Hotel construction crane bends, offices evacuated

A crane operated by Edwards Inc. of Spring Hope, N.C., bent during work on the Courtyard by Marriott hotel site Tuesday morning. (Photo by Alison Lee Satake)

A construction crane on the site of the new downtown Courtyard by Marriott hotel was bent during work Tuesday morning resulting in the evacuation of downtown offices, including the five-story Self-Help Credit Union building.

The Wilmington Fire Department received a call at 9:30 a.m. after the crane’s boom bent and threatened the safety of building occupants on North Front Street between Grace and Chestnut streets. No one was injured.

The crane company, Edwards Inc. of Spring Hope, N.C., replaced the damaged crane with another one and allowed occupants to return to their buildings at 3:30 p.m., said David Hines, spokesman for the Wilmington Fire Department. Edwards Inc. officials declined to comment.

CN Hotels of Greensboro is developing the new hotel at the intersection of Grace and Second streets.

“I haven’t contacted the general contractor because I’ve been busy with other things,” said Jay Patel, CN Hotels vice president in Greensboro.

Graham Construction Company is building the new six-story hotel. The Concord, N.C.-based general contractor declined to comment.