The value of a downtown

New Bern a national model for Main Street revitalization

Downtown New Bern has changed and grown over
the decades to what visitors and residents now experience.

In the 1991 book, “Edge Cities, Life on the New Frontier,” Joel Garreau argued the shopping center replaced the downtown as the city center. As a passionate advocate for downtown, I acknowledge that many downtown's have died, however, as Don Repkema points out, “they don’t die because they have been replaced by shopping centers, they are lost to history because the importance of the downtown to its community has not been recognized.”

We all agree, shopping centers play an important role in the economy and meet a range of customer needs, but to believe they take the place of the city center, village square or heart of the community is to fail to understand the nature and importance of downtown and their value. 

In a successful downtown there is a sense of community ownership, “it is our downtown.” It is home to the institutional leadership of the community, local government, financial institutions, law firms and others. It serves as the city center offering a range of cultural activities, museums, shops, parks, and historic attractions … a place of diversity and interaction among the entire community and most importantly, as a barometer on the economic health of the community.

Our downtown under the Main Street program has emerged as the nexus of the interests of economic development, historic preservation and the community-at-large. In 1980 when North Carolina became one of six pilot states for a new program called Main Street, under the leadership of Mayor Leander Morgan, New Bern was one of five communities chosen to participate. Since we already had a preservation based downtown revitalization effort in place for many years, the local government determined Swiss Bear should remain a free-standing organization with the same responsibilities and serve a pivotal role. The city planner and Swiss Bear director were designated to serve as co-project managers of the downtown effort. 

The waterfront in downtown New Bern looked
much different in the 1960s.

For 33 years New Bern has been a national example, not just of a successful Main Street program, but of how historic preservation can be the foundation for sustainable economic development. New Bern is the embodiment of the Main Street Principles: incremental, comprehensive, partnerships, self-help, identifying and capitalizing on existing assets, change, quality and implementation.

Aerial photo shows downtown New Bern in the 1960s.
The Trent River is in the foreground and the Neuse
River in the background.

Communities all over the country look to New Bern to see how it’s done.

Since 1981, in our downtown the cumulative net new jobs is 591; cumulative net new businesses 138 and private investment $97,045,495. Swiss Bear’s cumulative efforts over the past 34 years resulted in an investment to the greater downtown effort of over $204 million. Total public and private investment has been $320 million, the most of any Main Street City.

As one of the original demonstration states for Main Street, North Carolina has collected a wealth of data from participating towns. Local program managers are required to submit annual reports on activities in their districts to the state office. For most of the years these reports have included number of facades redone and number of buildings rehabilitated; number of net new jobs, number of net new businesses, amount of private investment and amount of public investment.

At the recent Main Street conference held in New Bern, keynote speaker , Donovan Repkema presented an overview of the results of  his analysis of statistical data in a report, “North Carolina Main Street, Decades of Success, The Economic Impact of Main Street in North Carolina, prepared for the Department of Commerce and the NC Main Street Communities.”

Repkema is the principal of Place Economics, a Washington D.C. based real estate and economic development consulting firm.

In the report’s introductory letter, Sharon Decker, Secretary of Commerce, NC Department of Commerce, pointed out, “…since North Carolina  began its Main Street Program in 1980, $2 billion has been invested in Main Street districts — over half of which has come from the private sector. There has been a gain of more than 18,000 net new jobs and 4,700 new businesses.

“We must acknowledge that we are at a point where public budgets are stretched thin and we simply have to do more with less. Main Street is a champion in this regard. The net new businesses each year in Main Street Districts pay five times in sales revenue what the entire Main Street program costs. This is a program that provides the kind of return on investment that any corporate chair would envy.

“Main Street works because it builds on the assets, the traditions, and most importantly, on the aspirations of the citizens of the community. It is a form of economic development. And North Carolina communities are the better for it.”

We agree.

Council Bluff Green Project - paving the way

Swiss Bear and the Council Bluff Green
spearheaded improvements to the Neuse River waterfront
park between Broad and Change streets.

Historically, Swiss Bear’s revitalization program has been based on building partnerships with the private sector to assist the City of New Bern with public facility improvements, all of which promote the general interest and quality of life for visitors and Craven County residents. The redevelopment of Union Point Park and Council Bluff Green were two of those projects.

In 1997, when the Union Point Park Put Your Mark on the Park fundraising campaign was still underway, the new Neuse River Bridge was under construction. Its completion in the fall of 1999 would require the removal of the old Neuse River Bridge at the end of Broad Street.

At the Nov. 27 Swiss Bear Board meeting, I presented plans/drawings developed by Dick Smith, Smith Design Group of improvements to the Neuse River waterfront park between Broad and Change streets. The park, constructed in the 1930’s on a historic site, was in need of major improvements. The sidewalk and retaining wall systems were deteriorated, cracked and uneven. Amenities such as lighting, benches, trash receptacles and seating areas needed to be upgraded.

By March 1999, more than $120,000 was raised for the
Pave the Way campaign.

Our board was unanimous in their support of another fundraising effort as they recognized it was important to take advantage of this opportunity to assist the city in improving the entire park. To be known as Council Bluff Green, the narrow stretch of land has been historically important for centuries. It is where Native Americans of the Chattawka nation held tribal councils, where early settlers built their homes and where a Post Road was constructed to link Newberne with communities to the west. The restoration and preservation of this historic site was important to New Bern and improvements to Council Bluff would serve as a catalyst for development of the adjacent site and would complete the northern section of the city’s waterfront promenade.

The City’s commitment to the construction of a new police station, Union Point Park and Pollock Street (300 block) improvements prevented their ability to provide any funds other than $48,000 earmarked for critical stabilization work, and if approved, a $50,000 grant from the N.C. Coastal Waterfront Access Program (CAMA).

Due to their financial commitments, the Board of Aldermen was concerned we would not be able to raise the additional $150,000 needed to complete redevelopment of the park. To assure them we could, we received pre-campaign commitments of more that $50,000 from 13 families. In April 1998, a month after the Put Your Mark on the Park campaign ended, the Council Bluff Project was sanctioned and officially approved by the Board of Aldermen.

Based on Smith Design Group’s development plans, the project consisted of the redevelopment of the 600 foot long linear waterfront access area which included demolition of existing deteriorated structures, storm sewer improvements, construction of a new promenade using brick and exposed aggregate concrete, adjustment of the granite curbing at the street’s edge, landscaping, refurbishing existing railings, planter urns, bulk heading and planting the area with major and minor trees.

The Pave the Way campaign would raise funds by selling bricks, pavers, sections of aggregate, urns, lighting and benches. As was the case with all of our fundraising campaigns, the money received was put in a special bank account and was turned over to the city at the end of the campaign.

In an Oct. 2, 1998 letter to Mike Avery, director of planning and inspections, Donna Moffitt, director of the N.C. Department of Environment and Natural Resources, congratulated the City as a recipient of a $50,000 grant, and stated “the project should be completed just as it was in the proposed development plans unless modified by mutual agreement.”

By March 1999, more than $120,000 was raised. Major contributors included Craven County, Rob and Claudia Hubbard, the Kellenberger Historical Foundation and the Swank Foundation. 

In April, Swiss Bear and the City was caught off-guard as controversy arose when the Historic Preservation Commission (HPC) raised concerns during the pre-application process for a Certificate of Appropriateness (CA) regarding the original design, number of light fixtures and trees. The controversy intensified in May when the project in a 6 to 3 vote was denied a CA, based on issues with the palette of materials, lights, trees and benches.

Many residents of the Council Bluff Green neighborhood offered support, those who contributed were unhappy with the outcome.

Letters to the editor complained, “the project had too many trees and benches … the only publicized plans were concept boards and the plan on the fundraising brochures ... city and Swiss Bear put the cart before the horse, prior to selling bricks the concept should have been brought before the HPC from the beginning.”

Many defended Swiss Bear, questioning “the motives of the critics … the project had been endorsed and sanctioned by the City, New Bern Historical Society, New Bern Preservation Foundation, New Bern Chamber of Commerce, Tourism Development Authority and Craven Arts Council and Civic Theatre from the start of the campaign and the concept/plans were well-known … let’s move out from the power play.”

The modified plans, with fewer trees and lights and the exposed aggregate concrete along the promenade sandblasted to soften its appearance, resubmitted to the HPC in June were approved. The City put the project out for bids awarding the contract to L. R. Thomas & Sons, Inc. and construction began in late fall due to delays created by Hurricane Floyd. Pave the Way officially ended in August having raised approximately $160,000.

On July 16, 2000, Mayor Bayliss, the New Bern Board of Aldermen, Pave the Way Steering Committee members: Susan Moffat Thomas, David L Ward, Jr., Charles H. Ashford, Jr. and Rev. C Edward Sharp, representatives from Swiss Bear, the various organizations and the community  joined together to celebrate the restoration of this historic site. A prayer by Teresa Morris, a Tuscarora descendant closed the dedication ceremony.

The success of the campaign/project like many others was due to the high level of participation and support from local government, area organizations, businesses and the community-at-large.

Revdevelopment of Union Point Park

Put your mark on the Park Campaign

Union Point Park shown in this
circa 1990s photo

Union Point Park today

For the past 60 years, Union Point Park has been an important public resource.

The Park’s prominent location and close proximity to the downtown area made it a keystone in the on-going redevelopment of the waterfront and revitalization of the downtown. In the mid eighty’s, the city appointed a Swiss Bear Union Point Task Force to study and make recommendations on how the site should be developed. Through its efforts, Texaco’s donation of the adjacent three acres of property was used to expand the park. The winning entry in a Task Force sponsored design competition calling for the creation of a sheltered harbor, river center and removal of the boat ramps generated controversy that eventually killed the project.

In 1990, the city and Swiss Bear co-sponsored development of an urban design plan to provide guidelines for the growth and development of downtown and Five Points. In public meetings for citizen input, the consensus on improvements to the Park included cultivation of green spaces, relocation of parking to the northern edge , relocation of the Women’s Club  building to a more central location in the park, boat ramps, and a promenade/riverwalk at the water’s edge.   

In 1995, the city made the decision to allocate the Sheraton’s last payback/payment of the 1984 federal Urban Development Action Grant (UDAG) loan along with a Coastal Area Management Act (CAMA) for Phase I improvements (new bulkhead, railing and promenade) to Union Point Park. The 1984 $1.9 million UDAG grant, designed for projects that otherwise could not take place was essential to moving the Sheraton project forward. Under the terms of the grant, the loan with interest was paid back to the City by the developer and the City was required to use the money for other economic development projects.

The Park project was jeopardized when bids came in $300,000 over the City’s original estimate, exceeding the payback amount. If the city put the project on hold, our fear was the money would be used for other projects and it would be many years before the City would have adequate funds to redevelop the Park.

In response, on August 17, Bill Ballenger, Alderman and Swiss Bear board member, asked Swiss Bear “to initiate a fundraising campaign that he and I would co-chair…a grass roots effort was needed to show the elected officials, the community wanted the park re-developed”. The goal, enlist the community’s financial support to avert losing the CAMA grant and re-directing of the Sheraton loan payback for another use.

We organized a committee with a goal of raising $300,000. Committee members were Mike Avery, Mary Conover, Denise Willey and Angela McDaniel which soon grew to include a corps of 53 volunteers.

The campaign slogan Put Your Mark on the Park invited individuals and businesses to sponsor a brick, granite panel, paver, section of railing, a street light, even the overlook, ranging from $50 to $75,000. Contributor’s names, permanently inscribed on the bricks and other items would be a tangible record for future generations and a testimony of the community’s commitment. A $5,000 contribution from the City was used to print brochures, posters and cover advertising expenses.

With resolutions of support from the Chamber of Commerce and other organizations and contributions from businesses, civic organizations, nonprofits, county and city elected officials, school children and citizens-at-large, by May 1996, a $10,000 Weyerhaeuser Foundation grant put the campaign at the halfway mark.

The outpouring of community support led to the City’s hiring of Allison Platt & Associates for design work and construction drawings for the promenade, bulkhead, railings and pedestrian walkway under the bridge and, T.D. Eure for construction of Phase I improvements and purchased bulk heading materials to save $27,000.

The contributions continued to grow. The corporate board of First Citizens Bank, the FCB New Bern Board of Directors and friends contributed $75,000 to name the overlook at the confluence of the two rivers, the John Harold Talton Overlook in honor of his long service to the bank and the community. Metromedia Cablevision contributed $25,000. Nancy and Pete Deichman, board members of the Mary Whiting Ewing Foundation, presented the committee with a $30,000 check to be used for lighting because the Park was near and dear to them.

In July, Hurricane Bertha created havoc and delay with no serious damage to the on-going construction of the bulkhead, but did further weaken the structural integrity of the Women’s’ Club building. In September, Fran slammed New Bern. The park emerged relatively unscathed, however the roof on the Women’s’ Club building was ripped off and the back wall collapsed.

By January 1997, construction of the bulkhead was completed and railings were being installed. The City opened bids for the construction of the promenade in the spring with L.R. Thomas and Sons the low bidder at $518,000. 

When the campaign closed in February 1997, exceeding its goal by $50,000, thousands had contributed, many from outside New Bern and out of the state.

In spite of its deteriorated condition, the Woman’s Club building was a controversial topic.  Its relocation estimated at $40,000, was a concern for many and the cost of restoration estimated at $100,000 was seen as a waste of money by others. In February 1998, the report from a structural engineer hired to evaluate the feasibility and cost of restoring and bringing the building up to code led to the City’s decision to demolish it. 

On June 28, 1998, City and County officials, Swiss Bear representatives, Put Your Mark on the Park Committee members and hundreds of residents gathered at the waterfront park to celebrate the dedication of Phase I improvements.  Within the year, Phase II improvements were completed including new bathrooms. The total cost for the project; bulkhead, promenade, railings, footbridge, boat ramps/docks, restoration of wetlands and restrooms was $1,640,000, 10% over the original estimate of $1,500,000.  

The redevelopment of the Park, like so many other downtown projects, was made possible by the support and generosity of the community.

The Bears in Bear Plaza: Turning an alley into a venue

The bears in Bear Plaza are a well-loved downtown
attraction providing a tangible reminder of our close ties
to Bern, Switzerland
                                                      Photo courtesy R.Scungio

As I related in a previous article, to achieve walkabilty, the 1977 Downtown Revitalization Plan, commissioned by the Downtown Revitalization Committee and the City of New Bern, envisioned connecting mid-block parking lots to shopping streets, creating additional walking path systems.

To begin to accomplish that goal, the City responded to the Committee’s request to purchase the Middle Street lot, vacated when the Coplon Smith Department Store burned down in the mid-1970s, which connected to the interior municipal parking lot known as Federal Alley.

The Committee provided the leadership in getting downtown property owners and merchants to request formation of the Municipal Tax District in the area bounded by (Tryon Palace Drive), South Front, Pollock and Middle in which they would pay an additional tax of $.50 per hundred ad valorem valuation. The MSD was created in 1980 with the understanding the additional tax money would go toward physical improvements in that defined area.

In 1980, Bear Plaza was the first project undertaken and completed using these funds. Development of Bear Plaza, a mid-block park included a pavilion, several benches and lights.

In the spring of 1993, John Edwards, owner of Trent Power Equipment Company in Merritt, N.C., met with me requesting Swiss Bear consider purchasing for $10,000, three large bear sculptures he had on his property that had been carved with a chainsaw. He had to close his business and thought they would be an asset to downtown as public art.

My response, “we will give it consideration” was essentially a polite way to avoid saying outright I was not enthusiastic about his proposal. Having never seen the sculptures, I assumed anything carved from logs with a chain saw would be very crude and not suitable for our downtown.

Over the next six months his persistent calls paid off. When I drove to the site of his business I was amazed and delighted. The largest was a twelve foot black bear and the two eight feet tall sculptures were of a single bear with a fish in its mouth and the other of two cubs chasing a raccoon up a tree. They were very well done, would be a great addition to Bear Plaza and a bargain at his final asking price of $4,500.

In November 1993, Edwards gave the City permission to relocate the bears from his property to Bear Plaza and Swiss Bear was given an option to purchase them, contingent upon raising the funds necessary to cover the purchase price by July 1, 1994.

In the early spring of 1994, Swiss Bear spearheaded a campaign in cooperation with the City to provide a permanent home for the three major wood sculptures offering the public a range of donation levels from $10 to $500+. All contributors would receive a small ceramic bear, made for this project by Janice Parker, and their names recorded on a commemorative plaque(s) for permanent display in Bear Plaza.

The community’s response was outstanding and the campaign raised $12,000. The additional money was used to purchase and install new lights and landscape the Plaza. On Nov. 20, 1994, a well-attended dedication was held and Swiss Bear formally turned over ownership of the bears to the city; public art to be enjoyed for many years to come...or so we thought.

By the late 1990s the bears were in a state of deterioration. Termites, wood beetles and exposure to the elements were taking their toll. Jeth Lindsy, artist and owner of Art of the Wild, was a dedicated volunteer steward in repairing and maintaining the bear’s, but it was a losing battle. The numerous attempts to preserve them failed and they were finally removed from the Plaza when they became a safety hazard.

In the meantime, with the Municipal District Advisory Committee’s approval to fund up to $8,600 for three new bear sculptures, the challenge became finding an artist to replicate the existing sculptures. The Committee agreed new bears should be carved from cypress (a more durable wood) in the same configuration in respect for all those who contributed to the original purchase.  After much research, thanks to John Sturman, owner of Bern Bear Gifts, we were able to contact Tom Penny, who carved the three bears for John Edwards. Originally from Canada, we were happy to learn Penny was now residing in Myrtle Beach. He quoted a price of $10,000, with the major cost being able to purchase/acquire logs of an adequate size to carve the big bear.  Penny said we could deduct 10% from the cost if we furnished the wood.

When Little Joe Weatherington, North Carolina Forest Products, Inc, was able to find and donate cypress logs for the bears, Mr.  Penny agreed to carve the three bears for $8,600. He carved the two smaller bears prior to Mumfest and to promote the project and have an additional attraction, Penny began carving the large “papa” bear during the festival.

When the bears were placed in the Plaza the following spring, metal brackets were constructed to hold the bears above the treated concrete bases allowing air to circulate and eliminate possible infestation. The New Bern Garden Club planted numerous plants and flowers adding to the park’s beautification.

The bears in Bear Plaza are a well-loved downtown attraction providing a tangible reminder of our close ties to Bern, Switzerland...and like the numerous other Swiss Bear projects, the community made it happen.

Susan Moffat Thomas

Executive Director, Swiss Bear Downtown Development

Swiss Bear's rehabilitation role for a major anchor building

The Belk Building: Adult entertainment center? Not in our downtown!

The Belk Building in pre-rehabilitation days.

The O.Marks building at 233 Middle St.
is shown in 1988 after its rehabilitation
was complete.

The O. Marks building at 233 Middle St. was originally two separate buildings. The three story portion, adjacent to the First Baptist Church, was constructed in 1915-16 for Oscar Marks & Son to house their expanded dry goods and shoe sales operations.

Following his death in 1921, business declined and the firm closed its doors in 1927. The building remained vacant for four years until it was used as a Chrysler dealership. In 1937, Belk purchased the building and replaced the original storefront with large tin panels to “modernize” the façade and replaced the windows with glass brinks in the 1940s and 1950s.

The two story section on the south side was built in 1927 for the Coplon Investment Company and occupied by Montgomery Ward until 1964 when it was leased by Belk to expand its department store. The same large metal blocks were added to that façade to unite the two buildings into one, creating a major anchor building in the central business district.

In 1979, Belk joined in the exodus to the suburbs and relocated in the new Twin Rivers Mall. The large 57,000 square foot monolithic building added to the growing number of vacant deteriorating buildings and downtown’s decline.

At the June 1980 Swiss Bear Board meeting, finding a tenant became a priority when Ella Bengal, board member and alderwoman, stated she felt Swiss Bear should seek a tenant for the vacant Belk Building.

During that year, Swiss Bear monitored investor activity of those interested in leasing or buying the building and were spurred into action in February 1981 when the Board learned a company from Jacksonville planned to purchase the building for use as an adult entertainment center.

At the February 1981 Board meeting, Charles Blythe’s motion to pursue purchasing the building, passed unanimously. Jay Smith, Doug Davis, David Henderson, Dell Ipock, Dabney Coddington, Bill Edwards and Newsom Williams were authorized to secure a 90 day loan from NCNB and Jay Smith agreed to underwrite the loan interest.

To acquire the $20,000 option on the building, Swiss Bear raised $15,000 and the New Bern Preservation Foundation joined the effort contributing $5,000. With the support of four local banks, BB&T, NC National Bank, Wachovia and First Citizens Bank, Swiss Bear acquired the property. Belk donated their half of the building and Swiss Bear purchased the adjacent portion from the Coplon family at a bargain sale for $150,000. The banks allowed Swiss Bear to pay on the loan, interest only, until the building was sold.

A recruitment team developed guidelines that clearly defined the use of the building with restrictions preventing an undesirable use of the building. The metal façade would have to be removed from both buildings and the exterior rehabbed according to the specifications of a façade study. The selling price was $175,000.

In November of 1982 a Low Interest Loan Pool was formed with the City, Swiss Bear and the four banks for the purpose of allowing merchants to borrow money for building improvements at 71 percent of the prime interest rate. A federal law stating banks did not need to pay tax on interest gained from loans made in specified redevelopment areas (four core blocks bounded by Tryon Palace Drive, Craven, Hancock and Broad Streets) made it possible for banks to lend at a lower interest rate. Each bank contributed $500,000 and the City’s final approval was needed for all loans. The creation of this loan pool was the deciding factor in the eventual sale of the Belk building.

By December 1983, Swiss Bear had $131,000 invested in the building. Although it had been shown a number of times, no real interest was generated until Swiss Bear took a new approach working with the banks with a syndication method of financing. The banks also increased the line of credit for Swiss Bear so an architectural survey, a financial analysis, feasibility and other studies could be undertaken.

In 1984, five local businessmen, Lonnie Pridgen, Jr., Tom Karam, Gordon Parrot, Chick Askew and Joe Alcoke created the O. Marks Partnership and purchased the building for $200,000.

The original goal was to develop the building into a first-floor retail mall and offices on the upper floors.

The major $2.2 million extensive renovation restored most of the original exterior and interior. O. Marks Mall opened in 1986 with eight specialty retail shops and offices on the upper floors.

Although downtown was gradually beginning to turn around, the lack of pedestrian traffic needed to support the shops led to all but one closing within several years. Recruiting businesses to lease the empty spaces was very challenging, however community support for the project led to leases with the New Bern Chamber of Commerce, Neuse River Council of Governments, Swiss Bear, Weyerhaeuser and other local businesses that relocated into the building.

When the U.S. Postal Service made the decision to move out of the Federal Building (corner of Middle and New Street) to their new facility on Glenburnie Road, the downtown business owners lobbied for a downtown post office branch which was opened in the O. Marks Building. Currently the mix of businesses on the first floor includes several retail shops, a sandwich shop, offices, the post office and offices on the upper floors with 94% occupancy.

The rehabilitation of this building by the O. Marks Partnership, who faced financial challenges for many years, was key to moving the revitalization effort forward. This significant structure, a downtown anchor building, is an example of how critical private investment was to downtown’s recovery.

We commend the men who formed the O. Marks Partnership for their commitment to this key project and downtown’s recovery.

A piece of history on display

Historical shipbuilding winch placed at Lawson Creek Park.

Bryan Caton, left, assists Marty Williams in setting up a draw
winch for display at Lawson Creek Park Wednesday morning.
The display is expected to finished by Monday.

A bit of New Bern’s shipbuilding history will soon be on display at Lawson Creek Park.

A draw winch assembly of the type that the Barbour boat company used to haul boats into dry dock for repair is being placed on a concrete pedestal by the side of the first boat launch in the city park.

Williams Service Company — the same company that mounted the Blue Angels jet near the park entrance in 2012 — began installation of the display Thursday morning. Marty Williams, who is supervising the construction, said he expects the work to be completed by Monday.

Swiss Bear Downtown Development Corporation Director Susan Moffat-Thomas, who has overseen the overall project, said that a ceremony will be held in a few months, once a storyboard telling the winch’s story is completed.

The winch, which is about 8 feet in circumference and weighs in at three or four tons, had originally been purchased by the Barbour boat works, second hand, from another company, according to Robert Chiles of Robert M. Chiles Engineers and Consultants. Chiles, who in the 1960s, was also employed by Barbour.

The winch was part of a system used to pull boats into dry dock for repairs. He estimated that this winch could have pulled boats as large as 300 tons. The winch was built by the Crandall dry dock company, which built dry docks around the world, especially during World War II. While “Crandall started building these things all the way back in the year ‘one,” Chiles said, he estimated this particular winch was probably built around the 1930s.

While Barbour already had winches at its main location (where the N.C. History Center now stands), this winch was purchased with the plan to use it along the Neuse River at a second yard that is currently Maola Milk property.

The planned dry dock could not be built, however, because the channel was too close to shore, so the wheel remained lying on the property until it became overgrown with weeds and forgotten.

Moffat-Thomas said she first became aware of the gear when she was chairing New Bern’s 300 Committee in 2010.

“Tom McGraw, Harry Goodman and Dick Lore had found the artifact while they were out walking and wondered if I thought it would fit in with the theme,” she said. “I went out and looked at the machine and was very excited about it.”

Moffat-Thomas approached the Maola Company, which donated the winch to Swiss Bear.

“The city disassembled it and stored it behind some buildings at Glenburnie Park,” she said, while funds were sought to restore and display it.

For some time, the winch set idle, as the economy “tanked,” she said. But, “I never gave up on wanting that artifact restored because it is the only remnant or historic artifact that relates back to New Bern’s boat building industry.”

Barbour, founded by Herbert W. Barbour in 1933, built a wide variety of ships, including minesweepers and rescue ships during World War II and other military ships during the Vietnam era. It also constructed fishing vessels, barges, ferry boats and harbor tugs before it closed its doors in 2001.

Swiss Bear finally received $21,000 from Mary Ann Harrison. The money was used to sandblast and prepare the machine, as well as to cover the cost of a storyboard.

Moffat-Thomas obtained permission from the New Bern Board of Aldermen to have the winch set up in Lawson Creek Park and said ownership will be taken over by the city once it is complete.

“This has been on Swiss Bear’s radar for a long time,” she said. “I’m thrilled to death that this is coming to completion.”

Sun Journal article - January 11, 2014

Downtown pedestrian connections

Creating a strong sense of community... 

Church Alley after
construction was completed

Church Alley during
construction

To create a downtown that will attract a diverse concentrated mix of uses and foster economic interaction among these uses, it is essential to encourage people through the downtown core on foot by establishing an attractive system of pedestrian connections. Pedestrian connections create a strong sense of community and walkability, an important goal in New Bern’s downtown revitalization effort.

According to the summary of existing conditions in the 1977 Downtown Revitalization Plan, pedestrian access from the mid-block parking lots to the shops that fronted Middle, Pollock and Craven streets was inadequate, in some cases dangerous and generally unattractive. To achieve walkability, the 1977 Plan proposed an open space system for the entire redevelopment effort starting at the bulkhead of the urban renewal property along the Trent River and continuing along the Neuse River to connect with the historic residential and commercial district. The plan envisioned connecting mid-block parking lots to shopping streets, creating additional walking path systems (Riverwalk) through the city that would extend out to the water’s edge (Riverwalk) system.

The first mid-block pedestrian park, created in 1981 with Municipal Service District (MSD) funds (additional taxes paid by downtown property owners for public improvements) was Bear Plaza, which connected to the newly constructed interior parking lot referred to as Federal Alley. The 1990 Urban Design Plan, initiated and coordinated by Swiss Bear in partnership with the city, reiterated the importance of pedestrian connections and recommended existing through-block pedestrian connections be improved, enhanced and new ones developed when the opportunity arose.

As a result, Church Alley (between Remax and Tom’s Coins), the walkway between First Baptist Church and O. Marks, and the walkway along the Century 21 building from South Front into the interior Federal Alley parking area and the alley between Morgan’s Tavern and the adjacent building were improved to include paving, some with lighting and landscaping. However, a pedestrian connection was still needed on Pollock Street.

In early 1994, when Swiss Bear heard the owner of the old pool hall was considering selling it, with approval from the Municipal Service District Advisory Committee and the city, Swiss Bear board member Stewart Smith approached the owner and worked out an agreement for the city to purchase the building with MSD funds. Acquiring this property was a goal for the creation of a through-block pedestrian linkage onto Pollock Street as recommended in the 1990 Urban Design Plan. This small one-story building was in poor repair, without architectural distinction and its removal would allow a dramatic direct view of the steeple of the Episcopal Church, mirroring the view of the First Baptist through Church Alley.

Swiss Bear hired Allison Platt & Associates to design a plan for the space with plantings, old brick from the streets of New Bern, street lights, benches and a three-tier fountain. Following demolition of the old building by the City, the project was put on hold as the remaining MSD funds were committed for the first phase of major streetscape improvements to the 100/200 blocks of Middle Street.

Swiss Bear met the challenge to move the project forward and worked to raise the needed funds and find an appropriate name for the mid-block pedestrian park. The late Rev. Edward Sharp of Christ Episcopal Church had been a strong supporter of the revitalization effort and Swiss Bear so I asked for his assistance to recommend a name for the park. Through his research efforts, the New Bern Board of Aldermen approved our request to name the park James Reed Lane in memory and honor of this 18th century pioneer in public education. After 230 years, the Rev. James Reed, first rector of Christ Church, received belated public recognition for his role in establishing in New Bern, North Carolina’s first incorporated school in 1764.

The city agreed to provide the labor for development of the space and our campaign to raise $60,000 for construction materials, streetlights, benches and planting materials was successful. Additional funding for the beautiful three-tier cast iron fountain was contributed by Dr. and Mrs. Harry MacDonald in honor of his parents, Mr. and Mrs. H.J. MacDonald. John C. Thomas constructed the abstract wood wall hanging and donated the brownstone plaque in the sidewalk that recognizes the MacDonald’s contribution. Contributors to the project are listed on a bronze plaque on the brick wall facing the park.

On Feb. 25, 1996, 2 p.m., the dedication was a joyous well attended occasion. In addition to remarks from Reverend Sharp, the Swiss Bear director and chairman, special guest Patrick Dorsey, North Carolina secretary of Cultural Resources, was the keynote speaker.

Thanks to a public/private partnership that began in the late 1970s, the development of this mid-block pedestrian park added another amenity that enhanced the “walkability and sense of place” of our historic downtown. Downtown now offers a mix of restaurants, retail, galleries, attractions, offices, parks and housing that promote interaction. Since the downtown economy thrives on accessibility, networking, creativity and a sense of community, the numerous pedestrian connections play a vital role as interaction is key to downtown’s success.

Susan Moffat-Thomas

Executive Director of Swiss Bear Downtown Development Corporation.

Meeting the challenges of change, keeping the vision in focus

Downtown New Bern
mid-to-late 1980s

By the late 1980’s most of the downtown development occurring up to that point was initiated by the private sector and funded through private development efforts and the Municipal Service District (additional property tax to downtown property owners).

From 1980 to 1986, approximately $17.5 million was invested in rehabilitation and new construction. Numerous events and promotions were attracting people back downtown. The arts and cultural organizations were developing an agenda of theater productions, art exhibits and concerts.

Tourism was now the county’s fourth largest industry. Two new waterfront hotels and marinas graced the waterfront and the newly established Craven County Tourism Development Authority promoted Craven County with funds generated from a hotel/motel occupancy tax creating a growing need for conference meeting space.

The changes brought new challenges and by 1988 they were beginning to surface. The many projects underway were being done on a piece meal basis and the professional resource team funded by the Pride In Place: Small Town Image Building Program pointed that out during their three day stay in mid-February.

While the Pride-in-Place team’s immediate task was to investigate the potential-use of the Kress store/Elks building to accommodate the need for meeting space, they said that task needed to be viewed in the context of other developments in the immediate vicinity and downtown as a whole. The public and private sector needed a master plan/urban design plan to guide development and redevelopment decisions and provide a unified sense of direction. Continual progress was dependent on public sector participation through a coordinated program of public improvements and development incentives.

The concept of an urban design plan was not fully understood and there was no consensus among the Aldermen to fund development of such a plan. They chose to rely on the recently commissioned Waterfront Conservation & Development Plan (WCDP) to develop long range plans for New Bern’s waterfront and a Coastal Area Management Act (CAMA) grant concentrating on preserving water quality, increasing public access to the water and addressing storm water run-off in Union Point, Lawson Creek Park, Glenburnie Park and redevelopment property near the Towers.

At Swiss Bear’s April Board meeting, Tyler Harris, county manager reported NCDOT initiated a study on a U.S. 17 New Bern by-pass and/or replacement/relocation of the Neuse River and Trent River bridges. The increased traffic flow through downtown and across the Neuse and Trent River bridges was creating major traffic problems that would continue to increase. Options being studied were a New Bern bypass carrying traffic far outside of New Bern, construction of a high-rise bridge extending from Bridgeton to the vicinity of Hatteras Yachts or construction of a high-rise bridge from Sandy Point to James City and closing the two existing drawbridges.

A twelve member committee met with DOT officials expressing the third option for a new bridge system would best serve the needs of the community. A new bridge system would take seven to twelve years to move forward and if the project received funding from the Federal Bridge Replacement Act, it would require removal of the two existing bridges.

Facing this potential challenge, Swiss Bear Board members concurred it was vitally important to complete redevelopment of Union Point and other downtown improvements before any bridge and road improvements would take place.

In August 1988, the presentation of the WCDP study on the waterfront from Lawson Creek to New Street recommended improvements to Lawson Creek Park, acquisition of two parcels of land near the housing authority for a public space and developing a waterfront walkway from New Street to Hancock Street as a long term goal. Redevelopment of Union Point Park required more study.

The issue of incompatible waterfront development surfaced in September when Southern Home Management and New Bern Associates requested amending a zoning ordinance allowing Central Business District (CBD) residential structures to exceed 35 feet height restrictions. They were interested in developing residential housing in Bicentennial Park. Zoning regulations were inconsistent with no height restrictions on non-residential buildings in the CBD and a 35 foot height restriction on residential buildings. The Historic District Commission administered stringent guidelines for historic structures but not on new structures, setbacks, parking or public improvements.

At the same time, Morton Construction and Southern Home Management proposed construction of 52 condominiums (260 feet wide and 60 to 65 feet in height) or a five story hotel on the vacant three acre tract adjacent to Union Point Park on East Front Street.

This became a highly contentious controversial issue. Many objected to “blocking their view of the waterfront” even though it was privately owned property and there was a need for downtown investment and residential housing.

The Planning Board felt they needed to compromise to keep New Bern’s skyline intact and still allow development to move forward. The New Bern Preservation Foundation and New Bern Historical Society’s position was to leave the ordinance as it was until a land use study and urban waterfront design plan were completed with a moratorium on any waterfront construction until studies could be completed.

Swiss Bear board members voiced concern there were no height restrictions on non-residential buildings, that residential and non-residential development was needed and understood action taken on height restrictions would only be a quick fix.

At an October Public Hearing in City Hall, the Planning Board recommended amending the ordinance. Residential and non-residential construction could not exceed the height of the tallest building within 100 feet. Numerous people spoke for and against the amendment. Swiss Bear chairman, Harold Talton stated Swiss Bear’s support for the amendment was unanimous.

At the Dec. 6, 1988 Board of Aldermen meeting, the amendment became official. When Mayor Ella Bengel concluded the meeting saying it is the belief of Swiss Bear and other organizations an Urban Design Plan was urgently needed to eliminate problems like those associated with this amendment, Swiss Bear immediately committed to assist the city in raising funds to commission an Urban Design Plan to provide a vision/blueprint to guide planned growth during the next five–to-ten years.

Transition of the Neuse River waterfront and Union Point Park

Women's Club Building

Model of winning concept for
 Union Point Park

Design Competition - First Place
winning design

In the late 1970’s, the redevelopment and integration of the area along the Trent River and Neuse River into the core downtown area focused on creating amenities that would enhance the area as a destination.

Union Point’s prominent location at the confluence of the two rivers and its close proximity to downtown made it a keystone in the redevelopment of the waterfront.

Historically, Union Point served as the site for commercial sawmill operations, seafood processing and naval stores and in the early 20th century as a government dock. New Bern’s decline as a port city led to the gradual deterioration of the Neuse and Trent waterfront and by the 1920’s, Union Point degenerated into a city dump.

Union Point showed some
deterioration again in the 1980s

In 1931, when a development project to construct a multi-story hotel failed, the New Bern Women’s Club initiated clean-up of the area to convert it into a public park and construct a Club House. The Board of Aldermen approved the project “provided it could be done without any cost to the city other than City labor, when it could be spared.” 

With President Roosevelt’s announcement municipalities could borrow W.P.A funds with a local match of funds, the Woman’s Club Committee requested some of the relief-employed labor be diverted to the park project.

When the building was completed, Mayor Tolson’s donated a lily pool. The building and park became a rallying point boosting the morale of the city and the place community activities took place for many years.

In the 1950’s, Cedric Boyd, Public Works Director, developed the park further with a picnic area, boat ramps, a pavilion and restrooms. Throughout the years it continued to be a highly used park.

By the mid-1970’s, hurricanes, frequent flooding and deferred maintenance led to its deterioration. The restrooms were frequently vandalized. The piling and pier decking were decaying. Stress cracks in the exterior walls of the Women’s Club along with the sinking and heaving of the concrete slab floor lead to the building’s closure in the early 1980’s.

Adjacent to Union Point, the three acre abandoned Texaco site, surrounded by a chain link fence, housed seven fuel tanks, a vacant service station and warehouse with a large expanse of asphalt paving.

In the early 1980’s, with waterfront redevelopment a major objective in the downtown revitalization effort, the City and Swiss Bear agreed acquisition of the Texaco land would provide the opportunity to expand Union Point Park.

In September 1982, learning Texaco was exploring having the tanks removed from the site, Tony Hooper, City Manager, contacted Jim Nay, Texaco’s Division Manager, Bellaire, Texas inquiring if the company would consider donating the property to the city for use as a public park. Although Nay responded the tract, appraised at $300,000, was too valuable to give away, correspondence continued.

In late October, when Texaco agreed to donate the waterfront section to the City and sub-divide and sell the front two parcels for a bargain sale of $10,000, Swiss Bear’s Board made Texaco an offer of $10,000 for the two lots. After months of negotiations, on June 15, 1983, Jim Nay, Division Manager presented deeds to Swiss Bear Chairman Harold Talton and Mayor Paul Cox at a press conference in Bear Plaza. 

In July 1983, the Board of Aldermen granted Swiss Bear the authority to develop a plan for the highest and best use of the Texaco property and Union Point and flexibility in negotiations with the City on disposition of the Texaco property owned by Swiss Bear.

An East Waterfront Task Force, appointed by the Board of Aldermen and chaired by John Ward included representatives from the City, County, Swiss Bear, Chamber of Commerce, Weyerhaeuser, Hatteras Yachts, Neuse River Foundation and was later expanded with sub-committees from the business community for fundraising, project design and grants to cover costs incurred.

After visiting numerous waterfront cities and meeting weekly, Task Force members concluded the best use was development of a visitor and river resource center dedicated to the identification, study and resolution of water quality problems adversely affecting residential and industrial development.

In April, 1984, they held a Design Competition for the design and layout of the 6.5 acre site. Seventeen architect and landscape architect firms submitted entry drawings. The award-winning design by Edgar Carr & Associates called for the excavation of most of Union Point to create a protected harbor with a barrier island, a resource center, waterfront promenade, amphitheater for outdoor performances and boat docks.

The Kellenberger Historical Foundation approved a $5,000 grant for the design phase and the Board of Aldermen approved $9,000 for a feasibility study. Commitments to fund the $3-4 million project received financial support from several local major industries.

In 1986, Swiss Bear sold its two Texaco parcels to the City for $14,500, covering costs incurred to demolish the two buildings and clean up site debris.

Throughout the next three years, the project remained controversial in spite of numerous public meetings and modifications to the design. Residents voiced anger at losing the use of the park and fishermen the loss of the boat ramps. To address that issue, Swiss Bear took the lead and paid $2,000 for a plan to up-grade Lawson Creek Park (also a dump site in previous years), the City of New Bern appropriated $27,000 and the County provided the labor to build four new boat launching ramps.

In December 1987, failing to gain state support for a major appropriation to help fund the project, Task Force members, the Swiss Bear Executive Board and Board of Aldermen determined the Union Point Task Force should work with Edgar D. Stone and Associates (EDSA), Design Competition third place winner to come up with a plan for Union Point.

However, other waterfront controversies arose that laid the groundwork for development of the 1990 Urban Design Plan which, in addition to providing a clear vision for all of downtown, would include a new design concept for Union Point Park.

Susan Moffat Thomas
Executive Director