New Castle County moves forward with Route 9 library plan

New Castle County is moving forward with a project to construct a new library and innovation center along the Route 9 corridor.

The library and innovation center will serve a disadvantaged area on the border of Wilmington and New Castle, stimulating economic development along the corridor.

“Providing essential services to New Castle County residents is a top priority of this Council and the vote reflected that,” Council President Chris Bullock said. “This library will mean a lot to the New Castle and Wilmington areas and Council looks forward to working with the administration on the development of this great County asset.”

On Tuesday, county council voted despite two absent members 11-0 to approve the purchase of land for the project. The three parcels of land along New Castle Avenue will cost about $1.8 million.

“This is a significant step toward realizing the dream of creating an innovation center that will help under-served youths improve their learning through state-of-the-art technology and revitalize an important but economically depressed part of New Castle County,” Gordon said. “I thank Council for approving this resolution in its wisdom.”

The library project, which is expected to cost about $21 million, was highlighted in County Executive Tom Gordon’s budget address earlier this year.  The county hopes to have the library open within two years.