Our History

Pettinaro
Verino Pettinaro was born

Verino Pettinaro is born to immigrant parents in Wilmington's Little Italy

1938
Pettinaro
Verino Pettinaro graduates high school

After multiple paper routes as a boy, Verino Pettinaro (pictured left) graduates high school and takes numerous jobs as a carpenter in DE, PA & NJ

1956
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Verino Pettinaro founds Pettinaro

Verino Pettinaro founds Pettinaro as a construction company based out of his garage

1965
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Pettinaro becomes one of the largest open shop contractors in DEPettinaro becomes one of the largest open shop contractors in Delaware, completing jobs throughout the region1975
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Pettinaro converts the Former Krebs School

Pettinaro purchases and converts the Former Krebs School into Tower Office Park, which remains the Pettinaro Corporate Office

1984
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Verino Pettinaro purchases 85 acres

Verino Pettinaro purchases 85 acres of vacant, industrial land along the Christina River in Wilmington, DE

1985
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Gregory Pettinaro joins the company

Gregory Pettinaro joins the company alongside his father Verino Pettinaro

1986
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Michael Walsh joins company

Michael Walsh, COO, joins company as an Assistant Project Manager with Pettinaro Construction

1989
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“Dead Poets’ Society”

Parts of the film “Dead Poets’ Society” starring Robin Williams was filmed at Cornell Business Park in Wilmington

1989
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“The Midas Touch”

Delaware Today publishes “The Midas Touch” in its May issue with Verino Pettinaro on the cover

1994
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Clifton Park Apartments

Renovation of the former Clifton Park Apartments into the Paladin Club Condominiums

1994
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Pettinaro Relocation

Cindy Pettinaro Wilkinson founds Pettinaro Relocation to provide both long and short-term housing

1996
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West Creek Village Phase 1

Construction of Phase I at West Creek Village (Buildings 1-7) in Elkton, MD is completed

1998
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Dravo Shipyard fabrication shop is redeveloped by Pettinaro

Former Dravo Shipyard fabrication shop is redeveloped by Pettinaro into a 125,000 SF exhibition hall now known as the Chase Center on the Riverfront

1998
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Rockwood Apartments Phase 1

Completion of Phase I (200 units) of the Rockwood Apartments in Newark, DE

2000
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New Castle Square Mall renovated

New Castle Square Mall is renovated into 250,000 SF office complex now known as Churchman's Corporate Center

2000
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Rockwood Apartments Phase 2

Construction of Phase IIA (200 units) is completed at Rockwood Apartments

2002
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The Gates BuildingBuilt in 1910 as a machine shop, the Gates Building along the Christina River is transformed into a Class A 100,000 Class A office building and 15,000 SF restaurant2002
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The Towers at GreenvilleCompletion of Tower I at The Towers at Greenville2004
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Neglected Dravo Shipyard Engineering office

Neglected Dravo Shipyard Engineering office is renovated by Pettinaro into 63,000 SF, Class A Wilmington Riverfront office building next to the Frawley Baseball Stadium

2004
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West Creek Village Phase 2

Construction of Phase II is complete at West Creek Village (Buildings 8-10)

2005
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Gregory Pettinaro Named CEO

Gregory Pettinaro, Verino Pettinaro’s son, takes over management as CEO

2005
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Christina Crescent Building

Pettinaro completes construction of the 280,000 SF Christina Crescent Building at the Wilmington Riverfront

2007
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London Grove Shopping Center

Completion of the Lowe’s and Acme anchored London Grove Shopping Center in Avondale, PA

2007
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The Pointe at Brandywine Park

Completion of the 56 unit luxury residential project, The Pointe at Brandywine Park

2008
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Blue Hen Mall conversion

Pettinaro acquires the former 450,000 SF Blue Hen Mall and begins a conversion into office and retail development, which today houses such tenants as Bayhealth and several State of Delaware agencies

2008
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Tower II

Tower II opens at The Towers at Greenville

2010
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Village at Blue Hen Phase 1

Phase I of Village at Blue Hen apartment community complete in Dover, DE

2010
Pettinaro
The Star Building

The Star Building, a seven-story Class A office project, is constructed on the site of former industrial buildings at the Wilmington Riverfront

2010
Pettinaro
Former Wilmington Courthouse

Built in 1916, the 213,000 SF former Wilmington Courthouse, overlooking Rodney Square, was renovated by Pettinaro for current tenant Young Conaway Stargatt & Taylor LLP

2011
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Phase II of Village at Blue Hen

Phase II of Village at Blue Hen apartment community completed, bringing total to 162 apartments

2011
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Bethany Bay Resort Community & Golf Club

Construction is completed on 550 resort-style homes at Bethany Bay Resort Community & Golf Club along the Indian River Bay

2011
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Village Park at Paladin

Residential community Village Park at Paladin is complete just north of Wilmington

2012
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Rockwood Apartments Phase 2

Construction of Phase IIB (40 units) completed at the Rockwood Apartments in Newark, DE

2012
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The Towers at Greenville III

Expansion completed at The Towers at Greenville with the Grand Opening of Tower III

2013
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Pettinaro Residential brings in 7

Nearly 40 years after Verino Pettinaro and Ed Davison opened Mid-Atlantic Realty, Pettinaro Residential brings management of 7 additional residential communities in-house

2013
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Business Leaders Hall of Fame

Junior Achievement of Delaware inducts Verino Pettinaro into the Business Leaders Hall of Fame

2014
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Pettinaro celebrate 50 years

The Pettinaro family & its companies celebrate 50 years

2015
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5 Commercial properties in Greenville

Pettinaro acquires 5 commercial properties in Greenville, DE from Stoltz Real Estate Partners

2015
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Barley Mill Plaza

Former DuPont Co. complex Barley Mill Plaza, consisting of 57 acres and 24 buildings, is acquired by Pettinaro from Stoltz Real Estate Partners

2016
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Eden Hill Ground Breaking

Pettinaro breaks ground on Eden Hill Farm commercial property in Dover, DE

2016
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West Creek Village Expansion

Expansions begin at residential communities West Creek Village, Village at Blue Hen and Rockwood Apartments that will add several hundred new apartment homes and townhomes

2016
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Eden Hill Farm

Construction of the first building at Eden Hill Farm property in Dover, DE is completed and welcomes Nemours Pediatrics and VCA Animal Hospital as long-term tenants. 

2017
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Greenville Gas Station

The Greenville gas station is renovated and leased to a new operator under a long term lease

2018
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Brantwyn Building

The Brantwyn Building in Greenville, DE is purchased, renovated, and leased 100% to two new tenants.

2018
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Wegmans Lease Signed

Lease is signed with Wegmans Food Market to be the anchor store at Barley Mill 

2019
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Montchanin Corporate Center Addition

Construction of the new addition to the Montchanin Corporate Center commences, providing long term homes for 2 trust companies and a law firm in 2020.

2019
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Chase Bank

Construction is completed on a new Chase Bank Branch located within the Greenville Professional Center

2020
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Barley Mill Ground Breaking

Ground-breaking commences at the Barley Mill project in Greenville, DE

2020
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VA Outpatient Clinic

Construction of the Veterans Administration Outpatient Clinic, at the Blue Hen Corporate Center in Dover, DE, is completed

2020