Fresh off the Labor Day weekend, Wilmington City Council holding the first regular meeting for the month of September.
First up, Council approved a resolution to enter into a contract for Phase 1 design of the Downtown Trail.
The 2.2 mile segment begins at 3rd Street, and runs to the Love Grove bridge, providing a connection between Downtown and the parks and neighborhoods to its east.
The Downtown Trail is part of the Wilmington Comprehensive Greenway project.
“It’s going to provide residents living in the areas a direct access to the goods and services that are located in downtown. Be it transit, seeking course at the community college, or getting to their job, the multi-use facility is a safe, off-street accommodation,” said Abby Lorenzo, deputy director for the Wilmington Urban Area Metropolitan Planning Organization.
Next, Council awarded a $12.5 million construction contract for the nCino Sports Complex. It also approved separate but related funding to help complete construction.
The complex, which is a voter-approved parks bond project, will host a range of activities such as soccer, lacrosse, football and ultimate frisbee.
Next, Council approved a resolution to apply for grant funds which would support the Starway Village project.
This 278-unit development, which will be located at 2346 Carolina Beach Road, will provide one-, two- and three-bedroom affordable housing solutions.
Finally, Council approved a resolution to rezone and donate the vacant property at 3939 Carolina Beach Road to Good Shepherd Center for redevelopment as safe and affordable permanent supportive housing.
The site, which formerly housed Fire Station 6, would become home to up to 33 housing units, paired with case management services for those in need.
“It’s a very targeted kind of housing intervention for our chronically homeless, a way for helping them to gain and hold on to housing stability for the long term,” said Katrina Knight, executive director for Good Shepherd.
“Folks experience improved physical health, mental health, and an overall sense of well-being just by having a place to call home, a roof over their head, knowing where their medications are, knowing where they can go to ask ask a question or ask for help if they need other support — it’s an important investment, and one that’s working right here in Wilmington,” Knight added.
City council will meet again on September 20th at 6:30 pm.
For more on this meeting, visit wilmingtonnc.gov.