April-May 8th Neighborhood Update

Brandywine Park Cherry Blossoms in full bloom this week

Dear neighbors, Here's my April-May newsletter to keep you as informed.

A big focus of this month's update is progress on Trolley Square area revitalization plus information about a rezoning proposal adjacent to Bancroft Parkway.

Please call or email at any time if I can be of assistance. Sincerely,

Nathan Field Nrfield@wilmingtonde.gov Instagram/Facebook: Fielddistrict8 Cell: 530-6626

If you want to be added to the mailing list to receive future newsletters by regular mail, home delivery or email please email or text me and I will do so.

Dining on Delaware is Back!

I received more than 200 responses to my Trolley Square survey. A frequent suggestion was "Bring back Dining on Delaware." This was a fun Covid-era initiative and it's the kind of thing that should be a permanent feature of our neighborhood.

I've been working with the Trolley Square and Forty Acres Civic Associations, plus the restaurants on Delaware Avenue to figure out the details and make it happen. We are ready to make it official:

Trolley Square Revitalization Open House Forum Tuesday 4/21 6pm to 8pm @ Delaware Center for Horticulture

Many people have contributed ideas for revitalizing the commercial area along Delaware Avenue.

To translate as many of these ideas into finished projects as possible, I'm hosting a special forum on Tuesday 4/21* (see full details at bottom of page).

There will be no speeches, no presentations etc. Participants will be asked to pick one working group to which they wish to contribute. The focus will be on developing the organization, admin, volunteers and finances to try to accomplish as much of the below as possible this Spring and Summer:

Anyone who wants to contribute is welcome!

Trolley Square Community Clean UP

April-May Fun Social Events

April 11th - Help Save King Gambrunus - Wilmington Brew Works

GilRod Spring fest - live bands playing on the porches of the intersection of Gilpin and Rodney. Extremely fun event. April 25th - Trolley Square Community Cleanup - 9AM @ Conaty Park

Trolley Square 5k - April 26th

130th Wilmington Flower Market - Rockford Park - May 7th through 9th

If I missed any please let me know and I will update the list.

City Budget Progress Kicks Off at Old Town Hall

This year we did something new. The Mayor made his budget presentation at Old Town Hall, the perfectly preserved site of all city meetings from the 1700s through the 1920s.

As a history major, I found it fascinating to think about all of the different discussions that took place here in this exact spot that shaped virtually every aspect of Wilmington's history. One in particular was on my mind during the meeting. I recently read an 1863 Wilmington newspaper article around the time of the Battle of Gettysburg when Southern Armies were at most a 2 day march from Wilmington. The article described how Wilmingtonians were nervous and City Council held several meetings in Old Town Hall to rally residents - just in case. That's the kind of interesting history Wilmington has - unlike many much larger, newer cities (Miami, Las Vegas, Phoenix).

My hope is this 2026 Old Town Hall event leads the City and the Delaware History Society to focus more on City of Wilmington History-related events in the future.

There are many people who would attend such programming, and it would help attract people to different areas of the city.

Read here for more details on the Mayor's budget proposal. The City Council will be hosting budget hearings over the next month to vet the proposals.

Proposed Rezoning to Allow for new 198 unit apartment building

A proposal has been submitted to the City seeking rezonings to allow "for the creation of a 9 story building consisting of 198 rental units, a 325 car parking garage with a ground neighborhood coffee shop." See images below for more details.

If you have an opinion of any kind, please email me at Nrfield@wilmingtonde.gov

Rendering of building

2 parcels proposed for Rezoning from C1 to C2

Proposal to change enclosed box from C1 to C2 zoning

Follow @FieldDistrict8 on Facebook and Instagram for additional updates

*EMAIL SENT OUT RELATED TO TROLLEY SQUARE FORUM ON 4/21

Good morning,  

This message is meant for anyone who wants to help revitalize Trolley Square commercial area and the surrounding corridor to make it the most interesting, welcoming neighborhood possible. 

You are invited: 

Trolley Square Revitalization Brainstorming Open House Forum

Tuesday April 21st - 6pm to 8pm at the Delaware Center for Horticulture 

Here's the goal for the Forum: 

• 200+ people sent in ideas for Trolley Square improvement projects. Let's get as many  from the ideas to implementation stage as possible by bringing people in the room to plan, plot, brainstorm etc. 

  
  

• I have identified about 10 sub-projects that are within reach and there will be a table for each one, with a couple of people acting as “leads” to facilitate discussion and momentum  

  
  

• Dinner will be provided to facilitate creative thinking

• Attendees will be asked to pick one or maximum two areas that they can best contribute, whether it’s volunteer time, experience in this area, ability to fundraise or positive energy

  
  

• Encouraged to call or email in advance with additional ideas and also to let me know if you will be attending
  

Focus Areas for 4/21 Forum: 

• PLANTERS – can make a huge difference in making a neighborhood welcoming.  But require lots of thought and work.  DCH President and lead Horticulturalist will be in attendance.

  
  

• EVENTS – making Trolley Square a place where “fun and interesting cultural events happen” on a regular basis.  Dining on Delaware will be returning first Friday of each month starting in May.  More on that soon.  That's a good start.  But we want to expand on that.  The Delaware Avenue corridor can and should be the cultural capital of Delaware.

  
  

• WALKABILITY – how can we make the Delaware Avenue corridor more walkable?  And more attractive to cyclists?  New bike racks etc.  What else?

  
  

• WELCOMING VISUAL IMPROVEMENTS.  Could be Murals/ Lending Libraries/ Banners – opportunities for additional murals?  Any existing ones that need to be fixed? See images from Dorcas Lane and Mid-Town Brandywine for banners that add uniqueness and welcoming vibe. 

  
  

•  PENNSYLVANIA AVENUE SIDE PROJECTS

  
  

• VERY BIG LONGTERM PROJECTS:  For years people have made suggestions about the railroad bridges.  All are within reach, but we need a group of people willing to really push and push over a multi month period. 

This list isn’t set in stone and will evolve.  And if you have ideas about how to make this Forum as productive as possible, I'm all ears.  

Nathan Field

302-530-6626