Wilmington Housing Authority Selects Michaels Development for Redevelopment of Old Public Housing Complex

By Anuradha Kher, Online News EditorWilmington, Del.–The Wilmington Housing Authority (WHA) has selected Michaels Development Co. as its master developer for a planned multimillion redevelopment of Lincoln Towers, an outdated public housing complex located in the Wilmington’s Trolley Square neighborhood. The complex will be demolished to make way for a new mixed-use community featuring both affordable and market-rate housing. The WHA distributed a request for proposals and moved quickly to select a development partner in order to meet a July 6 funding request deadline from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The federal government is distributing economic stimulus money to Housing Authorities for affordable housing development as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.The WHA’s plan calls for a mixed-used development, which would provide affordable and market-rate housing as well as a new fire station that would serve the northeastern section of the city. “Before we begin finalizing any kind of proposal for the site, we want to engage all of the community’s stakeholders, including civic groups, neighborhood businesses, local officials and current residents, in the planning and design proposal,” says Milton Pratt, senior vice president of Michaels. “It’s very important to the WHA and to Michaels Development that we create a community that all the stakeholders can believe in  and want to see transformed into reality.” According to Fred Purnell Sr., WHA’s executive director, the WHA wants to ensure that the new development will feature the latest innovations in green building technology, including energy-efficient building systems and appliances that will offer significant savings in long-term operating costs. Michaels’ initial proposal calls for a “green roof” to be included on the apartment towers, along with other sustainable development features.Purnell says that Interstate Realty Management Company, which is also part of the Michaels Organization and which will provide property and asset management services, has the unique capability to offer Lincoln Towers’ residents valuable social services, such as after-school youth programs and job training and referral.  All current Lincoln Tower residents will be relocated by the WHA and will be offered preference when the new housing is completed.