Bennett Street Redevelopment Partnership Honored as Finalist for 2025 Groundbreaker Award
Wilmington, Delaware — October 10, 2025 — The Bennett Street Redevelopment partnership, led by Habitat for Humanity of New Castle County, Todmorden East, LLC, and New Ecology, Inc., with funding from Energize Delaware, was recognized as a finalist for the 2025 Groundbreaker Award for Equity and Community Leadership from Green Building United.
Located in Wilmington’s historic Eastside neighborhood, the redevelopment delivers all-electric, energy-efficient affordable homes that offer long-term affordability and enhance indoor environmental quality for residents. Homes achieve HERS scores as low as 33 (the lowest in the state) and cost less than $100 per month to operate, helping families build stability while strengthening community resiliency.
“Being recognized alongside so many inspiring peers affirms the power of partnership,” said Kim Stevenson, CEO of New Ecology, Inc. “Bennett Street is more than a project, it’s a demonstration of how we can build systems that make climate-smart, affordable housing the norm rather than the exception.”
With Energize Delaware’s investment, the team created a unique replicable model for climate-smart affordable housing that is now expanding statewide through the Climate Smart Homes Program. In this model, Habitat for Humanity of New Castle County and the Todmorden Foundation each developed neighboring blocks of Bennett Street into ultra high-performance housing, with assistance from New Ecology. “This partnership exemplifies Energize Delaware’s mission—to make energy efficiency and sustainability accessible for every community,” said Drew Slater, Executive Director of Energize Delaware.
“This project has changed the way we think about building homes,” said Kevin Smith, CEO of Habitat for Humanity of New Castle County. “With support from Energize Delaware and guidance from New Ecology, we’ve proven that affordable housing can be both high-performing and deeply affordable for families who need it most.”
“Projects like Bennett Street show what’s possible when collaboration is rooted in shared purpose,” said Rich Przywara, President and CEO of Woodlawn Trustees and the Todmorden Foundation. “This work demonstrates that equitable, high-performance housing can be achieved at scale when partners share a clear vision and commitment to impact.”
The Groundbreaker Awards recognize innovative collaborations advancing equity and sustainability in the built environment. The Bennett Street partnership stands as a model for systems change; proof that when mission-driven partners build together, they create lasting impact for people, place, and planet.
About New Ecology, Inc.
New Ecology, Inc. (NEI) is a nonprofit organization working at the intersection of climate, housing, and equity. For more than 25 years, NEI has partnered with developers, community-based organizations, and public agencies to deliver high-performance, climate-smart, and resilient affordable housing. Its multidisciplinary team provides technical assistance, program design, and applied research that make sustainable housing accessible to all. NEI’s work reduces energy costs, improves health outcomes, preserves affordability, and builds community resiliency—helping partners move from fixing problems to building systems that last.
www.newecology.org