For Brett Saddler, who for years has worked tirelessly to usher in a new-urbanist revival in Claymont, the numbers tell much of the story.
Since forming the Claymont Renaissance Development Corporation in 2005, the state has contributed exactly zero financial assistance to the redevelopment efforts there, and many say they're not surprised.
There's a prevailing feeling among the town's civic and business leaders that Claymont is easy for the politicians to ignore. That's because the town of more than 15,000 - which if incorporated would be Delaware's fourth largest city - is carved up into four representative districts and two senate districts.
"We try to have one collective voice, but the representation is fragmented," said Matt Sargent, president of the Stockdale Civic Association. "We need a unified effort to fight for our area, for our need for new infrastructure. We've been neglected too long."
Sargent said Stockdale is in the process of ratifying a letter to the town's lawmakers asking that they do more to support Claymont.
Bill Cushwa, who opened a Jake's Hamburgers franchise in Claymont in January, already has.
On behalf of the Claymont Business Owner's Association, Cushwa's strongly-worded letter implores local legislators - and Gov. Jack Markell - to make Claymont a priority.
In the letter, he appeals for the kind of direct governmental investment in Claymont as is seen in Wilmington.
"The CRDC, like the Wilmington Riverfront Development Corporation, needs direct government financial support for operating expenses," he wrote. "We as Claymont’s business sector have done what is our duty. Have our state government and our elected officials done theirs?"
Cushwa specifically points to the need for a new train station and the fact that a new streetscape plan for Philadelphia Pike, first drawn up in 2001, has been pushed off until at least 2017.
Rep. Bryon Short (D-Highland Woods), said Claymont's recent redevelopment efforts isn't so much a victim of lacking support as it is a victim of bad timing.
"Claymont's movement has come at a time when the state has been under a huge financial burden, so it's difficult to compare the situation there to Wilmington, which started years ago," he said. "But I do agree that it's important for both the county and state to look at what Claymont is doing and understand that economic development there is important."
