A previous version misspelled the last name of one of the rally attendees who spoke with Delaware Online/The News Journal. His name is Joseph Cofrancesco.

A letter Wilmington Mayor Mike Purzycki sent to the Delaware General Assembly requesting $1.7 million to demolish the Rodney Reservoir has sparked community debate over what the Cool Springs neighborhood park's future use should be.

Purzycki in late April outlined six different projects the city is hoping the state will provide funds to pursue, including money to demolish the water holding tanks at Rodney Street Park.

The mayor also requested $2 million to fund "critical capital improvements" at police headquarters and one of the city's fire stations and $1 million for restoring the Gibraltar mansion, among other smaller capital improvement requests. 

Wilmington typically makes these requests every year to the General Assembly to access additional funds for capital improvement projects, Purzycki said. 

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More than 50 people attended a recent rally organized by resident Kevin Melloy in response to the letter, which labeled the water holding tanks – which have been empty for 25 years – "structurally unsound" and a "safety hazard." In the letter, Purzycki wrote that the city's vision was to develop the nearly 4-acre site into housing.

"This is the largest city community garden and part of the social fabric of our community," Melloy said. "It would be very disruptive and counter to the community to demolish the reservoir and build residential units here because no one in the community is calling for that."

Neighbors who attended the "Save the Garden rally" this month wanted to hear details on why the reservoir is a safety hazard. 

When asked for any reports outlining the safety issues with the defunct reservoir, city officials provided a memo crafted in January by D'Huy Engineering Inc. that gave a cost estimate for demolishing the water storage tank.

That memo does not say what, if any, structural issues the reservoir may have. Instead, it outlines how the demolition of the reservoir would proceed and notes hurdles workers could face in that process. Based on the firm's evaluation, it estimated demolition costs to be $1.7 million.

Purzycki said in an interview with Delaware Online/The News Journal that no definitive plans are set for the space. 

"My intention here is to convince (residents) that whatever we do there will be something that is collaborative," he said. "I fully expect to engage the community and the legislators with what our plans are. That’s phase two. Phase one is to be in a position to take the reservoir down."

Many said they were fine with the demolition of the reservoir if it can be carried out  “safely, economically, ecologically,” but strongly opposed building homes in its place.

People said the city should instead build a recreational place if the reservoir is demolished, such as a playground or simply a park or green space, not more houses. 

“We are already densely populated here and we don’t need more houses,” said Joseph Cofrancesco. 

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Cofrancesco said he's repeatedly called the mayor’s office seeking “preliminary reports” that would explain why the reservoir is a danger to the community, but never received a response.

“I didn’t hear back and I wasn't surprised,” he said Thursday.  

The rally outside the Rodney Reservoir was interrupted when a member of Purzycki’s office stopped Melloy, one of the rally’s organizers, in the middle of his speech, calling Melloy a “liar” and his claims “entirely incorrect.”

Tom Ogden, a deputy chief of staff in the mayor's office, said he was representing the mayor and interrupted Melloy's speech urging people to “save the largest community garden in Wilmington." 

Ogden then took to the center of the stairs where Melloy was standing and addressed community members, many of whom fired back at him with comments and concerns that Ogden did not seem to be able to answer. 

Ogden said a 2014 report found that the reservoir could “potentially collapse,” from one side, but provided no further details. When pressed for details on why the reservoir is dangerous and should be demolished, Ogden said, “I don’t know.”

“Basically what I am sharing with you is what the mayor asked me to share with you,” Ogden said. “Nothing has been decided yet, the money has not been funded yet, and the project has been on the city’s books even before Mayor Purzycki took office.” 

Many at the rally said they regard the reservoir as a peaceful recreational space and a highlight of the neighborhood. Some said it was their main reason they purchased a house in the area. 

"Obviously, it's a one-of-a-kind place; it's just that it doesn't offer any advantages to us as a city," Purzycki told the News Journal. "It doesn't have any economical return. It doesn't serve a recreational purpose. If anything, it gives a sense that it is nice and peaceful over there."

Purzycki declined to comment on the remarks made by Ogden, but stressed that demolition of the reservoir has been discussed for years, as far back as former Mayor Jim Baker's administration. 

"I think we start with the premise that this is something that should happen," Purzycki said. "There is no point in having an unused two-block area."

The mayor said if the public feels strongly about keeping the community garden, "we have the ability to incorporate that into whatever future plans we have for the site, or we could move it somewhere else."

Wilmington has not received any of the requested funds from the state. Those requests, if granted, would be approved by legislators during the state budget vote by the end of June. 

Got a tip? Contact Amanda Fries at afries@delawareonline.com, or by calling 302-598-5507. Follow her on Twitter at @mandy_fries. 

$2 million: Capital improvements for city's Public Safety/Police Headquarters at Fourth and Walnut streets and Wilmington Fire Station #4 at West 22nd and North Tatnall streets.

$800,000: Assist in construction of outdoor amphitheater at The Urban Artist Exchange on North Walnut Street.

$680,750: Resurface the Joseph R. Biden Aquatic Center Swimming Pool.

$396,990: Replace mechanical systems at the pool at William Hicks Anderson Community Center. 

$1 million: Assist with future revitalization of Gibraltar mansion, the mansion grounds and adjacent Marian Coffin gardens. 

$1.7 million: Demolish former Rodney Reservoir to move forward with residential development. 

Source: Letter penned by Mayor Mike Purzycki to the Delaware General Assembly.