Important News for All Neighboring Communities, Businesses and Organizations along Lancaster

Avenue Corridor The History

We have been working with the City, County and State for several years to address the crime,
quality of life issues, and general blight along the Lancaster Avenue Corridor. Numerous
meetings have taken place with representatives from the various police jurisdictions, state
representatives, county/city council members, nearby community leaders, community based
business organizations and business owners, and Brandywine Counseling and Community
Services (BCCS).
Our goal is to improve the environment along Lancaster Avenue so that communities and
businesses will once again flourish. With the huge increase in heroin addiction in recent years,
the numbers of clients visiting the BCCS each day increased to well over 1200 which became
overwhelming to the clinic and the community. Quality of life issues denied the surrounding
communities the expected enjoyment of their properties and created concerns for everyone
impacted. It quickly became evident that to achieve our goal, all or part of the methadone
treatment program at BCCS would need to relocate to a more suitable location.
The Good News
The State Budget for the current fiscal year was approved on June 30, 2016. The State Finance
Department has approved the funding to facilitate the move of 100% of their outpatient
methadone distribution to a new location.
The state approved over a Million Dollars for the move and an additional $270,000 to retrofit the
new location to accommodate the legal requirements for methadone distribution. The state is
presently working with BCCS to move to a large warehouse nearby the Probation and Parole
offices on Cherry Lane off of RT 9 (or another similar location).
The Timing The state is committed to seeing this move come to fruition. They are working to establish
realistic timelines and expectations, yet we should understand that the process could take 18
months to 2 years. In the meantime we will all continue to work with BCCS to address the ongoing concerns of residents, organizations and businesses.
Special Thanks Everyone in the nearby communities, both in Wilmington and New Castle County, need to send
an enormous thank you to Kevin Kelley, the Director of the Division of Management Services at
the State Department of Health and Human Services, to State Representative 3rd District in
Wilmington, Helene M. Keeley, to State Representative 13th District in New Castle County John
(Larry) Mitchell, and to State Senator Harris McDowell III District 1 Wilmington North, for
their tireless efforts towards making this move become a reality. They listened to the residents
and to area businesses and organizations about the many real concerns and escalating crime
that we have faced over the years.
Special thanks should also go to City Councilman, Robert Williams, and NCCo Councilman,
Joseph Reda (deceased April 2016), for their assistance in addressing residents ongoing
concerns and keeping abreast of applicable laws (nuisance properties), to NCCPD, Karen
Crowley, and WPD Andrew Conine, and their Captains for working with our communities on a
special task force and increased patrols, etc.
Residents of nearby communities should thank the board members who worked diligently behind
the scenes - Lisa and Daniella Spitelli and Joy and Dave Irwin of Colonial Heights, Dutch
Hopkins from Southwest Civic, and Adele Meehan from Union Park Gardens. Special thanks to
Greta Colgan, owner of Beyond the Studs and founder of the Lancaster Corridor
Association. It is our sincere hope that the coming transformation will foster a stronger and
more viable business community on Lancaster Avenue. Our combined efforts demonstrate what
a united network can achieve toward a safe and engaging corridor for all to enjoy.

Once again we thank everyone who dedicated their time and effort on this project which is so
important to the economic well-being and quality of life along Lancaster Avenue. It was a team
effort with a positive outcome!
We are most appreciative! Thank You All So Much!