It is fair to say that not every company has the opportunity to be a part of building something that will leave a legacy for generations to come. But EDiS Company is not just any company, and Brian DiSabatino is not just any CEO. Brian, along with partner Rich Julian of Eastern States Development, are the co-founders of the Town of Whitehall, Delaware’s newest town. Brian and EDiS serve as the Master Builder for Whitehall. And yes, if you are unfamiliar with Whitehall, you did read that correctly – Whitehall is an entire new town. It is the first new town in Delaware in more than a century, and it is changing the way we think about development and what it can do for a community.
Brian’s vision for Whitehall was simple: to create a place that would once again connect people, inspire good heartedness, contribute to physical well-being, and be so thoughtfully built that it would sustain itself into the next century.
Whitehall was created in the image of the New Urbanism movement, which promotes environmentally friendly habits by creating walkable neighborhoods containing a wide range of housing and job types. Focusing on human-scaled urban designs, Whitehall provides its residents an alternative to sprawling, single-use, low-density developments that became typical of our region post-WWII. Walkable blocks and streets, housing, and shopping all in close proximity have created more than a town: Whitehall is a community.
The most important piece of the Whitehall plan – the people – have moved into Whitehall in housing of all different sizes, styles, shapes, and values. There are single homes, townhomes, and soon there will be apartments. As the homes got under way and the community began to form, the next pieces of the plan moved forward. This is where EDiS Company came in.
Lorewood Grove, Appoquinimink School District’s new 840-student elementary school, opened its doors this September to students in grades one through five. EDiS served as the Construction Manager. Located in the center of Mapleton Village, many of its students are able to walk from their nearby homes. Lorewood Grove’s location also lends itself to serving as a gathering place, offering opportunities for community interaction between Whitehall residents and the school through participation in student performances and holiday events.
Now, with the housing piece under way and the education piece in place, comes a focus on the amenities. Two new buildings are in planning and will soon be joining the Whitehall community. The 20,000 square foot Whitehall Wellness Center will continue the holistic approach to well-being, bringing high quality medical services within a walkable distance for residents. 2020 will also bring the new Eastern States Live/Work Building, providing 5,000 square feet of retail on the ground floor and 18 one, two, and three-bedroom luxury apartments above.
The Town of Whitehall takes us back to a simpler time, when families and community ruled the day. EDiS looks forward to continuing to execute the vision of Town Co-Founder Brian DiSabatino, and to Building What Matters in Whitehall.
