developed a good plan and followed through with it, the Wilmington Riverfront is a thriving center for commerce, entertainment and residential living,” Marshall said. “It’s a success story 26 years in the making. I know that with downtown, we won’t be able to flip a magic switch and turn things around, but if we stick to it with the same kind of determination and resourcefulness we did on the Riverfront, we’ll get there.”
Marshall has shared his proposal with other leaders, including Markell and city and New Castle County leaders. He said he hopes for broad support for the proposal and welcomes any ideas they might offer to improve on it.
If approved by the Senate, Markell would have until Sept. 30 to name the panel, which would have until Sept. 15, 2017 to conduct its study and send its recommendations on to the governor, General Assembly and city and county leaders.
“I want to give all the leaders a chance to share their ideas with me,” Marshall said. “But I also want to get this done in good order to give the governor and the other leaders a chance to put together a first-class group to help us chart a course for a better Wilmington.”
In a resolution introduced Thursday in the Senate, Marshall, D-Wilmington West, called on Gov. Jack Markell to name a blue ribbon task force drawing from a broad cross-section of experts, developers, leaders in business and industry and downtown residents, to develop a blueprint – including actions and investments the state can take – to help revitalize center city.
“I think everyone would agree that a strong, vibrant downtown is essential to having a healthy city and, for all the baby steps we’ve taken, I’m sorry to say we don’t have a lot to show for it,” Marshall said. “When you look 30 miles up the road at what’s happening in Center City Philadelphia, you know it can be done. We just need to put our heads together, come up with a bold plan and make it happen.
“We’ve done it before,” he said, “and I’m absolutely sure we can do it again.”
Marshall drew inspiration for his new measure from a similar one he spearheaded in 1992. That resolution called on the state to empanel a group look at the Wilmington Riverfront – then essentially an industrial wasteland – and devise a strategy to turn it around. That plan, released in 1994, led to the creation of the Riverfront Development Corporation and the investment of hundreds of millions dollars in state money to help amass properties and to improve the streets, lighting, water and sewer lines needed to make redeveloping the riverfront a viable prospect.
“Because we developed a good plan and followed through with it, the Wilmington Riverfront is a thriving center for commerce, entertainment and residential living,” Marshall said. “It’s a success story 26 years in the making. I know that with downtown, we won’t be able to flip a magic switch and turn things around, but if we stick to it with the same kind of determination and resourcefulness we did on the Riverfront, we’ll get there.”
Marshall has shared his proposal with other leaders, including Markell and city and New Castle County leaders. He said he hopes for broad support for the proposal and welcomes any ideas they might offer to improve on it.
If approved by the Senate, Markell would have until Sept. 30 to name the panel, which would have until Sept. 15, 2017 to conduct its study and send its recommendations on to the governor, General Assembly and city and county leaders.
“I want to give all the leaders a chance to share their ideas with me,” Marshall said. “But I also want to get this done in good order to give the governor and the other leaders a chance to put together a first-class group to help us chart a course for a better Wilmington.”
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Press Contacts
Scott Goss
Communications Director
(302) 744-4180
[email protected]
Dylan McDowell
Communications Assistant
(302) 744-4282
[email protected]
Scott Goss
Communications Director
(302) 744-4180
[email protected]
Dylan McDowell
Communications Assistant
(302) 744-4282
[email protected]