WILMINGTON, DELAWARE (11/11/2015) Demolition of a former restaurant began today to make way for construction of four new homes in Wilmington’s Northeast area, city officials said.
Walt’s Flavor Crisp Restaurant had stood for more than 40 years at Vandever Avenue and Pine Street.
The Wilmington Housing Partnership expects the new homes of about 1800 square feet each will be completed in a year and be sold in the range of $140,000 to $160,000.
Symanthia Lynch Sheppard, wife of the former owner of Walt’s restaurant, Harry Sheppard, who died in 2011 at age 84, was to join officials and community representatives at the ceremony. Mrs. Sheppard continues operating Walt’s catering and delivery service at 2800 Lancaster Ave. featuring her husband’s famous chicken among other delicacies.
Third District Wilmington City Councilman Darius Brown, who hosted the event, said eliminating a well-known former community business is easier to accept when viewed as a sign of progress that will help to stabilize the entire neighborhood. Brown noted other recent projects in the Vandever Avenue area including 15 homes built by the partnership, 39 new or reconstructed homes from Habitat for Humanity as well as the Wilmington Job Corps Center and the new Wilmington Re-entry Service Center.
Partnership Executive Director Steve Martin said his agency’s latest effort to create more home ownership had an additional goal of increasing the capacity of minority contractors. He said previous Vandever Avenue housing partnership projects have created more than 30 job opportunities and Martin said he expects additional jobs to be created with the latest project.