New Bern's Revitalization Effort...initiated in mid 1970's

Original minutes from a 1980 meeting

In June 1976, while serving as President of the New Bern-Craven county Chamber of Commerce, Doug Davis conceived the idea and provided the leadership which led to the creation of a Downtown Revitalization Committee. The committee was formed with representatives from the following: (1) Chamber of Commerce (Doug Davis), (2) President of the Downtown Merchants Association, (3) Director of Redevelopment Commission, (4) One from the City of New Bern, (5) One Downtown Merchant at large,  (6) One member from the Craven County Board of Commissioners. The Downtown Revitalization Committee conducted many public forums to allow for citizen in-put and to keep the public informed as to the progress being made. The slide/tape program from Santa Cruz was very instrumental in helping tell the story of revitalization.

At the July 12, 1977 meeting held at the Palace Motel, Mr. Davis told those present that, at the original meeting on June 3, 1976, the Downtown Revitalization Committee came into being, and at that meeting the Committee was given a mandate to see that a Central Business District Revitalization Plan to include an architectural study, if necessary, was accomplished. Mr. Davis stated that the committee with the help of the Board of Aldermen, City, Merchants and Land Owners has completed this step and is now ready to proceed with a plan for implementation if this is the wish of those present.

Next the Chairman introduced a five-phase plan for the Downtown area. The plan encompassed a four city block area bounded by Middle, Pollock, Craven Streets and Tryon Palace Drive. The estimated cost for each phase was included.

Mayor Kimbrell spoke in favor of the plan as did Mr. Leo Brody and many others. Mr. Green was granted permission by the Chairman to take the floor. He advanced several excellent reasons why the plan should be implemented and concluded with the following motion: “that the group approve a vote of confidence addressed to the City Board of Aldermen in order that they might favorably consider a special tax district to fund the five-phase plan within the four city block area of the C.B.D”. The motion was seconded by Jim Whiteside. During the discussion, George Scott offered an amendment to the motion that the work on all phases of the plan be started simultaneously. The motion was seconded by Lou Steinberg and E.B. Austin. The motion and the amendment carried unanimously.

The Chairman closed the meeting at 9:45 PM by asking all present to attend the meeting of the Board of Aldermen on July 19 at 8 PM at City Hall.

*The 1977 Plan was the foundation for the revitalization effort, however several recommended projects/phases were never pursued including construction of a mall area throughout the downtown.

Susan Moffat Thomas

Executive Director 

Redevelopment of the Neuse River Waterfront/Texaco Property

In the June 13 Sun Journal edition, an article by Eddie Fitzgerald reported City workers were repairing an area in Union Point Park where the soils had been sinking due to settling around a large concrete foundation.  He called and asked if I knew the history/background of the large concrete base that had never been removed when the City acquired the property. I do know, as Swiss Bear played a major role in getting the then, Texaco property donated to the City. Tourism was seen as an industry that would be the key to the revitalization effort. The Texaco property could be utilized as an expansion of the adjacent Union Point Park.  The concrete  base was originally the foundation for three massive Texaco fuel storage tanks that stood  beside a vacant gas station built in the 1950’s. Removal of the foundation turned out to be very difficult and costly and ultimately the City made the decision to leave the foundation in place, add soil and plant grass over the foundation.

Acquiring the Texaco property was a process that took over three years. Following the donation of the waterfront section to the City, Swiss Bear accepted a bargain sale offer and purchased lots 1 and 2 along the street which in turn, was sold to the City. To determine the best use of this property and Union Point, this led to the creation of an East Waterfront Task Force made up of members from the City, Chamber of Commerce Weyerhaeuser, Hatteras, Neuse River Foundation and Swiss Bear. This project, along with many others, was  based on the goals and objective of the 1977 Central Business District Revitalization Plan.

The following paragraph from the Central Business District Revitalization Plan  summarizes the existing conditions of the Neuse River waterfront and recommendations for redevelopment of property historically used for commercial purposes including seafood and saw mill operations.

The three block commercial area east of South Front Street including the old Holiday Inn, the Texaco Storage property and Union Point Park as fragmented and in some cases represented incompatible land uses as the city moves toward the accommodation of tourism and recreation. These key land parcels should be assessed and planned to conform with the rest of the central business district. The spectacular waterfront  setting and convenient accessibility to boat traffic will make this area increasingly valuable as other development occurs. This waterfront area should be carefully controlled from a visual point of view to insure its compatibility throughout the central business district. Waterfront pedestrian access should be required in this area as the land is redeveloped, creating a continuous connection from the existing City Park (Council Bluff Green) beneath the Highway 17 bridge along the water’s  behind the Holiday Inn (demolished in the 1990’s) and the oil storage area, around Union Point Park, under the Highway 70 drawbridge and along the edge of the urban renewal site. New development along the Neuse waterfront should include a 30 to 50 foot pedestrian easement to allow public access along the water.

In a future blog I will relate the steps taken after the three and a half acre parcel with a then value of $300,000, by the City and the East Waterfront Task Force in coming up with plans for the development of Union Point Park. The evolution of Union Point to its present day appearance was a long and challenging process and one of the many projects that played a major role in the incremental redevelopment of the waterfront and revitalization of the central business district.

Tell us what you think. 

Susan Moffat Thomas

Executive Director



Council Bluff Green 1990

Holiday Inn at
East Front & Broad St - 1985




Texaco Property on East Front St.
Fuel storage tanks and vacant gas station

 



Barge being towed away from Texaco site