City council approves sidewalk funding, financing $30 million for projects

WILMINGTON, N.C. (WECT) - The Wilmington City Council approved a public hearing on financing $30 million for projects, additional funding for sidewalks on 17th St. and more at a meeting on Tuesday, March 21.

$30 million financing contract amendment for various projects

Council approved a financing contract amendment that includes up to $15 million towards improvements to the soccer complex at 205 Sutton Steam Plant Road. The public hearing notice indicates that the complex would be owned by the city and operated by the Cape Fear Youth Soccer Association.

The rest would help pay for improvements for streets and sidewalks, the downtown Riverwalk, Water Street and Riverfront parks and the construction and equipping of a fire station for the Riverlights community.

More funding for 17th Street sidewalk construction

The city also approved the appropriation of $317,500 from the transportation bond’s contingency fund for the 17th Street Sidewalks Project to pay for the rest of the estimated construction costs.

Though the city already committed funds to bike and pedestrian projects, a request for more funding states that the initial estimate was too low, and market conditions have caused costs to rise. The ordinance would appropriate

The project construction is expected to start in May and last for three months.

$250,000 in grant funding for drainage improvements

Council approved two ordinances to help fund the Clear Run Branch Drainage Improvement project after applying in April of last year for a grant agreement with Golden Leaft for $250,000. The ordinances grant the manager to execute the agreement and appropriate the funding for the project.

The funding will supplement the city’s effort to address flooding challenges along New Centre Drive between S. College Road and Racine Drive, which are caused by upstream water that flows into Clear Run Branch.

Funding for a study to improve safety at golf course crossings

Council also approved taking $71,277 from the Road Race and Organized Walks Committed Revenue Fund to pay for a study to improve safety at crossings near Pine Grove Drive because of the road’s 17,000-24,000 average daily traffic counts.

Pine Grove Drive is bordered on both sides by the City’s Municipal Golf Course and has five separate crossings. A nine-hole round would require two crossings, and an 18-hole round requires four crossings.

The ordinance notes that the committed revenue fund exists to fund maintenance and improvements to roads, sidewalks and greenways.

Cape Fear Hotel Apartments acquisition, financing for Thermo Fisher building purchase

Cape Fear Hotel Apartments at 201 N. 2nd Street were significantly damaged during Hurricane Florence, and bonds for up to $13,706,000 were approved by the city to help them pay to acquire and rehabilitate the building. Council also scheduled a public hearing next month on financing $70 million for the purchase of the Thermo Fisher Building. You can learn more about these proposals below:

City council approve public hearing on financing $70 million for Thermo Fisher building

Affordable housing facility approved for multi-million dollar renovations

The full agenda is available on the city’s website.

Copyright 2023 WECT. All rights reserved.