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

The Evolution of Union Point Park...New Bern Woman's Club, the house the Depression built

New Bern Woman's Club - Late 1930's

The property along the Neuse River in the city’s early history was the site of seafood and sawmill operations. By the early 1900’s, its decline as a port city led to the gradual  deterioration of the Neuse and Trent waterfront. By the early 1920’s Union Point  was used as a city dump. In 1931 the New Bern Women’s Club initiated a major project to convert the Union Point dump into a park and construct a Club House. Mayor Tolson and 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 P.W.A. funds with a local match of funds, the Woman’s Club Committee requested some of the relief-employed labor be diverted toward the park project.  "The large force of laborers began by leveling and grading the land. The Club women, knowing the men on the relief payroll had been on short rations for many months, opened a soup kitchen and prepared meals by collecting donations of food and money. They  also opened a distribution center for new and used clothing. Clothed and fed, when the men began to sing as they worked, the women knew their project was assured." 

New Bern Woman's Club - Late 1970's



*Summarized from a 1934 Woman’s Home Companion entitled 

  “The House the Depression Built”. 

When the building was completed, Mayor Tolson’s gift to the project was a lovely lily pool. The building and park became a rallying point that boosted the morale of the city and was the place community activities, parties, picnics and dances took place for many years.  

Newly constructed pavilion in Union Point Park - 1950's

In the 1950’s and 1960’s, Cedric Boyd, Public Works Director, developed the park further with a pavilion the City employees constructed, a picnic area and boat ramps.  As the downtown deteriorated, the hurricanes and frequent flooding led to the deterioration of the park and Woman’s Club building. The concrete floor heaved and cracked and the building was closed for use in the early 1980’s as it was deemed unsafe.

Union Point Park - Late 1970's

In a future blog, I will relate the controversy and future plans for the park that led to the demise of the House the Depression built. 

Susan Moffat Thomas

Executive Director 

 



East Waterfront Task Force...Design Competition

   

Swiss Bear board member cleaning up
Union Point Park

  

Design cometition judge discussing the
winning entry


 

Model of winning design -
Protected harbor & river research center 

 

  

Concept board of winning entry

In July 1983, following the City’s acquisition of the Texaco property, the Board of Aldermen designated Swiss Bear as the entity to plan the use of the Texaco property and Union Point,  granting 120 days to come up with a plan.  Swiss Bear organized the East Waterfront Task Force composed of representatives Swiss Bear, the Chamber of Commerce, Weyerhaeuser, Neuse River Foundation and the City Manager, several Aldermen and the City Planner.

The group met weekly, organized teams to clean up Union Point and visited the waterfronts of other cities including Norfolk, VA  and Baltimore MD. The Task Force determined a design competition would be the best way to obtain a creative plan for redevelopment of the Texaco property and Union Point and organized many sub-committees to include, fundraising, audio-visual and project/design. A professional advisor was hired to run the design competition and money was raised to cover costs incurred. Brochures were mailed to 3,300 architects and landscape architects in North Carolina, Virginia and South Carolina. In February 1984, around 15-18 firms had submitted proposals and concept drawings. Judges with impressive credentials  were selected to jury the design competition, held in the Bank of the Arts. On April 26, the announcement was made that  Raleigh architect, Edgar Carr’s submission was chosen as the winning design. His plan called for the excavation of a large part of Union Point to create a protected harbor and construction of a river research center. Over the next three years, the Task Force worked diligently to acquire the support and funding to develop this project. Numerous meetings were held with local, state and federal legislators to secure funding. Presentations were made to civic groups soliciting support. In the 1986 “short session” the request to the state Senate Appropriations Committee for $1,900,000, a third of what they originally asked for, was turned down.  

In August at a Swiss Bear Board meeting, Harold Talton said the article in the Sun Journal stating the chairman of Swiss Bear said the project was “dead in the water” was untrue. He said the statement  made was “that the current design appeared to be dead in the water”. This project didn’t reach fruition as the design was simply to radical to garner the community support required to obtain state and federal funding.

However, this was just one of many more hurdles that had to be jumped before the Park was developed in the mid-1990’s.

Susan Moffat Thomas
Executive Director

East Waterfront Task Force...developing a plan for Union Point Park

In a previous blog I wrote about Swiss Bear’s involvement in purchasing several parcels along the street and getting the parcels along the Neuse River donated to the City. The three acre tract, adjacent to Union Point Park, included fuel storage tanks and a vacant deteriorating gas station. It was important to acquire the property to begin developing the waterfront to attract and accommodate tourism and water recreation. The negotiation process took several years. During that time Swiss Bear approached Weyerhaeuser Corporation about their interest in building a museum and visitor center that would include an aquatic learning center. They indicated they were interested in considering such a project if the Texaco property was used to expand Union Point.  

With that in mind, in July 1983, following Texaco’s donation of the property to the City, Harold Talton, Swiss Bear Chairman and Marvin Davis, the Executive Director, went before the Board of Aldermen to request Swiss Bear’s designation as the entity to plan the use of the Texaco property and Union Point. The Board of Aldermen approved and passed a resolution granting Swiss Bear 120 days to come up with a plan.  Swiss Bear sought the Chamber of Commerce’s help and the two organization’s created  the East Waterfront Task Force. Members included, Tony Hooper, City Manager; David Rowland, City Planner; Boyd Meyers and Paul Cox, Aldermen; Weyerhaeuser representatives were Norm Johnson, Glen Wood and George Henson. Swiss Bear representatives were Harold Talton, Marvin Davis, John Ward and Kay Williams. Jamie King was the Neuse River Foundation representatives and Farrell Teague and Alton Herndon represented the Chamber. The Task Force worked on this project, which became very controversial, for more than three years.

In a future blog, I will relate the many challenges and hurdles they faced over the following three years with the goal of developing the Texaco property and Union Point into a protected harbor and river research center.  

Susan Moffat Thomas

Executive Director



Union Point Park late 1970's



Union Point Park late 1970's



The Evolution of New Bern's Waterfront... changing with the times

Although there are few indications left that New Bern was a major port that relied on its rivers for its livelihood in the 18^th and 19^th centuries, the downtown business district remains in close proximity to the Neuse and Trent Rivers. In the early 1800’s, a steam-powered saw mill operated in Union Point and the banks of the Neuse River was lined with turpentine distilleries and tank yards. All the businesses, industries and residences were clustered around that commercial area. Following a severe depression from the late 1820’s into the early 1840’s, three major fires devastated the economy. However, by the late 1840’s and  early 1850’s, the national demand for turpentine, lumber and naval stores brought renewed growth and development.

In the early 1860’s, during the Civil War, New Bern became an active commercial and waterfront district due to the occupation of the Union Forces for the duration of the war. As a center for Union operations, the town maintained an active commercial and waterfront district.  Three more fires and lumber based economic growth in the post Civil Wars years led to intense building activity. In the early 1900’s, the economic prosperity led to expanded growth and construction away from the waterfront into what is now the business district. The downtown began to assume its recognizable landscape between the 1880’s and 1920. The mishmash of older frame and brick commercial buildings and residences, irregularly sited along the downtown streets, were demolished as the intense building activity in the expanded business district continued. More than 50 major brick buildings were constructed and in 1909-1910, the city paved 35 blocks of streets with bricks and constructed 25 miles of concrete sidewalks with granite curbing.  Downtown was then the place most people went to shop, bank, worship, recreate, or participate in the political life of the community whether they went there every day or once a season.

Trent Waterfront late 1960

Aerial View of Waterfront - 1960

In the 1920’s the decline of the lumber industry led to an economic downturn and New Bern’s decline as a port city.  The growth of trucking and the auto industry led to the post WWII exodus to the suburbs and further deterioration of the downtown and its waterfront. In the late 1960’s, early 1970’s, 14 acres of commercial buildings on the Trent waterfront were demolished through a federal urban renewal program. The objective was to redevelop the waterfront and a Development Commission was established.

Throughout the decade of the 1950’s, the waterfront was used for fishing boating and sailing and outboard motor races. By the 1970’s the sport of sailing in the Neuse led to the creation of two yacht clubs.   

Union Point Park Today

Aerial View of New Bern Today

In 1977, the Downtown Revitalization Plan commissioned by local officials and business leaders, articulated the goal of transforming the entire downtown waterfront…taking it from its slum conditions to a place of beauty, a place where people of all ages, races, and walks of life could enjoy the spectacular beauty of the two rivers joining forces. The Plan pointed out  expanding tourism, developing recreational opportunities and attracting retirees could be the catalyst for the revitalization of the  downtown and the redevelopment of its waterfront.  Swiss Bear, a private nonprofit, was organized to stimulate and coordinate the downtown revitalization effort in partnership with the public sector. Many partners joined in the effort. Over the past 30 years, four hotels, three marinas, a riverfront convention center, Farmers Market, and the NC History Center, redevelopment of Union Point Park and Council Bluff Green, removal of the old Neuse River Bridge, development of the Riverwalk along the two rivers (to provide public access to the waterfront ) the new Neuse River Bridge and replacement of the Alfred Cunningham Bridge transformed the downtown and waterfront. Tourism is a major industry and downtown and its waterfront is a destination.

New Bern’s willingness to adapt to the needs of the time, led to its growth and development in the 18^th and 19^th centuries, and  again in the late twentieth and early twenty first century. The spectacular waterfront setting, convenient accessibility to boat traffic and public access to the waterfront has made this area increasingly valuable to the on-going development of New Bern and Craven County.

Tell us what you think.

Susan Moffat Thomas

Executive Director