Greater Downtown Plan

Phase 3 Engagement

Fall-Winter 2025

In the third phase of community engagement, we shared a complete draft of the Wilmington Greater Downtown Plan and reconnected with the community to affirm action priorities. To learn more about how we engaged the community and what we heard in Phase 3, check out the engagement report below.

Phase 3 Engagement Summary(PDF, 4MB)

Phase 2 Engagement

Summer-Fall 2024

The Wilmington Greater Downtown Plan project team conducted a second phase of engagement from July – December 2024. In Phase 1, we gathered information from the community on what they want Greater Downtown to be like, how we should create more housing, things that would make them visit Greater Downtown, and more. We took the 2,785 community voices from Phase 1 and identified strategies to address them. We worked with the Implementation Committee (Executive City Staff) to ground the strategies and ensure they are workable, and with the Steering Committee (appointed community members) for additional guidance. Phase 2 was focused on ensuring we were on the right track in addressing goals and concerns while learning which strategies were most valued by the community.

We attended 22 community events in Phase 2 and heard from about 1,160 residents in person. We popped up with an engaging activity that asked residents to vote for which strategy in each theme was most important to them. The four key themes have remained the same since Phase 1:Local Character, Economy, Small Business, and Mobility. We also had an online survey and paper surveys running from September to December that mimicked the in-person activity. The survey reached about 1,215 residents. In total for Phase 2, around 2,375 residents shared their voice.

Phase 2 Engagement Summary(PDF, 2MB)

Phase 1 Engagement

Spring-Summer 2024

Thank you to all who participated in the first survey and in our pop-up event activities. Over 1,400 residents completed the survey, and 1,370 residents participated in our pop-up event activities. We appreciate you taking the time to share your concerns, opinions, and needs for the future of Wilmington’s Greater Downtown.

We popped up at 17 local events within the Greater Downtown area, and held 11 focus group conversations, 2 open house events, and Project Steering Committee and Implementation Committee meetings. We also worked with local community organizations to get the word out and elicit survey responses.

The survey and pop-up voting results and comments have demonstrated that Mobility, Local Character, Small Business, and Economy are priority themes in our community. Comments and feedback about Mobility were mainly centered around the desire for a more pleasant and safe environment for walking and biking and creating a stronger multi-modal transportation network. Regarding Local Character, we heard concerns about public gathering spaces and accessibility, preservation of our cherished historic character, desire for additional green space, and the overall need to strengthen community relationships and branding. Residents are also invested in the development and support of a more diverse workforce, and support for small businesses that meet a variety of needs.

Phase 1 Engagement Summary(PDF, 2MB)

The steering committee will play a vital role in providing big picture strategic direction and better connecting us to the many communities of greater downtown. This committee will help to ensure the feedback from those communities is accurately reflected in the plan and its recommendations. The committee will review community input gathered by the project team, share personal input, and provide further direction for project actions.

Who makes up the Steering Committee?

The Steering Committee is made up of stakeholders representing community organizations (5), business and development (6), public safety (2), greater downtown neighborhood residents (6), and other local agencies (4). The community was asked to apply to fulfill these roles and those selected were appointed by the City of Wilmington Appointments Committee and approved by City Council.

Greater Downtown Neighborhood Residents

Andrea Arth
Downtown Core

Denis McGarry
Historic Wilmington

Tony Peele
Northside/Love Grove

Linda Higgins
Dry Pond/The Bottom

Dana Sargent
Southside/South Front/Greenfield

Suzanne Wertman
Carolina Heights/Winoca Terrace/Carolina Place/Ardmore/Delgado

Community Organizations

Jermaine Armour, Brock Meyer
Faith-based Organizations

Rhonda Bellamy, Executive Director
Arts Council of Wilmington and New Hanover County

Travis Gilbert
Historic Wilmington Foundation (HWF)

Cierra Washington
Commission on African American History

Business and Development

Christina Haley, President
Wilmington Downtown Inc. (WDI)

Terry Espy, Board of Directors Member
Downtown Business Alliance (DBA)

Stephanie Norris
Developer: Affordable Housing

Andrew Hewitt, Zeke Nathans, Mike Normandeau
Developer: Emerging Districts

Public Safety

Wendy Gianini-King, Risk Reduction Coordinator
Fire Department

Lt. Jason Nichols, Downtown Task
Police Department

Other Governmental Agencies

David Kanoy, Executive Director
Cape Fear Community College

Dr. Stephanie Willis, Assistant Principles of Snipes Academy
New Hanover County Schools

Stephanie Ayers, Director of Planning and Development
North Carolina Ports

Tyrone Garrett, Executive Director
Wilmington Housing Authority