New Apartment Project Breaks Ground On Wilmington Riverfront

The development will offer studio to two-bedroom apartments with amenities including a fitness center, pool, game room, rooftop, and views overlooking the riverwalk.(Photo by FREEPIK)

WILMINGTON — Local leaders gathered Thursday to celebrate the groundbreaking of Justison Landing, a 164-unit apartment development on Wilmington’s Riverfront that city officials say reflects their continued efforts to transform the area into a thriving urban hub.

The development, led by the Buccini Pollin Group, will offer studio to two-bedroom apartments with amenities including a fitness center, pool, game room, rooftop, and views overlooking the riverwalk. Completion is expected in 2026.

Buccini Pollin Group Executive Vice President for Development Michael Hare said the presence of residents has long been viewed as a key benchmark for the Riverfront’s success.

“Several observers would always say you’ll know that the riverfront is successful when people live there,” Hare said. “More than 800 people live here today, and we know that with the addition of this, another 300 to 400 will live here in the very near future.”

Mayor John Carney, who was involved in the Riverfront’s early redevelopment efforts as lieutenant governor, said the project supports economic growth and the city’s capacity to provide critical services.

“This project is not just about jobs — and it is about jobs for the folks that will work on this project — but it’s also about the city expanding in the only way that we can, which is from within,” Carney said.

“We cannot provide the public safety services, the public health services in our city without the revenue to do this — and projects like this are the only way that we can grow our revenue,” he added.

Megan McGlinchey, Executive Director of the Wilmington Riverfront Development Corporation, called the project a continuation of a broader vision to make the area inclusive and vibrant.

“This is what urban revitalization looks like — a place where history and progress meet, where communities grow, and where investments both public and private bear real fruit,” McGlinchey said. “This new apartment building is just one part of that larger vision to ensure that the riverfront remains a place where people of all ages and backgrounds feel welcome and connected.”