Print
Real Estate - Commercial

Corridor Check: Carolina Beach Road

By Cece Nunn, posted Jan 16, 2015
Rendering c/o Multifamily Realty Advisors
Changes are in store this year for a heavily traveled corridor that links drivers to New Hanover County’s beach towns.

Real estate industry professionals and local officials expect those changes to come in the form of additional development, and improvements to the landscape along portions of Carolina Beach Road within the Wilmington’s city limits.

A 2004 city corridor plan for the parts of Carolina Beach Road within those limits, from South Third Street to around St. Andrews Drive, described the looks of the road as they stood at that time: “Most of Carolina Beach Road is generally unattractive due to the lack of landscaping, poor screening of outdoor storage of heavy equipment, numerous large pole signs and generic architecture including metal buildings.”

As planners gathered residents’ opinions in 2004 to come up with the corridor plan, “There was consensus from community input that people wanted greater quality development even if costs were eventually passed on to them,” the plan says.

Fast-forward a little more than 10 years after city officials adopted the corridor document, and some of the plan’s predictions seem to be coming true.

Property owners will pay an additional 2 cents per $100 valuation to fund transportation improvements that include work on Carolina Beach Road’s northern streetscape after voters agreed to a bond referendum in November.

The city’s upcoming plans for the corridor, according to transportation bond information on the city’s website, involve streetscape changes between Burnett and Shipyard boulevards.

“This project will improve the quality of life by adding visual and safety improvements to Carolina Beach Road” through the addition of “landscaping and turn lanes at various locations,” the transportation bond plans say.

“The planned enhancements are going to be a huge improvement for Carolina Beach Road,” said Christine Hughes, senior planner for the City of Wilmington.

Hughes said the 2004 corridor plan for the road is still in use as a guiding document, and she expects that some of the strategies and ideas introduced in the corridor plan will be incorporated into a comprehensive plan that city officials are currently developing.

Commercial broker Terry Quinn of Intracoastal Realty said he believes an increase in activity in the corridor that took place in 2014 will likely continue this year and beyond, pointing to new apartments on the way.

“Places are beginning to pop up along there,” said Quinn, listing agent for about 10.9 acres on Carolina Beach Road near Echo Farms that is zoned to allow multi-family development.

Apartment development in the corridor includes Meridian at Fairfield Park, a 241-unit project near Codington Elementary School.

“Construction has started, and we anticipate delivering units in early 2016,” said Mark Barker, CEO and principal of NorthView Partners, the developers of Meridian at Fairfield Park.
Ico insights

INSIGHTS

SPONSORS' CONTENT
Untitleddesign5

The Role of Vulnerability in Leadership

John Monahan - Vistage
Untitleddesign2 4523114356

Cybersecurity and Productivity: Striking the Perfect Balance for Business Success

Barrett Earney - EarneyIT
Chris 16239425

‘Creative,’ An Adjective To Describe Your Accountant?!

Chris Capone - Capone & Associates

Trending News

Conservation Group Signs $8M Deal To Buy The Point On Topsail Island

Audrey Elsberry - Mar 26, 2024

Rezoning Could Bring 123 Townhomes To Growing Leland Corridor

Emma Dill - Mar 25, 2024

N.C. Ports Officials React To Baltimore Bridge Collapse

Audrey Elsberry - Mar 26, 2024

Engineering Firm Hires Four Employees

Staff Reports - Mar 26, 2024

National Organization Bestows Top Award On Cape Fear Professional Women In Building

Staff Reports - Mar 26, 2024

In The Current Issue

INFO JUNKIE: Jack Fleming

Jack Fleming, owner of Socialry Marketing & Scourz and emcee for 1 Million Cups Wilmington, shares his media and tech picks....


Park Progress

The planning for Pender Commerce Park began in the early 2000s when the county wanted to create an economic driver on its largely rural west...


MADE: Polyhose Inc.

Polyhose manufactures and fabricates hose protection, paint hose assemblies and rubber hydraulic assemblies from its Pender County facility....

Book On Business

The 2024 WilmingtonBiz: Book on Business is an annual publication showcasing the Wilmington region as a center of business.

Order Your Copy Today!


Galleries

Videos

2023 Power Breakfast: Major Developments