An industrial downtown parcel and a massive wooded tract slated for a future mixed use development, could soon give way to new uses.

Wilmington City Council members Tuesday unanimously approved rezoning the future Barclay West project – a 300-acre planned development along South 17th Street that’s bisected by Independence Blvd. – on first reading.

The rezoning will now accommodate four types of zoning: 133 acres of office and institutional; 84 acres of regional business; 72 acres of multi-family housing; and four acres designated for community business.
Development officials would like to build out the entire development by 2027, according to planning documents.

In June, Hill Rogers, broker-in-charge at Cameron Management, said officials hoped to add 1.5 million square feet of retail, 1.5 million square feet of offices, 40,000 square feet of restaurant space, 25,000 square feet of retail and 1,375 apartment units – a development that could rival Mayfaire Town Center and the nearby Independence Mall.

Residents of the Hanover Heights neighborhood, who have voiced concern for the massive development project since its conception, said they did not want Newkirk Avenue to be used as an entry way into Barclay West.

To address the neighborhood’s concerns, Councilman Kevin O'Grady included an amendment to the rezoning that Newkirk Avenue become a restricted pedestrian or bicycle pathway into the development.

The council will address the rezoning request at its Aug. 20 meeting.  
Council members also approved rezoning roughly seven acres south of the Cape Fear Memorial Bridge along Surry Street to light industrial.

The parcels, located at 610, 712 and 732 Surry Street, were once slated for the now defunct Gateway development.
Under the new zoning designation, less heavy industry that emit smoke or odor can set up shop in the location.

Michael McCarley, president of Wilmington-based Carolina Marine Riverman LLC and is the registered agent for Riverman LLC, purchased the land in June 2012. His firm has not released its intention for the land, despite demolishing an old office building and clearing away some of the old docks on the site, according to city records.

McCarley would not comment about future plans for the site.

According to plans submitted with city development services, McCarley and his business partner, Kevin G. Walker, operate marine shipping terminal facilities. Under the existing zoning, the firm cannot implement its current marine shipping business model on the site. If the city council approves the rezoning for the 7.42-acre site, officials plan to redevelop the property by removing uninhabitable structures, rebuilding the existing shipping dock and design all structures to city and N.C. Brownfield standards, according to city records.