Recreation Complex to Transform New Hanover County with Olympic-Sized Vision
A new 135-acre recreation complex is planned for New Hanover County. The project will be located near Murrayville Road and I-40 as part of the Olsen Farm Recreation Village, which will also feature a hotel, retail spaces, restaurants, and apartments with 20% designated for residents with special needs. The development will include a state-of-the-art aquatic center with Olympic-sized pools and an inclusive recreation facility with basketball and volleyball courts. The aquatic center will host swim lessons, competitions, lifeguard training, and scuba therapy for veterans with PTSD. The design process has been ongoing for years, with plans to break ground by late 2025 and open the facilities by 2028.
Sunset Beach Considers Taller Hotel
Sunset Beach is considering a change to its ordinance code that could allow taller hotel buildings in town. The amendment, proposed by Sunset Beach Hospitality Ventures, LLC, would increase the maximum height for hotels and motels from 50 feet to 60 feet. The planning board recommended approval of the change last mon th, and the town council will hold a public hearing on the matter in January 2024. If approved, the amendment would only apply to hotels and motels. Supporters see the change as a way to accommodate growth and development, while others may raise concerns about its impact on the town’s skyline. This decision marks another step in the town’s broader efforts to manage growth as Brunswick’s popularity continues to rise.
New Circle K Proposed for Prominent Wilmington Intersection
A new Circle K convenience store and gas station is being proposed for the corner of Market Street and Kerr Avenue in Wilmington. Plans call for a 5,200-square-foot store with eight fuel pumps on the vacant site. The property is adjacent to the Market Plaza shopping center, which houses tenants like Food Lion, Fit4Life Health Club, and a DMV license plate agency. The development plans include a fuel canopy, 17 parking spaces, and eight bike spaces. The proposal has not yet been scheduled for technical review, the next step in the process. This is one of several new Circle K locations planned for Wilmington, including another recently approved site on Dawson Street.
Biggers Market Proposed for Carolina Beach Road
Biggers Market, a well-known seasonal produce store, is planning a permanent 16,000-square-foot location on Carolina Beach Road in Wilmington. Plans include an 11,000-square-foot indoor market with a 4,900-square-foot covered porch, along with a parking lot, loading dock, and underground stormwater system. The project would also feature a platform for live music and improved pedestrian access to nearby businesses. New Hanover County’s planning board has unanimously recommended approval, and the rezoning request now goes to the Board of Commissioners for final consideration. If approved, the owners plan to begin the design phase, but construction could be a multi-year process.
Avelo Airlines Expands at ILM with New Base and More Direct Flights
Airlines is establishing a base at Wilmington International Airport in April 2025, bringing up to 50 local jobs, including pilots, engineers, flight attendants, and ground crew. The new base will support three nonstop routes to Boston (via Manchester, NH), Rochester, NY, and Nashville, TN, with service beginning in early April. Avelo’s Head of Commercial, Trevor Yealy, emphasized that growth won’t stop here, noting plans for a second aircraft later in 2025.