Wilmington developer might be buying the Hotel du Pont

There are still more questions than answers, but there is some speculation that the seemingly ubiquitous Buccini/Pollin Group may be buying the Hotel du Pont.

The News Journal reported that the Wilmington real estate developer, “has bought or intends to buy the Hotel du Pont and the adjacent office building that houses Chemours,” based on information from a state grant application.

Reporter Jeff Mordock wrote the state approved $1 million to an investor group with ties to BPG through the state’s Downtown Development Districts program. State guidelines require that DDD applicants either own or provide intent of ownership to be eligible for the money.

“Buccini/Pollin intends to completely gut the office building in a $92 million renovation,” the article read. “Other plans for the property, according to the documents, include leasing nearly 60,000 square feet of office space in the DuPont Building to new tenants and adding as much as 50,000 square feet of ground-floor retail and restaurant space along Market and 10th Streets.”

DuPont spokesman Dan Turner would not confirm whether DuPont brokered a deal with BPG. In an email he said DuPont would not comment on rumors or speculation and added this statement from the company: “We have not made a decision on the hotel business at this time.”

NewsWorks is still waiting on comment from Julia Mason, BPG’s spokeswoman.