More development, lower unemployment, more home construction and a burgeoning downtown are all part of a growing economy in Wilmington, said Mayor Bill Saffo during the Monday, Jan. 26 State of the City address delivered at City Hall.
Saffo recounted a list of accomplishments for Wilmington in 2015, the result of what he said where decisions by city leaders to focus on the future and long-term growth. He noted that 48 new businesses opened downtown in 2015, with more than $312 million in development.
“I feel like I’m going to a ribbon cutting every week,” Saffo said. “It’s apparent that the revitalization of downtown is in full swing.”
The downtown growth is due in part to long-term infrastructure improvements around the city, Saffo said. These projects include the five-year, $41 million plan to pave more than 50 miles of streets and sidewalks, stormwater infrastructure upgrades and the projects that come under the $55 million 2014 transportation bond. Saffo said 13 of the proposed 38 bond projects are under design.
“We got to this point not by just letting things happen, but by making hard decisions focused on improving our local economy,” Saffo said.
The city will have a busy schedule in 2016 to build on the accomplishments of the prior year, Saffo said. Priorities for this year include finding a reliable funding source for the city’s Wave Transit public transportation system, increasing options for affordable housing and continued implementation of the five-year development plan and transportation bond.
The city will also have to make a decision on its brick streets policy, which could see a major revision this year as officials are gathering public input for a potential policy change that could result in up to four miles of brick streets being covered, Saffo said.
“This seems to be one of the hot topic issues right now,” Saffo said of the historic brick-paver streets. “Should we cover our streets, should we uncover them. So we’ll be listening to you, the citizens, about that.”
Saffo also addressed issues of public safety in Wilmington.
“While our city continues to experience record low crime rates, we have seen a spike in violent crime,” Saffo said. “I know the people of this community are frustrated that this keeps happening on our streets. I’m frustrated too and I know our police officers are as well.”
Owen Wexler, who attended the address, said Saffo’s speech captured the breadth of topics facing Wilmington.
“The growth is astounding,” Wexler said of Wilmington. “Here, the community is allowed to participate in the planning. The downtown growth is going to have a tremendous impact.”
Marilyn Contarella said the speech did a good job of covering the “broad brush strokes” of the issues facing Wilmington, noting that the city will have many issues to face while planning for 20 years of growth.
“When you have a 20-year plan, there’s a lot of details that need to be addressed,” she said.
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