City officials on Tuesday approved a resolution to extend the predevelopment exploration phase involving city-owned property on Castle Street.

The Wilmington City Council voted to extend the phase to June 16.

A development group is proposing a mixed-use development on city-owned land at 1110 Castle St., the site of an old WAVE transit maintenance facility. 

The development plan, including a mix of residential and commercial space, was submitted in a city request for proposals on the property. The proposed development would include affordable housing units, as requested by the city.

In January, the development proposal got a 60-day extension of the predevelopment period.

The city is working with Clark Hipp, of Hipp Architecture and Development PC and the lead developer on the potential project. Other development partners include Cape Fear Community Land Trust and Cape Fear Habitat for Humanity.

"Before a development agreement (which council would have to approve) can be drafted, environmental assessments need to be completed on this brownfield site which houses an old underground fuel storage tank and other elements with potential groundwater impacts," city officials stated in a recent update. 

Environmental testing on the site was delayed because of the coronavirus crisis, but is now complete and the city staff is awaiting the results, according to the update.