Former Comcast call centers seek new life

WILMINGTON – Comcast’s former Delaware call centers have been listed for sale or lease in the months after the cable giant moved to its new state-of-the-art facility.

Comcast is seeking to sell this former call center in Minquadale. | PHOTO COURTESY OF SVN

 An 82,000-square-foot building, located at 4008 N. Dupont Highway in Minquadale, has been listed for sale, but does not have a publicized asking price. However, Brian Edmonds, managing director and principal for real estate brokerage SVN, which is listing the property, said he expects the roughly 6.25-acre property to fetch several million dollars.

“We’ve had a bit of interest from groups about the redevelopment potential of the property and we  even considered an offer in the $6 million range,” said Edmonds, who added that Comcast, which still owns the building, declined after the buyers wanted to tie it up for a lengthy period of time before closing.

The one-story, Class B facility was built in 1991 and is zoned commercial regional (CR) by New Castle County. It’s currently owned by Lenfest Delaware Properties Inc., which is an entity affiliated with Comcast, according to state records.

With a data center on site, 375 parking spaces and access to Del. 13, Edmonds actually has a drastically different idea for a use of the space: medical care.

“The way that medical is going these days with the increase of urgent care centers, we thought it could be a beneficial reuse of the space,” he said, noting the large, rather open layout could lend the building to being subdivided into units.

“We’ve had interest from some parties looking for office space,” he said. “But whatever is a viable use for a tenant, we’re certainly interested in talking with them.”

Comcast left the location last summer after announcing in July 2018 that it signed a 10-year lease for a 150,000-square-foot, Class A facility owned by Buccini/Pollin in the Christiana Corporate Center near Newark. It brought 700 call center employees and 100 data support professionals to that location, leaving the Minquadale center and another at 300 N. Wakefield Drive in Newark.

The former Comcast call center in Newark is seeking new tenants under Capano Management. | PHOTO COURTESY OF CAPANO MANAGEMENT

The latter space is owned by LillyCap LLC, which is affiliated with Capano Management and purchased the 11-acre property for a reported $3.65 million in August. Capano Management is seeking a 10-year lease for up to 115,000 square feet in the two-story center, according to listings. That Class A building was built in 1997.

Madison Rogers, a leasing agent with Capano Management, told DBT that the property has received some interest from potential tenants, primarily for use as office space.

By Jacob Owens

jowens@delawarebusinesstimes.com