Revitalizing Urban Riverfronts: Wilmington, DE
Historically, Downtown Jacksonville's riverfront shares a lot in common with Wilmington's use of the Christina River. Over the last 15 years, Wilmington has successfully transformed its once decaying riverfront with a variety of mixed uses. Perhaps there's a lesson that may be applicable for downtown Jacksonville's future?
Historically, Jacksonville has a lot in common with Wilmington. Both downtown waterfronts were the home to major shipbuilding companies during World War II, churning out Liberty ships and over vessels for the American war effort. The construction of I-95 also ushered in decline for both East Coast communities, leading to failed urban renewal strategies in the 1950s and 1960s. To add to their list of similarities, each community turned to the financial sector as a way to move forward economically as their pre-WWII industrial sectors declined. Jacksonville focused on the insurance industry while Wilmington focused on the arrival of national banks in the wake of the 1981 Financial Center Development Act.
However, where we differ is in the revitalization of our former shipyard sites. For over a decade, Jacksonville's dreams have been pumped up and dashed with the start and failure of multiple redevelopment dreams of bringing life back to the 44-acre Jacksonville Shipyards on East Bay Street.
Image courtesy of the State of Delaware
For decades, Wilmington had a similar problem with its urban Christina River waterfront. Once a beehive of activity, by the 1980s, it had become cemetery for the rusting remains of the Dravo, Bethelehem Steel, and Pusey & Jones shipyards. Overall, the city had become a national poster child for crime, seeing its population drop from a high of 112,504 in 1940 to 70,195 by 1980.
Two major decisions led to the renewal of urban Wilmington: the 1981 Financial Center Development Act, which liberalized the laws governing banks operating within the state and similar laws in 1986, as well as the creation of the Riverfront Development Corporation.
The Riverfront Development Corporation was created by the Delaware General Assembly in 1995 and given the mission of transforming a containment industrial wasteland into a thriving destination. Primarily focusing on the former Dravo and Bethelehem Steel sites, the riverfront has become a widely recognized example of successful investment in sustainable urban redevelopment. For example, a large structure once utilized by Dravo as a landing craft assembly plant became Wilmington's convention center, the Chase Center in 1998. Six 50' whirley cranes were preserved, integrating local shipbuilding history into waterfront reclaimed for public use. Where industrial buildings had been demolished, a network of new streets have been created, offering smaller sites for office, residential, and commercial uses. Nearby, a new market offering fresh produce, meats, seafood, baked goods and more became the adaptive reuse of an abandoned furniture warehouse.
Image courtesy of Wikipedia
Featuring more than 800,000 square feet of office space for companies such as ING Direct, Barclay Bank, and Amtrak's east coast operations center, the riverfront is one of the most sought after locations in the region, taking advantage of its historic train station and intercity service to the East Coast's largest cities. Nearly all public investments in Riverfront Wilmington have already been paid back through increased tax revenues generated by development that has occurred since 1996. Today, Riverfront Wilmington generates $32 million annually in public revenue.
However, not everything has gone as planned for Wilmington's march to glory down the yellow brick road. Early in the redevelopment process, attempting to take advantage of the 1990's mall craze, the Shipyard Shops was constructed. Like the Jacksonville Landing, it opened to great fanfare with a number of national chains as tenants. Like the Landing, business quickly disintegrated, leaving the riverfront with a struggling dead mall on its hands by 2009.
Deciding to adjust to the region's demographics and Wilmington's idea centralized location, the complex has since been rebranded as a mixed-use center called the Shipyard Business Center. While there are restaurants such as Ubon Thai Cuisine, Molly's Ice Cream and Timothy's Irish Pub, spaces once occupied by retail are the homes of Planet Fitness, University of Phoenix, and the Wilmington Rowing Company.
Image courtesy of In Wilmington
There are several things Jacksonville can take from Wilmington's experience of revitalizing its former shipyards property over the last 15 years. These ideas include the breaking down super-blocks with a network of streets. The result is the creation of a number of smaller parcels that can be incrementally developed by different parties, dependent on what the market can actually support. This makes the community less reliant on a "sugar daddy" or hoping for a "one-trick pony" to turn things around.
When it comes to public accessibility to the urban waterfront, a decision was made to publicly fund the necessary public access, as opposed to hoping a private developer would eventually come in and agree to set aside a little space as an afterthought.
Another important element of Riverfront Wilmington's revitalization is not to ignore or overlook the importance of transportation and connectivity. The riverfront's historic Wilmington Station (Joseph R. Biden Jr. Railroad Station) is an intercity passenger railroad stop with Amtrak Northeast Corridor, Amtrak intercity, and SEPTA regional rail service. This offers convenient connectivity to larger cities in the region, creating a stronger opportunity and market for infill residential and office development along the riverfront. The idea of connectivity is also much larger than transit and roadways. Market Street, Wilmington's "Main Street," ties the riverfront to the heart of downtown Wilmington. In recent years, it has been retrofitted, becoming a strong pedestrian and bicycle link for the city's revitalizing urban core.
Soon, Jacksonville will hear Shahid Kahn's and the Jacksonville Jaguar's vision for the Jacksonville Shipyards. When we do, the successful revitalization of Riverfront Wilmington should be in the back of our minds.
Article by Ennis Davis, AICP. Contact Ennis at edavis@moderncities.com. Cover image courtesy of Wikipedia
For more information on the Jacksonville Shipyards site:
Jacksonville Shipyards
Sniffing Along The Riverfront
Jacksonville Shipyards Park
Next Page: Photographic Tour of Downtown Wilmington and Christina Riverfront
Wilmington Riverfront
Christina Landing
Christina Landing was developed on the site of a large surface parking lot on the southbank of the Christina River
Former Bethlehem Steel Shipbuilding Company site
The Betts, Harlan & Hollingsworth Shipbuilding Company began operations in 1836 and was acquired by Bethlehem Steel in 1902. This redeveloped portion of Wilmington's riverfront is now home to the offices of Barclays Bank, the Delaware Children's Museum, Justison Landing Park, Delaware Center for the Contemporary Arts, and Residences at Justison Landing.
Former Dravo Corporation Wilmington Shipyard site
Dravo Corporation's Wilmington Shipyard employed 10,500 during World War II, constructing Destroyer escorts. Dravo ceased operations at the Christina River site in 1985. In 1998, Dravo's former landing craft assembly plant became Wilmington's convention center, the Chase Center. Another warehouse became the Delaware Children's Museum.
Daniel S. Frawley Stadium, Iron Hill Brewery, Joe's Crab Shack, Big Fish Grill and the Shipyard Business Center occupy other portions of the former Dravo shipyard. On the riverfront, Dravo Plaza is a public space that feature preserved Dravo whirly cranes as sculptural exhibits.
Market Street
Market Street was the major north-south thoroughfare through Wilmington before the construction of Interstate 95. Today, Market Street is a revitalized pedestrian scale commercial district tying Riverfront Wilmington with the heart of downtown Wilmington.
Rodney Square / Downtown Wilmington
Rodney Square is a historic public square in the center of downtown Wilmington bounded by Market, 10th, King and 11th Streets. The surrounding blocks are dominated by some of Wilmington's tallest buildings.
Article by Ennis Davis, AICP. Contact Ennis at edavis@moderncities.com
However, where we differ is in the revitalization of our former shipyard sites. For over a decade, Jacksonville's dreams have been pumped up and dashed with the start and failure of multiple redevelopment dreams of bringing life back to the 44-acre Jacksonville Shipyards on East Bay Street.
Image courtesy of the State of Delaware
For decades, Wilmington had a similar problem with its urban Christina River waterfront. Once a beehive of activity, by the 1980s, it had become cemetery for the rusting remains of the Dravo, Bethelehem Steel, and Pusey & Jones shipyards. Overall, the city had become a national poster child for crime, seeing its population drop from a high of 112,504 in 1940 to 70,195 by 1980.
Two major decisions led to the renewal of urban Wilmington: the 1981 Financial Center Development Act, which liberalized the laws governing banks operating within the state and similar laws in 1986, as well as the creation of the Riverfront Development Corporation.
The Riverfront Development Corporation was created by the Delaware General Assembly in 1995 and given the mission of transforming a containment industrial wasteland into a thriving destination. Primarily focusing on the former Dravo and Bethelehem Steel sites, the riverfront has become a widely recognized example of successful investment in sustainable urban redevelopment. For example, a large structure once utilized by Dravo as a landing craft assembly plant became Wilmington's convention center, the Chase Center in 1998. Six 50' whirley cranes were preserved, integrating local shipbuilding history into waterfront reclaimed for public use. Where industrial buildings had been demolished, a network of new streets have been created, offering smaller sites for office, residential, and commercial uses. Nearby, a new market offering fresh produce, meats, seafood, baked goods and more became the adaptive reuse of an abandoned furniture warehouse.
Image courtesy of Wikipedia
Featuring more than 800,000 square feet of office space for companies such as ING Direct, Barclay Bank, and Amtrak's east coast operations center, the riverfront is one of the most sought after locations in the region, taking advantage of its historic train station and intercity service to the East Coast's largest cities. Nearly all public investments in Riverfront Wilmington have already been paid back through increased tax revenues generated by development that has occurred since 1996. Today, Riverfront Wilmington generates $32 million annually in public revenue.
However, not everything has gone as planned for Wilmington's march to glory down the yellow brick road. Early in the redevelopment process, attempting to take advantage of the 1990's mall craze, the Shipyard Shops was constructed. Like the Jacksonville Landing, it opened to great fanfare with a number of national chains as tenants. Like the Landing, business quickly disintegrated, leaving the riverfront with a struggling dead mall on its hands by 2009.
Deciding to adjust to the region's demographics and Wilmington's idea centralized location, the complex has since been rebranded as a mixed-use center called the Shipyard Business Center. While there are restaurants such as Ubon Thai Cuisine, Molly's Ice Cream and Timothy's Irish Pub, spaces once occupied by retail are the homes of Planet Fitness, University of Phoenix, and the Wilmington Rowing Company.
Image courtesy of In Wilmington
There are several things Jacksonville can take from Wilmington's experience of revitalizing its former shipyards property over the last 15 years. These ideas include the breaking down super-blocks with a network of streets. The result is the creation of a number of smaller parcels that can be incrementally developed by different parties, dependent on what the market can actually support. This makes the community less reliant on a "sugar daddy" or hoping for a "one-trick pony" to turn things around.
When it comes to public accessibility to the urban waterfront, a decision was made to publicly fund the necessary public access, as opposed to hoping a private developer would eventually come in and agree to set aside a little space as an afterthought.
Another important element of Riverfront Wilmington's revitalization is not to ignore or overlook the importance of transportation and connectivity. The riverfront's historic Wilmington Station (Joseph R. Biden Jr. Railroad Station) is an intercity passenger railroad stop with Amtrak Northeast Corridor, Amtrak intercity, and SEPTA regional rail service. This offers convenient connectivity to larger cities in the region, creating a stronger opportunity and market for infill residential and office development along the riverfront. The idea of connectivity is also much larger than transit and roadways. Market Street, Wilmington's "Main Street," ties the riverfront to the heart of downtown Wilmington. In recent years, it has been retrofitted, becoming a strong pedestrian and bicycle link for the city's revitalizing urban core.
Soon, Jacksonville will hear Shahid Kahn's and the Jacksonville Jaguar's vision for the Jacksonville Shipyards. When we do, the successful revitalization of Riverfront Wilmington should be in the back of our minds.
Article by Ennis Davis, AICP. Contact Ennis at edavis@moderncities.com. Cover image courtesy of Wikipedia
For more information on the Jacksonville Shipyards site:
Jacksonville Shipyards
Sniffing Along The Riverfront
Jacksonville Shipyards Park
Next Page: Photographic Tour of Downtown Wilmington and Christina Riverfront
Wilmington Riverfront
Quote
Wilmington Riverfront’s revitalization began approximately fifteen years ago with the Delaware General Assembly’s creation of the Riverfront Development Corporation. The RDC embarked on its mission of transforming an industrial wasteland into a thriving destination rich in history and filled with recreational, cultural, retail and culinary attractions. As a result the Wilmington Delaware Riverfront has flourished into a widely recognized example of successful investments in sustainable urban redevelopment. The area now comprises over 800,000 sq. ft. of office space, The Chase Convention Center, a multitude of restaurants, the Riverfront Market, the DuPont Environmental Education Center at the Urban Wildlife Refuge, The Delaware Children’s Museum, Beautiful Townhomes, The Blue Rocks minor league baseball stadium, Justison Landing apartments and condominiums, the Delaware Theater Company, the Delaware Center for the Contemporary Arts and the Wilmington Rowing Center.https://www.liveworkplaywilmington.com/about-us/
The Riverfront is one of the most sought after office locations in the greater Philadelphia Region. It is home to the world headquarters of ING Direct, Barclay’s Bank’s US credit card headquarters, the headquarters for AAA of the Mid-Atlantic, and Amtrak’s east coast operations center. Because of the area’s rich cultural and recreational attractions and it’s proximity to such esteemed employers, many people now choose to call Wilmington’s Riverfront home. From rental communities such as The Residences at Christina Landing and The Residences at Justison Landing, to condominiums and Townhouses at River Tower and Justison Landing, the area is rich with life, activity and a sense of community
Christina Landing
Christina Landing was developed on the site of a large surface parking lot on the southbank of the Christina River
Former Bethlehem Steel Shipbuilding Company site
The Betts, Harlan & Hollingsworth Shipbuilding Company began operations in 1836 and was acquired by Bethlehem Steel in 1902. This redeveloped portion of Wilmington's riverfront is now home to the offices of Barclays Bank, the Delaware Children's Museum, Justison Landing Park, Delaware Center for the Contemporary Arts, and Residences at Justison Landing.
Former Dravo Corporation Wilmington Shipyard site
Dravo Corporation's Wilmington Shipyard employed 10,500 during World War II, constructing Destroyer escorts. Dravo ceased operations at the Christina River site in 1985. In 1998, Dravo's former landing craft assembly plant became Wilmington's convention center, the Chase Center. Another warehouse became the Delaware Children's Museum.
Daniel S. Frawley Stadium, Iron Hill Brewery, Joe's Crab Shack, Big Fish Grill and the Shipyard Business Center occupy other portions of the former Dravo shipyard. On the riverfront, Dravo Plaza is a public space that feature preserved Dravo whirly cranes as sculptural exhibits.
Market Street
Market Street was the major north-south thoroughfare through Wilmington before the construction of Interstate 95. Today, Market Street is a revitalized pedestrian scale commercial district tying Riverfront Wilmington with the heart of downtown Wilmington.
Quote
Market Street was once Wilmington’s primary commercial and cultural corridor. Established in 1731, Market Street functioned as Wilmington’s “Main Street” for over two centuries, populated by dry goods retailers, restaurants, municipal offices and professional centers. Trolley cars once provided mass transportation for local residents and sidewalks were perpetually crowded. Market Street acted as the magnet for public gathering and was a major contributor to Wilmington’s identity. The decline of Market Street and the shuttering of the once-thriving shops followed a familiar arc of urban flight and economic blight in most American cities after the middle of the 20th century. As the American dream of a new and ‘sub-urban’ life prospered, cities like Wilmington were left increasingly vacant and lifeless. It would take most cities half a century to begin to re-imagine, re-define and re-invent themselves as places of substance, life and promise once more.https://www.liveworkplaywilmington.com/about-us/
The revitalization of the Market Street corridor has been in full swing for the past decade and has been fostered by a committed team of city officials, local business owners, private developers and enthusiastic citizens. In the concentrated 10-block stretch of Lower Market street that has been dubbed “LOMA,” a new life has emerged thanks to major street scape enhancements, the renovation of dozens of underused or blighted properties, a major residential presence and the ever-growing collection of entertainment venues. Once again there is vigor and relevance to life on Market Street.
Rodney Square / Downtown Wilmington
Rodney Square is a historic public square in the center of downtown Wilmington bounded by Market, 10th, King and 11th Streets. The surrounding blocks are dominated by some of Wilmington's tallest buildings.
Article by Ennis Davis, AICP. Contact Ennis at edavis@moderncities.com