Residential development moves west with groundbreaking at former Mid-Town Parking Garage site

Groundbreaking of the Residences at Mid-Town Park.

Gov. Jack Markell and principals of Buccini/Pollin Group broke ground this morning on The Residences at Mid-Town Park.

The $75 million multi-family project at 820 N. Orange St. will feature 200 apartments in two buildings, 12,000 square feet of retail space and a 511-space parking garage on the site of the former Mid-Town Parking Garage.

The project marks a major move west in the Central Business District, where redevelopment has mostly hugged Market Street. It also increases public parking in midtown.

The project will include a private street separating two apartment buildings. It will be named Burton Place in honor of former Wilmington councilman and civil rights leader Dutch Burton, who staged a sit-in at the Eagle Coffee Shop that was once located in the Mid-Town parking structure.

The Residences at Mid-Town Park will feature a demonstration kitchen, a barbecue area, a screening room, a fitness area, an outdoor swimming pool and a dog-washing station.

“We are thrilled to finally be underway in this transformative project for Wilmington and its downtown.  A project of this complexity could not be accomplished without extraordinary partners including HUD, the State of Delaware, the City of Wilmington, the Wilmington Parking Authority, NCALL, WSFS, and Barclays.  We are truly grateful for all those who made today possible,” said Robert Buccini, co-president of Buccini/Pollin.

The parking garage is expected to be completed in winter 2017 with the apartments following in summer 2018.