THE CITY CITY ARPA FUNDS TO AID NEIGHBORHOOD REVITALIZATION
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ilmington Mayor Mike Purzycki last month announced plans for an anticipated $50M residential redevelopment and stabilization plan—the most ambitious housing and neighborhood plan in the City’s history. The Mayor said the effort will include investments in new construction, full rehabilitation of existing homes, façade, systems and roof improvements for current homeowners, and the demolition of dilapidated and vacant properties. Mayor Purzycki said the first phase of neighborhood redevelopment—totaling approximately $30M—will begin on the City’s historic east side in an area bounded by Walnut to Church Sts. and from 4th St. to 11th St. The Mayor said the City is engaging with the community as it moves forward because it’s important to listen to concerns and heed advice regarding improving the quality of life. Mayor Purzycki said the physical improvements to east side neighborhoods will also include 290 new and brighter streetlights to improve public safety thanks to a partnership with Delmarva Power. The Mayor said while additional crime reduction strategies will be announced soon, his Administration continues to believe that rebuilding neighborhoods can be equally effective in reducing violence. Mayor Purzycki said the ambitious east side effort requires not only a tremendous amount of resources, but unprecedented partnerships with key organizations such as the Wilm. Housing Authority, the Dela. State Housing Authority, the Central Baptist CDC, the Wilm. Neighborhood Conservancy Land Bank, Habitat for Humanity, Woodlawn Trustees, the New Castle Co. Vo-Tech School District, and Delmarva Power. The Mayor said in addition to the millions of dollars that will be spent over the next few years to stabilize and rebuild
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neighborhoods on the east side, he expects a total of $50M dollars to be invested city wide. He noted that the Administration and City Council have committed another $4M to fund workforce development by providing skills training and employment internships as well as an additional $5M community investment to assist nonprofits in restoring programming for individuals, children and families, and to launch community-based efforts to curb gun violence. The total neighborhood appropriations announced are the largest amount of funding ever committed by Wilmington to its neighborhoods and, more importantly, to the people who live in City neighborhoods. Mayor Purzycki said the east side neighborhood enhancements will be anchored by a new, statefunded, state-of-the-art Bancroft School with classes and programming for students in K-8, along with new athletic fields and after-hours programming. Gov. Carney, the Mayor said, is to be commended for his commitment to education and to students, parents, teachers, and administrators. East Side – before and after.
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