Judge Bars Use of Land for Low-Income Housing

A Superior Court judge has ruled that a 1.8-acre parcel that was donated to the city for a park cannot be used for a Habitat for Humanity housing development for low- and moderate-income families.

Judge Robert O’Brien ruled that the East Wilmington Greenbelt area property that was donated to the city in 1976 by Southern Pacific Railroad for “recreation and beautification purposes” cannot be turned over to Habitat for Humanity for a 26-unit housing complex.

Opponents of the project filed a lawsuit last year arguing that the land was given to the city to be used as a park and it should remain open space.

“There are lots of vacant buildings that could benefit from a Habitat project, but this park needs to stay as open space,” said Frank O’Brien of the Wilmington Citizens Committee. “We’d love to work with Habitat on affordable housing somewhere else in the city.”