HOPE VI 2009-2010

THE WHA RIVERSIDE/NORTHEAST STABILIZATION AND REDEVELOPMENT PLAN

The Riverside/Northeast Public Housing Site is located on the east side of Wilmington, Delaware and is owned and managed by the Wilmington Housing Authority (WHA). There are 530 public housing units, of which nearly 50% are currently vacant.

Riverside/Northeast Stabilization and Redevelopment Plan Overview

• Demolition of Public Housing Units: The Riverside Target Area is scheduled to begin demolition this fall. One Hundred and Forty-Six (146) public housing units that have been vacant for several years will be demolished and the site cleared for future redevelopment. WHA is in the process of relocating thirty seven (37) families to newly upgraded units within the Riverside/Northeast site to prepare a second contiguous group of seventy eight (78) units for demolition. Total estimated budget for this project is $3 million and is expected to be completed in 1-2 years. Project is being funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) funds authorized to WHA by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).

• Stabilization of Public Housing Units: Neighborhood stabilization will be accomplished by newly renovating sixty (60) public housing units and the elimination of vacant units. With families being able to occupy these newly renovated units, a formerly blighted, boarded up neighborhood with a vacancy rate of nearly 50% will be transformed and stabilized. The rehabilitation of units in Riverside will also be extended beyond the housing units themselves. Exterior improvements and street-scaping will provide new curb appeal. Total estimated budget for this project is $1.3million and is expected to be completed in 6-8 months. Project is being funded by ARRA funds.

Eastlake Court

The WHA is currently breaking ground on a new development of sixteen (16) semi-detached two story homes on a court off 22nd St. consisting of a landscaped open space with trees that will serve to buffer the homes from the Northeast Boulevard. The homes will have three bedrooms and one and one-half baths with off street parking. This community will be known as Eastlake Court. These homes will initially be operated as public housing units but will be made available as a “lease to purchase” option for qualified, income-eligible WHA residents in accordance with WHA’s public housing homeownership program. The Development will be completed in two phases: The first phase will include ten units adjacent to the court to be completed in approximately one year. Total development budget for the first phase is $2.3 million and is fully funded under WHA’s Replacement Housing Factor (RHF) Funds authorized from HUD. The second phase involves the construction of an additional 6 units (to be completed in 6-8 months) and the acquisition of an adjacent vacant lot. Total development budget for the second phase is $1.4 million and will be funded by WHA RHF funds.

Riverside Blueprint Community

In 2008, Riverside was recognized as a Blueprint Community by the Federal Home Loan Bank of Pittsburgh (FHLBPGH). One of the many achievements of that initiative was the establishment of a solid group of community stakeholders comprised of residents, business owners, the faith-based community, local government and the academic community.

Hope VI Application for Riverside

Building upon the progress and successes of the Riverside Blueprint team, particularly in the area of community engagement, WHA is making application in November of this year for a newly authorized HOPE VI grant funding from HUD. WHA will compete for a maximum HOPE VI award of $22 million by creating private sector partnerships and pursuing other potential state and local funding streams. It is WHA’s goal to utilize the HOPE VI funds to assist in the phased demolition and redevelopment of the entire Riverside/Northeast Public Housing Site, as well as to facilitate a future master plan redevelopment of the entire Northeast Boulevard corridor to include housing, infrastructure, business and economic development.