At the March Member Meeting at Tails,  the new ROW Mayor, Beverly Grasley, was introduced by outgoing Mayor, Phoebe Bragg.

 

ROW members provided the food for the annual Law Enforcement Appreciation Dinner on Feb. 13 in the St. Mary's School cafeteria. Officers from the Wilmington Police Force and the Sheriff's Department attended.

Staff members from the Burgwin-Wright House accept a check for $2,000 from ROW board members to construct a fence around the existing air conditioning unit.

Long-time member Muriel Pearson presented a check for $5,000 to Mayor Phoebe Bragg, a gift from the estate of deceased member, June Huff. 

Residents in the Historic District will be impacted by decisions made by the City, County and State in the coming weeks, months and years that affect the quality of life downtown. These issues are monitored closely by ROW as explained below.

I.  The City Council has approved regulations for both Home Stay and Whole House Short Term rentals in residential areas of Historic Districts that will become effective March 1, 2019:

The City estimates that approximately 700 STRs (both Whole House and Home Stays) are operating within Wilmington.  If you want to voice your concerns about protecting the Residential Districts, email the City Council at:  Council@wilmington.gov

 

II. The Grace Street Project involves the block that includes the library and is owned by New Hanover County. The County Commissioners are reviewing proposals for a public-private redevelopment of the block that could affect the library, the recently-built Story Book Park, a parking garage, the Register of Deeds building and an empty parcel bordering Grace Street. Moving the Cape Fear Museum to the site is a possibility. Informational hearings were held Feb. 19 at the Cape Fear Museum and Feb. 21 at the Library.

 

III. The Cape Fear Crossing Project will determine the location of a new bridge between Brunswick and New Hanover Counties. The two routes that would impact the Downtown Historic District have been eliminated. Six routes south of the current Cape Fear Bridge, closer to the Port area, are under consideration. The Wilmington Urban Metropolitan Planning Organization (WMPO) held a public hearing at the Leland Town Hall on Feb. 7 where Leland residents expressed opposition to a any plan that includes a new road to go through Brunswick Forest. They advocated a more southern route.  DOT estimates bridge construction will take five years.

 

IV. The City has reviewed its brick street policy and repairs and restoration are underway on S. 4th Street between Market and Dock Streets; on Queen Street between S. 2nd and S. 7th Streets; and on S. 7th Street between Queen and Mears.