Streetscape improvements: Past and present

Middle Street is shown with the new
Streetscape improvements.

June and July of 1994: noise from jackhammers, commotion, dust, visible evidence of a city’s prosperous optimistic mood. An army of men with  heavy equipment tearing up the 200 block of Middle Street in preparation of the new streetscape improvements uncover old street car tracks and brick street pavers encapsulated under the asphalt, relics from an earlier period prosperity.

Middle Street in the late 1980s was
in need of some improvement.

In the early 1900’s the sights and sounds in the downtown area were similar, but far more aggressive. By 1910 the city had completed an extensive program of public improvements, funded in part by a bond referendum in an amount equal to $1 million. This included the installation of 25 miles of concrete sidewalks, granite curbing and the paving of 35 blocks of streets with brick.

The city improvements were a result of a period of growth and prosperity in the first several decades of the 20th century. The depressed financial conditions of the late 1800’s and repayment of old debt prevented badly needed improvements prior to that time. In this period of prosperity, the lumber industry, the large-scale manufacturing of commercial fertilizers, shipping, fish, oysters and agriculture had a tremendous impact on the growth of the New Bern’s downtown area and outlaying areas directly or indirectly.  The Elks Temple, (the largest office building in the city), Union Station, Saint Luke’s Hospital, schools and many other buildings were constructed in addition to the development of two new suburban residential areas, Riverside and Ghent.

The Ghent developers formed the New Bern Ghent Street Railway Company in 1912 which installed a street car system linking Spencer Avenue to Pollock and Middle and then looping to South Front Street, to Craven Street continuing on to Queen Street, down Queen to Metcalf and then back to Pollock Street.

The street car lines, the extension of city services and development of new communities allowed residents to move out of the more congested areas of the city. This gradual exodus to the suburbs and the collapse of the lumber industry in the late 20’s brought profound change, and led ultimately to the gradual decline of the downtown and surrounding areas.

With the celebration of the United States Bicentennial, reconstruction of Tryon Palace, establishment of the New Bern Preservation Foundation, development of the 1977 Downtown Central Business District Revitalization Plan, and creation of Swiss Bear, an era of optimism began to develop as New Bern’s historic features were seen as resources that could be used to revive a declining downtown economy.

Unlike the early 1900 streetscape improvements, the public improvements that began to take place in the 1980’s, in an attempt to regain prosperity, was due to  the  public/private partnerships with the local government, Swiss Bear and the additional municipal service district taxes paid by downtown property owner.

By the early 1990’s, major streetscape improvements became a priority project. The sidewalks installed in early the 1900’s were narrow and in poor condition in the retail core and required improvements to present a desirable high quality image and increase retail presence and increased trade. Then City Manager Bill Hartman and Alderman Bill Ballenger involved Swiss Bear in the process to ensure community support and the project’s success.

The first phase of improvements involved deciding on a design concept for the streets. This was done in a preliminary way during the preparation of the Urban Design Plan and Guidelines. During that work, the retail areas of Middle, Craven and Pollock were classified as needing the highest level of finish and given the highest priority for implementation.

During the conceptual Design work that followed in 1992, alternative paving patterns and design details for the different types of streetscape were presented to the steering committee by Land Design Research, Inc. and preferred alternatives were chosen. The choice for the retail streets was red brick bands enclosing an area of hexagonal concrete pavers. Preliminary choices for street furniture and lighting were also made.

The recommendations for the design standards were presented to the Historic Preservation Commission for review and approval followed by the Board of Aldermen’s adoption of the design standards as public policy.

The process of preparing construction documents was far more challenging than in the early 1900’s. In addition to a survey of the street to the define exact position of curbs, streets, water and gas meters, building walls at street level other considerations were downspouts, grates, traffic and street lights, electric poles and so on. The prepared drawings showed exactly how the new streetscape would fit into existing conditions … what would be demolished and how the new street, sidewalks and fixtures were to be constructed.

Funding for the $500,000 improvements with Municipal Service District (MSD) monies was approved by the MSD Advisory Committee with the stipulation, all materials used had to be of first quality.

To minimize the impact on the downtown businesses the contract for the three blocks required the completion of improvements in 60 days. Everything possible was done to anticipate problems and the decision was made to begin June 6 as inevitable setbacks could be minimized with longer work days and warmer weather. 

To say goodbye to the old streets and sidewalks, the June “Alive At Five” kicked off with a Street Dance. Advance publicity encouraged people to come downtown and see downtown grow and enjoy the shops “construction” sales.

A ceremonial “street breaking” was held with John Peterson, MSD Chairman, Mayor Tom Bayliss, Swiss Bear Chairman Ricky Brown and the Swiss Bear Executive Director, turned over the spadefuls of loose asphalt, initiating the first phase of downtown’s streetscape improvements.

As the old pavement was hauled away, treasure hunters emerged in full force with metal detectors in hand. The thrill of the find included old buttons, coins, trolley track spikes and many other collectibles.

By the end of August the 100 and 200 blocks were finished … visible evidence of a city’s prosperous optimistic mood. Since then 12 blocks in the core downtown area have been completed with MSD funds. The urban renewal tract along the Trent River, separated from the core retail area in the 1970’s, became a united with the central business district with the recent streetscape improvements to South Front Street.