Northern New Hanover County to get Water and Sewer Lines
The northern part of New Hanover County will soon be getting new water and sewer lines. County leaders approved two construction contracts last month for the first phase of the project. Plans call to install eight miles of new water mains and 10 miles of wastewater mains as part of its Last Frontier Project. The effort aims to accommodate increasing growth and development in the northern part of the county. The project is expected to cost $42.6 million in the fall of 2023 due to inflation and industry demand, Credle said. However, bids for the first two sections came in lower than projected. paid for with $29.55 million in state budget funds, with the remaining costs funded by debt proceeds. Construction on the two awarded projects is expected to wrap up in December 2025.
Pender County Schools Approves Several Construction Projects
The Pender County Board of Education on July 22 approved several school facilities projects. A total of $69,804.81 for the Topsail Annandale Elementary Paving Project was unanimously approved. The project will provide more parking for district staff and make repairs to the handicapped parking area. At Topsail High School, the board passed $84,051 for 110 additional parking spaces. The whole board voted to approve $1.3 million for the design/build initial contract covering construction documents for the planned K-8 school. The funds will come from the general fund and go to Bordeaux Construction Company, the contractor for the project. The school is set to cost up to $111 million and cover 1,200 middle schoolers and 800 elementary schoolers with an estimated completion date in 2026.
New Community Proposed for Caste Hayne
A development corporation is asking New Hanover County to rezone nearly 30 acres near the intersection of Castle Hayne Road and Highway I-140. River Bluffs Development Corporation is asking to reclassify the area from R-20 low-density residential to PD, planned development. The proposal includes 7.75 acres of retail, 10.23 acres of commercial and grocery, and 8.24 acres for a 120-unit multi-family complex, with one-, two- and three-bedroom options. The complex will not exceed 50 feet in height. The rezoning request will be reviewed by the County’s the planning board in August.
Townhome Community Coming to Market Street
A Raleigh-based developer plans to build 60 new townhomes on a 10-acre site near the intersection of Market Street and Switchyard Road. . Before the plans can take shape, the site has to be rezoned to accommodate the new proposal. In Mid July, the Wilmington Planning Commission voted unanimously to recommend approval of the rezoning. The rezoning is expected to go before the Wilmington City Council at its Aug. 6 meeting for final consideration. Each townhome will have three bedrooms. The townhomes could break ground in late 2025.
Chicago Sandwich Chain Opens Second Wilmington Location
The Potbelly sandwich shop chain has opened a second Wilmington location. The latest site is in the Mayfaire shopping center and held their grand opening on July 19th. It joins the existing Wilmington shop which opened four years ago in the City’s midtown area. Operating out of an old bank, the new location is now the largest Potbelly shop in the entire nation. Potbelly first opened in Chicago in 1977. There are now 425 shops across the country. Regular hours for both Wilmington locations are 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily.