Phase III: Eastern Area

Building on the initial two phases of development that establish opportunities for major new stand alone projects, it will be important to take advantage of the comparatively good soils in Phase III to accommodate stand-alone owner-user facilities, port relocations (manufacturing and cold storage), and other infill projects.

Phase III involves developing underutilized land in the northeast area of the WIP. It is more problematic than the initial two phases in many respects, as it involves challenging relocations, and involves some higher value existing industrial facilities that the CRA must work around. The completion of this third phase, in conjunction with ongoing private efforts, will result in the buildout of about 90 percent of the WIP. It is expected that at this point of WIP buildout, the enhanced viability of the park will be evidenced by significantly higher and more consistent levels of investment, resulting in the timely infill development of remaining properties.

Development Opportunities and Concepts

The land underlying this phase is among the least likely to liquefy, according to geotechnical information produced for this strategy. The area has good access, with a location on the major circulation corridors within the WIP. It has numerous oil wells, and possibly extensive contamination. Very expensive relocation efforts are likely.

Infill development is the likely conceptual model for this area as there are several small, but valuable tenants such as Stone Depot, Seacliff Seafoods, Bragg Company, and South Bay Heating and Air Conditioning, as well as two CRA assisted developments, Advanced Finishes and Paragon, that would have to be relocated at great expense to facilitate the superblock model. However, if South Bay, Bragg, and Stone Depot were relocated, Blocks 19 and 20 could be combined into a superblock and block 25 would be a full 3.5 acre block development opportunity.

Phase III Infrastructure Upgrade Strategy

Table 9 summarizes the Phase III infrastructure upgrades. Phase III infrastructure improvements are projected to cost approximately $275,000, all local in nature. This equates to $0.50/s.f. over the 12.6 acre area. Although the infrastructure cost burden is the lowest among the phases examined in this chapter, the successful development of this latter phase will necessitate the funding of onerous costs relating to environmental remediation and the relocation of certain businesses. The estimated funding gap for this and other phases, as well as strategies for funding redevelopment, are explored in the following chapter.

Source: Wilmington Industrial Park Economic Adjustment Strategy, Final Report, February 12, 2003, pgs. 99-100