Delaware U.S. Senator Thomas R. Carper, Lt. Governor John C. Carney, Wilmington Mayor James M. Baker, and Riverfront Development Corporation Executive Director Michael S. Purzycki were among scores of people who today celebrated the start of construction on the Christina Crossing Retail Center in South Wilmington, the latest development project by the Buccini/Pollin Group.  Delaware Supermarkets, Inc., represented at today’s ceremony by Rich Kenny, will open a 70,000 square foot ShopRite supermarket in Fall 2008, becoming Christina Crossing’s anchor tenant.

Christina Crossing is situated on 10 acres just south of the Christina River between South Market and South Walnut Streets, on the site of a former salvage yard.  In addition to the ShopRite supermarket space, another 50,000 square feet of retail space will be available when the project is completed.

 Mayor Baker said the introduction of a new retail center in South Wilmington will provide a much-needed boost to the City’s overall economy and add new retail outlets for City residents who live in the adjacent City communities of Downtown Wilmington, Southbridge, Christina Landing, and Justison Landing as well as to the City as a whole. “The rebuilding of Wilmington continues at a steady pace and is evident in our neighborhoods, in the Downtown District, and along the Christina Riverfront,” said the Mayor. “The wise investment of public dollars continues to attract an influx of private dollars that are helping to change Wilmington in dramatic and sustained ways.”

 “This center, anchored by a high quality supermarket such as ShopRite, is as transformational as any other riverfront project in the last decade,” said Michael S. Purzycki, Executive Director of the Riverfront Development Corporation.

 “We are very pleased to push forward now with this important project in conjunction with the Kenny Family which has shown continued confidence in the city of Wilmington and in the redevelopment of the Christina Riverfront,” said Rob Buccini, managing partner of the Buccini/Pollin Group. “The commitment of the Kenny family, the City, the State and the RDC in working with us to make Wilmington one of the most desirable places to live, is inspiring to BPG as a company and causes us to want to do more and more to transform this City.”