By Delaware Business Now -July 24, 2018

A New Castle County Councilman says Delle Donne & Associates has disclosed plans for the former AstraZeneca property off Concord Pike in north Willmington.

Councilman Robert Weiner noted that the plans do not require rezoning by the county.

Delle Donne declined to comment on Weiner’s report, noting that the project is still in its early phases. Inquiries were referred to the company’s lawyer who did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The development will be known as Avenue North. AstraZeneca will still occupy office space at the site. However, a portion of the existing facility will be demolished an made into new facilities, Weiner wrote.

The pharmaceutical giant has its U.S. headquarters at the site, which accounts for many of its 1,500 employees in Delaware.

Weiner went on to add that Delle Donne hopes to find other employers for the site, which at one time housed a few thousand AstraZeneca staffers.

The Avenue North site was included in Delaware unsuccessful bid for Amazon’s HQ2, a project that will bring tens of thousands of jobs to the winning city.

Weiner wrotethat the Avenue North site will include a “ much anticipated, pedestrian-oriented, amenity-rich upscale mixed-use community. The development of Avenue North will revitalize the property and the entire Concord Pike corridor,”

He continued, “Avenue North will include approximately 300 luxury apartments, as well as shops, restaurants, retail stores, fitness center, and daycare center. The redevelopment will also feature a full-service hotel and meeting facilities.”

“We are letting folks know that this is not a rezoning. Despite this project being a “by right” redevelopment, I have insisted upon community dialogue and input,” Weiner stated in therelease posted on Facebook.

An information meeting is slated for Monday July 30th at 7 p.m. at the Talleyville Fire Hall.