Brownfields	F
Success Story	:

EPA Grant Recipient:
Delaware Department of
Natural Resources and
Environmental Control, and
City of Wilmington
Grant Types: Environmental
Assessment, and CERCLA
128(a) Funding
Former Uses: Chemical
Laboratory, Electroplating
Current Uses: Brewery,
restaurant, and office space
Brownfield to Brewery: DNREC
delivers a win-win in Delaware
Wilmington Brew Works (Wilmington, DE)
The property was developed between 1914 and 1917 for the
Delaware Chemical Engineering Company, owned by Francis Irene
duPontfor his use as an experimental chemical laboratory. In 1930,
the site was transitioned to a research laboratory for the Darco
Division of the Atlas Powder Co., which manufactured black powder
and dynamite. In 1946, the complex was sold to Harry S. Thiel and
wife, and approximately 5,000 square feet of secondary building
space was added to the original plant. In 1983, the Thiels sold the
property to their corporate entity, Harper-Thiel Electroplating Co.,
which continued limited business operations until the company closed
in 2000. At that time, the land was sold to a developer, whose
company entered the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and
Environmental Control (DNREC) Voluntary Cleanup Program in 2001
to clean up the site. However, the property remained vacant and in
disrepair until 2006, when DNREC initiated emergency interim actions
to secure the site, remove contaminated surface and subsurface soiis
in the vicinity of old chrome plating tanks, and remove drums and
other containers of hazardous chemicals and wastes that remained on
the property after the business closed. In 2016, the property was sold
to the current brownfields developers, Ralph and Rose Pepe.
Road to Remediation and Reuse
The former Harper-Thiel site is located in Wilmington's Ninth Ward, an urban neighborhood near Interstate 95,
and is partially surrounded by residential and light commercial properties. An active railroad right-of-way is
located to the north. Haynes Park, a public park, is located across Miller Road to the south.
The heavily-contaminated, early 20th century facility was in complete disrepair with collapsed buildings,
abandoned drums and other containers of hazardous wastes, and numerous areas of significant environmental
concern. Primary contaminants of concern in the soil were hexavaient chromium, iead, and PCBs. Hexavalent
chromium contamination was also detected in the groundwater.
The following materials listed below were properly characterized and transported to permitted disposal facilities
in 2008:
•	3,700 tons of contaminated soil and hazardous waste;
•	19 tons of hazardous building debris
•	650 tons of non-hazardous construction debris; and
•	Approx. 25,000 gallons of chromium-contaminated groundwater.
The site has been redeveloped for light commercial use and is occupied by Wilmington Brew Works, one of the
first fully-operational breweries to open in Wilmington in over 60 years. A wood-fired pizza restaurant will occupy
a portion of the main building, with office space planned for the remaining portions of the building.

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Over $3 million iri state Hazardous Substance Cleanup Act funds has been expended in cleaning up the site,
along with an additional $42,039 in federal funding from US EPA Brownfieids grants to assess the property,
Wilmington Urban Development Action Grant (UDAG) funding of approximately $55,000 for maintenance
and infrastructure installation, and an additional $250,000 from UDAG as a low interest loan to the
developer. Although the majority of the cleanup activities have been completed, ongoing operating and
maintenance activities continue.
"Brownfieids giving rise to the craft
beverage industry in Delaware has
become a theme for the state both
environmentally and economically," said
DNREC Secretary Shawn M. Garvin.
"Redeveloping brownfieids into breweries
and craft distilleries has become a popular
way of launching vibrant and sustainable
new businesses in Delaware. DNREC
supports these new enterprises with
experienced staff ready to assist
brownfield-to-business projects in getting
off them the ground and in supporting their
future operations. Not only does DNREC's
Brownfieids Development Program provide
funding assistance for streamlined and
expedited cleanups, our Site Investigation
and Restoration Section also helps new
owners and operators of these sites
moving forward with liability protection for
former brownfield sites."
For more information:
Visit the EPA Brownfieids website at
www.epa.gov/brownfields
March 2019
One-of-a-Kind Architecture
The project is unique in that the oldest building on the site
has significant architectural interest, having been built in
the Mission/Colonial Spanish Revival style in 1917 by a
prominent architect, Robeson Lea Perot. It is the only
example in Wilmington of an industrial building with this
style. Great care has been taken in the redevelopment of
the site to preserve the original building structure and
architectural details.
In addition, the project is in Wilmington's Ninth Ward, an
urban neighborhood that will benefit tremendously from
revitalization of the old industrial site. Adjacent businesses
have already reported an increase in customers and the
project continues to attract new business to the area.
Booming Brewery
Business in Delaware
A number of brownfield sites in Delaware have been
redeveloped for use as craft breweries and distilleries, as
well as grain suppliers for the craft beverage industry.
Brownfield sites are well suited for this market, as they are
usually situated in former industrial areas with existing
infrastructure. In addition, Delaware's Brownfieids
Development Program provides funding for streamlined
and expedited cleanups integrated into the redevelopment,
as well as liability protection for the new owner and
operator(s) of the site.
One of Delaware's first brownfield sites, Cannery Village, a
former canning operation, is the iocation of the enormously
successful Dogfish Head Brewery in in the town of Milton.
Another award-winning brewery, Iron Hill Brewery and
Restaurant, along the Riverfront Wilmington, is also
located on a brownfield site. So is the mead and cider
works, Liquid Alchemy Beverages, based in Newport, Del.
Brownfieids and brewing have become a winning
combination in Delaware, spurring economic development
and job creation for sustainable economic growth.

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