Post Date: 10/13/2017 2:30 PM

The Wilmington Licenses and Inspections, Fire and Police Departments announced today that the Buccini Pollin Group has received the necessary City permits to conduct an implosion of a 230-foot smokestack that stands at the site of the former Bancroft Mills plant on the Brandywine River. The smokestack demolition by implosion will occur this Sunday, October 15 at 8 a.m. The area around the former plant is being prepared for future redevelopment.

Officers of the Carriage Row Condominium Association and members of a neighborhood working group, all of whom live in the immediate area of the former Bancroft Mills property, were notified last week of the pending implosion. This week, flyers announcing the details of the event were hand-delivered to properties close to the site, in addition to the City issuing today’s news release to alert the public.

Traffic restrictions will occur on Sunday morning to limit access to the Rockford Falls/Bancroft Mills site. Streets that will be closed beginning at 6 a.m. until after the implosion at 8 a.m. include Rockford Road (beginning at 62 Rockford Road heading northeast toward Bancroft Mills); Grant Avenue at Kentmere Place; and Wood Road northeast of the Delaware Art Museum. Access to these streets will be granted to local residents only until 7:30 a.m. after which time there will be no access until after the implosion.

Because the smokestack is surrounded by either heavily wooded areas or private properties, there is no area available for the public to view the implosion. The City, however, will stream the event on Facebook Live beginning at 7:55 a.m. on Sunday morning.

Media Contact:

John Rago

Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy and Communications

Office of Mayor Michael S. Purzycki

Mobile: (302) 420-7928

Email: jrago@WilmingtonDE.gov