Friday, July 13, 2012 - 2:39pm
Riverfront hotel one step closer to reality
Updated Friday, July 13, 2012 - 4:23pm
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| Ground is broken for hotel along Wilmington riverfront |
After years of planning, a full-service hotel along the Wilmington riverfront took a giant step towards becoming a reality.
WDEL's Carl Kanefsky has the story.
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Officials from Wilmington, New Castle County, and the state gathered to break ground for the new $37 million Westin Hotel in Wilmington.
The new hotel will provide 123 full time jobs, an additional 160 jobs during the construction phase, and new tax revenue for the city and the state.
Mike Purzycki, Executive Director of the Riverfront Development Corporation says while all of things are valuable, the new hotel will provide much more.
"In a more important sense, it means the unlocking of the potential of the riverfront as a visitor destination. For years we've been telling people to come visit here, but we've had no place for the to stay right here."
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Alan Levin, Director of the Delaware Economic Development Office, says he sees the hotel being a successful venture on the riverfront, since the focus of the area has changed from its original intent as a retail center.
"It is right, now, for what it is, and that's primarily a restaurant, a destination location...there's offices here. It's creating lifestyle, it's different than shopping."
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The hotel is expected to open in early 2014.
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