When you go downtown for any reason, be a good neighbor and do not park in the residential blocks of Front, Second or Third Street. The parking garages are free for the first 90 minutes so please use them. The residents of the 200 block of Second Street are experiencing an increase in street parking, especially since the summer downtown concert series moved to the corner of Market and Second. Please be considerate of our fellow residents.

ROW Members participated in the annual Azalea Sweep to clean up downtown streets by picking up trash before the Azalea Festival. The participants were treated to lunch at Husk's afterwards.

Outgoing Mayor Phoebe Bragg (on the right)  introduced new Mayor Beverly Grasley at the Member Meeting on March 13.

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.

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 the following regulations for both Home Stay and Whole House Short Term rentals in residential areas of Historic Districts that became effective March 1, 2019:

 

New Hanover County. The County Commissioners are reviewing proposals for a public-private redevelopment of the block that could affect the library, the Story 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. The County Commissioners postponed a final decision on the project on April 1. 

 

III. The Cape Fear Crossing Project will determine the location of a n ew 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. In a public hearing at the Leland Town Hall on Feb. 7, Leland residents expressed opposition to any plan that includes a new road through Brunswick Forest. They advocated a more southern route.  DOT estimates bridge construction will take five years. On April 29, a public meeting will be held in the Cafeteria of Hoggard High School at 4305 Shipyard Boulevard. On open house will be held from 5:00 until 6:30. A public hearing will begin at 7:00.

 

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.