A Special Mission in Downtown Wilmington
Big news from Wilmington, North Carolina! We are working with this charming coastal city to craft an exciting new plan for greater Downtown!
Situated between the Cape Fear River and the Atlantic Ocean, Wilmington is a small and growing city in the North Carolina tidewater region. To respond to recent growth, the City is working with Agency to craft a Special Area Plan for its greater downtown.
Through the Greater Downtown Special Area Plan, Wilmington will address the heritage and future of its evolving place identity, the opportunities and challenges of growth, and the realities of its economic and fiscal health. Wilmington’s wealth of historic Southern architecture and walkable urban fabric contribute to its remarkable sense of place. However, the City is still shaped by a Reconstruction-era coup instigated by white supremacists who massacred and drove out newly-freed Black Wilmingtonians, burned down Black institutions, and seized control of city government. As current day Black residents face displacement pressure, it is clear that justice and belonging must be part of the conversation.
To tackle these issues and opportunities, Agency is partnering with James Lima Planning + Development, &Access, Bolton & Menk, Neighboring Concepts, and Alta Planning + Design.
To learn more about the planning process, click here, and to share your vision for Downtown Wilmington, come to the next Open House on Wednesday, June 26! For details, click here.