A future Embassy Suites proposed in Carolina Beach
A Virginia-based hotel management company Harmony Hospitality has plans to build a 177-room Embassy Suites hotel in Carolina Beach. Harmony Hospitality alreadu owns Cloud 9 and Embassy Suites in downtown Wilmington. In addition to the hotel the proposal also calls for 240 parking spaces, and a rooftop bar and restaurant. The hotel would be located on land currently occupied by the popular SeaWitch Café and Tiki Bar. Plans call for the SeaWitch to be demolished.. Although Harmony Hospitality has already reach a deal to purchase SeaWitch, but the deal may require the company to purchase additional land including a nearby parking lot currently owned by the city. The hotel is expected to employ about 200 people and could take about two and a half years to come online if everything goes smoothly.
Another hotel Planned for Market Street
Developers want to bring a new hotel to a stretch of Market Street in Ogden. Plans for the 124-room Marriott StudioRes hotel are set to go before New Hanover County’s technical review committee in early April. Developers want to build the hotel on 3.5 acres near the intersection of Market Street and Military Cutoff Road. StudioRes is Marriott newest brand which came out last announced as their entry into the affordable extended-stay market. A typical Marriott StudioRes will include public spaces like a fitness room, vending area and guest-paid laundry, along with furnished studio rooms with kitchens. According to Marriott’s website, the brand focuses on the short-term rental market with stays of 20 days or more. New Hanover County’s Technical Review Committee will consider the hotel plans at its meeting on April 3.
Brunswick County approves plans for a massive new community in Ash
After much discussion and public debate, Brunswick County has approved plans to build a 2,950 home community in the town of Ash. Ashton Farms will consist of 2,750 single-family homes and 200 townhomes, as well as 20.5 acres of commercial land on more than 1,250 acres of land. The residential community is planned along Russtown, Longwood and Whiteville roads near Ash. Initial plans were rejected in November 2023 after nearby residents created an online petition that gathered more than 2,300 signatures in opposition. Residents voiced concerns that the development would negatively impact wildlife habitats, traffic and storm-water control in the area. The developer submitted a new plan that did address several issues initially raised. The board approved the development by a vote of 4-1. Construction on Ashton Farms will likely start this summer.
Wilmington’s Riverwalk will get a makeover.
During the Covid pandemic the city of Wilmington was awarded a $26 million grant from from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). The act was written to help fund civic projects across the country. Of the funds allocated to Wilmington, a total of $650 thousand was earmarked for improvements to the River Walk district. That money will be spent this summer on improving parking, updating signage, fixing pedestrian crosswalks and even creating a grand entrance for the Riverwalk on Market Street. Meanwhile the Riverwalk is one of this year’s nominees for USA TODAY’s 10 Best Readers’ Choice Awards in the category of “Best Riverwalk.” Residents and visitors can vote for the Wilmington Riverwalk until April 8 at noon at this link.
All Aboard… maybe someday in the near future!
A non-profit organization called Eastern Carolina Rail, has made it its mission to restore passenger railroad between Raleigh and Wilmington. The group believes that such a route could be in place in the next seven to 12 years. The last time such service was offered was in 1968. This route would include stops in Clayton, Selma, Goldsboro, Warsaw, Wallace and Burgaw. Eastern Carolina Rail has held meetings in Warsaw,Burgaw and Wallace already to build support and to get pledges of financial support from each community. The next step is selecting the route for further planning and construction, and working hand-in-hand with freight railroad partners to design schedules for both commericial and passanger trains The nonprofit plans to hold future meetings in other communities. For more information on Eastern Carolina Rail, click here.