The Possibilities of Passenger Rail for Wilmington

This is an Op-Ed by Mayor Bill Saffo

Imagine hopping aboard a train in downtown Wilmington and traveling to destinations west, north, and south of our city. Or, better still, imagine the ability to show off our city – its waterfront restaurants and shops, its historic buildings and sites, its recreational opportunities and energy – to travelers from those same destinations who could arrive by a quick and convenient train ride.

No worries about stop-and-go traffic. The ability to read a book, catch up on email or enjoy conversation with friends. A tranquil ride watching the landscape pass by.

There is growing momentum for that dream to become a reality, for Wilmington and other cities across North Carolina, as state, local MPO, and federal officials explore new funding opportunities for intercity passenger rail. To better understand those opportunities, the City of Wilmington and Rail Response, a project of the NC Metro Mayors Coalition, will be hosting a meeting on Thursday, Aug. 31 at 1:00p.m. We hope that this meeting, to be held at 929 N. Front Street, will provide those interested with a better understanding of rail systems in North Carolina, specifically intercity passenger rail and its benefits to residents.

“Wilmington can and should be a part of a passenger rail system in North Carolina.”

Mayor Bill Saffo

It also will offer an opportunity to understand the funding streams for rail systems and the resources municipalities need to compete for intercity rail funding. The event will include presentations by state transportation experts and a look at the future of rail here in Wilmington.

I’m proud to be a member of the Rail Response workgroup, and we look forward to being joined by other members, including co-chairs Susan Kluttz, former Salisbury Mayor and former Secretary of the NC Department of Cultural Resources, and Nick Tennyson, former mayor of Durham and former Secretary of the NC Department of Transportation.

This meeting comes at an opportune time for our city.

Back in May, our City Council approved a resolution in support of the NC Department of Transportation’s application to have the proposed Wilmington-to-Raleigh route be included in a federal  Corridor Identification and Development Program. If approved, it would designate $500,000 in federal funding for planning for the route.

In total, the federal bipartisan infrastructure bill includes $66 billion for passenger and freight rail infrastructure investment, with $44 billion to be distributed through the Federal Railroad Administration’s discretionary grant program.

As part of its Amtrak Connects US initiative, Amtrak has unveiled early-stage plans that would include Wilmington among more than 30 new routes by 2035.

In other words, a Wilmington-to-Raleigh passenger route that would connect to passenger rail across the state and the Eastern Seaboard, is a real possibility.

Meanwhile, a local effort called Eastern Carolina Rail, is seeking to enlist private and public entities in generating awareness and support for the passenger rail corridor and its benefits to our region.

This is an exciting moment for the possibilities of passenger rail. More and more people are using rail for travel, and system modernization is making it increasingly attractive to travelers.

Wilmington can and should be a part of a passenger rail system in North Carolina. There is plenty of work to be done, and I look forward to joining with partners across the state in this worthy effort.

City partners with New Hanover County for hurricane preparedness exercise

As the heart of the Atlantic Hurricane Season nears, the City of Wilmington and its partners with the New Hanover County government held a hurricane exercise on Tuesday, Aug. 8 to prepare for any future storms that may affect our community.

“The exercise allows us to assess our capabilities and make critical adjustments to better prepare the city’s response to hurricanes,” said Craig Harris, Emergency Management & Resiliency Coordinator for the City of Wilmington. 

The exercise was held concurrently at the New Hanover County Emergency Operations Center inside the county’s new government complex and at the city’s Public Services Department Emergency Operations Center, and involved over 90 city and county employees. When an emergency occurs, the city works in partnership with the county to have a jointly coordinated response.

The training exercise held at the city’s Emergency Operations Center.

The Atlantic Hurricane Season runs from June 1 to Nov. 30, and generally peaks around the beginning of September. So, the time to prepare is right now.

Make sure to do these three things to prepare for the next storm:

  • Put together an emergency kit that includes extra batteries, flashlights, a first aid kit, bottled water, and prescription medications. Your kit should include enough supplies to last for at least three days.
  • Secure important documents such as birth certificates, social security cards, and tax records.
  • Strengthen your home by covering windows, reinforcing doors, and bringing all outdoor furniture inside before a storm hits.

It’s incredibly important to prepare now so you’re ready when the next storm happens.

For more tips, head on over to ready.gov/hurricanes.

City Closes On Downtown Office Campus

The City of Wilmington has successfully acquired a 12.5-acre office campus in northern downtown, which includes a 1,022-space parking deck, a large office building, and two adjoining development tracts. The acquisition of the office campus allows the city to add much-needed parking capacity near Riverfront Park and consolidate numerous city departments under one roof for better operations and customer service.

No tax increase was required to fund the purchase of the office campus, which was included in the city’s FY24 budget. As operations transition to the new campus, the city intends to sell several vacated city buildings and surplus property to offset the $68 million purchase price. The historic Thalian Hall/City Hall building would not be sold.

Mayor Bill Saffo said the new office campus represents “a creative and cost-effective solution to growing demands on downtown parking and city operations.”

“This adds over 1,000 parking spaces near our very successful Riverfront Park and Live Oak Bank Pavilion, brings together multiple city operations into one building, and saves millions of dollars by allowing the city to sell off aging facilities. Our capacity to make such a major investment in the future without a tax increase speaks to the city’s historically strong financial position,” said Mayor Saffo.

The city’s purchase price represents a $43.3 million savings from an appraised market value of $111.3 million for the office campus, and a $55+ million savings over construction alternatives to meet the city’s parking and operational space needs.

The city made an offer to purchase the office campus in January 2023. In May, city leaders made a formal presentation to the North Carolina Local Government Commission, which must approve all such transactions by local governments. The commission voted in June to formally approve the city’s purchase plan. Following a months-long due diligence period, the city closed on the purchase on July 13. The city initiated a request for proposals for architectural consulting services to assist with transitioning its operations into the new building. The city anticipates moving into the building over the course of several months as occupancy plans and improvements are completed.

The office campus originally opened in 2007 as the headquarters of PPD, now the clinical research business of Thermo Fisher Scientific. While maintaining its commitment to Wilmington as a hub for PPD’s operations, Thermo Fisher first announced its intention to sell the campus in November 2022. As part of the sale agreement, PPD will lease two floors of the building for its Wilmington office for three years with options to extend the lease.

Wilmington partners with UNC and eight other cities to improve language access

This content is provided by the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s Building Integrated Communities program.

On January 27, 2023, Building Integrated Communites (BIC) launched its inaugural class of the Language Access Collaborative, bringing together teams of North Carolina local governments and community-based organizations to build bridges of communication. Nine local governments partnered with community-based organizations to form teams of Collaborative participants across the state. The City of Wilmington was selected to be a member of the Collaborative.

Joe Conway, Chief Equity and Inclusion Officer for the City of Wilmington remarks, “In our ongoing commitment to honor the rich diversity of our residents, the City of Wilmington is pleased to be in partnership with the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and our community partner, Coastal Horizons, to launch the Language Access Collaborative. This initiative aims to bridge language barriers, ensuring equitable access to city resources and enabling effective participation in civic matters for all residents, regardless of their primary language.”

Through a combination of virtual workshop exchanges, in-person summits, and technical assistance, teams are participating in a hybrid, interactive Language Access Collaborative course designed to build capacity for NC local governments to communicate with residents in community languages. Community organizations are part of the teams and provide expertise and guidance to cities, towns, and counties.

As part of the Collaborative, teams will:

  • Learn about promising practices from immigrant and language access leaders and practitioners,
  • Conduct internal assessments and collect community data,
  • Design a language access plan for local government, and
  • Initiate implementation of recommendations from that plan.

The Language Access Collaborative, which is funded by the Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina Foundation, is part of BIC at the Institute for the Study of the Americas (ISA) at UNC-Chapel Hill, one of the oldest centers in the nation for the study of La􀆟n America.

“Here at ISA, we view language access as an important first step towards civic engagement, representative leadership, and public understanding of North Carolina’s Latin American history and heritage,” said Dr. Hannah Gill, Associate Director of ISA. “Shifting patterns of migration have direct implications on the daily life of communities across North Carolina, and the Language Access Collaborative strengthens our efforts to build capacity, develop expertise and experience, and inform public policy.”

“We can already see the practical benefits of creating this opportunity for cities and counties to collaborate with community-based agencies and each other through an exchange of ideas, experiences, and models of language access,” Gill added.

Team members point to the benefits of deeper relationships formed through language access as a way to promote equity and justice.

Clinica Lantina of Coastal Horizons graciously agreed to partner with the City of Wilmington for the Collaborative project. Maria Van De Bovenkamp of Clinica Latina states, we are “very excited to be the Community Partner with the City of Wilmington in this endeavor. The Language Access Collaborative will foster a stronger sense of inclusion and encourage greater participation from the Latinx community by providing information and resources in Spanish. By making this information accessible, we hope to empower and engage individuals, enabling them to take advantage of the available resources and become more involved.”

By working with community agencies to create language access plans, polices, and procedures, local governments in the Collaborative are providing meaningful language access, hiring bilingual staff, and ensuring quality interpretation/translation services for residents who speak languages other than English.

This year-long course will culminate in January 2024 with a public presentation of the 9 teams’ language access plans. City of Wilmington Equity and Inclusion Specialist Amy Schlag is “eager to have a plan in place that will allow us to better connect with the vibrant communities in Wilmington who speak languages other than English, and who work to make vital contributions to Wilmington’s success every day.”

This year-long Language Access course will culminate in January 2024 with a public presentation of the 9 teams’ language access plans. To learn more about the Language Access Collaborative, visit: htps://migration.unc.edu/language-access-collaborative/ or contact Susan Clifford, Language Access Coordinator, at Susan.Clifford@unc.edu.

How You Give Matters: Help Individuals Move from Crisis to Stability

Written by Tommy Taylor, United Way of the Cape Fear Area

The City of Wilmington and the United Way of the Cape Fear Area (United Way) have partnered to launch the “Better Way to Give” initiative. This initiative offers community members a comprehensive and compassionate alternative to giving directly to individuals who solicit money in public places by instead directing gifts to service providers that help these persons move from crisis to stability.

This initiative recognizes that many individuals who ask for money in public places, such as intersections and sidewalks, can face significant challenges like hunger and food insecurity, unemployment, substance abuse, and homelessness. These issues are complex and require smart, holistic solutions.

The impulse to give financial resources to individuals who demonstrate these needs is natural, but a single donation to an individual only provides temporary relief and does not address the root causes of their struggles. In some cases, giving directly to an individual can exacerbate their struggles, allowing them to remain in a state of crisis rather than finding the structured support and stability they need.

Giving instead to community organizations that provide structured support can help these individuals move toward a better future. The greater Wilmington area has a number of highly reputable organizations that work everyday to meet the needs of those in crisis in a holistic and comprehensive way, making a positive and long-lasting impact on the lives of individuals.

A Better Way to Give provides a simple and easy way for you to support this important work through a dedicated public giving portal administered by the United Way. The funds collected will be distributed directly to the human and social service organizations operating within the City of Wilmington that provide direct client services for shelter and housing, food and nutrition, substance abuse recovery, and employment opportunity.

Everyday, we see needs all around us. If compassion and concern inspire you to give to persons you encounter soliciting funds in public places, I encourage you to make the most of your gift through the Better Way to Give and help to provide the kind of life changing support that can move these persons from crisis to stability and a better future.

If you would like to donate, click here.

Wilmington City Council Approves FY24 Budget

At its June 20 meeting, Wilmington City Council voted to adopt the FY24 city budget. The $351 million balanced budget is guided by the city’s strategic priorities, which include increasing affordable housing opportunities, modernizing the city’s infrastructure, and actively preparing for the city’s future needs and growing demands on city services. The tax rate under the new budget remains unchanged.

Mayor Bill Saffo said, “I want to commend our city staff and this Council for a very responsible budget that invests in immediate priorities and critical long-term needs without a tax increase. These investments in affordable housing, public safety, roads and infrastructure, and high-quality public services and amenities will continue to improve Wilmington’s quality of life for residents and its attractiveness as a place to grow a business and create good jobs.”

“This budget also provides a creative and cost-effective solution to growing demands on downtown parking and city operations by funding the purchase of a 12.5-acre downtown campus for public use. This will add over 1000 parking spaces near our very successful Riverfront Park and Live Oak Bank Pavilion, consolidate multiple city operations into one building, and save millions of dollars by selling off aging city facilities. Most importantly, it does this without raising taxes and still keeping a very large fund balance so we’re fully prepared for emergencies like hurricanes,” said Saffo.

Highlights of the FY24 budget include:

  • $2.2 million to continue supporting and growing affordable housing programs, including the Homeownership Opportunity Program, a new program under the Healthy Homes umbrella, and gap financing for eligible developments that provide affordable housing opportunities.
  • $16.2 million for street and sidewalk preservation and maintenance projects. This includes $8 million allocated to the Street Rehabilitation program, which represents a 33% increase ($2 million) in funding to support an additional 8-10 lane miles of rehabilitated pavement next year.
  • Just over $2 million is allocated to fund the city’s continued commitment to local non-profits, human service agencies, civic partnerships, public cultural events, and economic development partnerships.
  • The budget reflects the City of Wilmington’s commitment to financial preparedness by maintaining a large fund balance (similar to a savings account) of at least 25 percent of the city’s general fund. This allows the city to respond quickly and effectively to disaster recovery needs following storm events while also contributing to the city’s top credit ratings.
  • The FY24 budget allocates funding to purchase a 12.5-acre campus in northern downtown, which includes a 1000+ parking deck to add parking capacity by Riverfront Park and Live Oak Bank Pavilion, and a large office building which can be repurposed to consolidate many city operations under one roof. Having received state approval on June 6, the city will work to conclude its due diligence and potentially close on the property in mid-July. City Council views the campus acquisition as a creative and cost-effective solution to the city’s future space needs.
  • The property tax rate for the FY24 budget remains unchanged from the previous year at 39.5 cents per $100 valuation. Some modest fee increases are included to offset increased expenses, including a $2 increase in greens fees for the municipal golf course, a 1% increase for stormwater service, and an average increase of $2.18 on the rate for residential recycling and trash service.

The city’s budget development process began in November 2022 with the first of four daylong work sessions to review key progress reports and financial information, and to identify City Council priorities for the upcoming year. These culminated in the City Manager’s recommended budget and a May 16 public hearing. City Council votes twice when adopting budgets, with the first vote occurring at its June 6 meeting and the second and final vote on June 20. The new budget is set to become effective on July 1, the first day of the city’s fiscal year.

The FY24 city budget is available online at www.wilmingtonnc.gov/budget.

City to Host Wilmington POPS 4th of July Celebration

Wilmington Symphony Orchestra to headline festivities, fireworks set for 9:05 p.m.

The City of Wilmington invites residents and visitors to the annual July Fourth celebration, hosted at Live Oak Bank Pavilion at Riverfront Park, to enjoy live music, entertainment, food, fireworks, and more on Tuesday, July 4.  This is FREE event and no tickets are required. Food and beverages (soft drinks, beer and wine) will be available to purchase.

This year’s event, Wilmington Pops 4th of July Celebration!, will again feature the Wilmington Symphony Orchestra (WSO). The program includes patriotic favorites, classical selections, and current pop songs. WSO musicians, will perform throughout the event.  The WSO will be led by guest Conductor Dominic Talanca, UNCW Faculty member.

“As the son of an immigrant and first generation American, this celebration has always been very special to me, and I can’t wait to celebrate America together with this amazing community.”

Mayor Bill Saffo

“Even though we are only in our second year, it is a performance unlike any other.  What a great experience for our orchestra to look out to see the largest crowd that they have performed for in Wilmington and a wonderful chance to be the center of attention for a celebration that means so much to so many in our community.  We are so proud to be the newest part of the city’s festivities,” Wilmington Symphony Orchestra Executive Director Liz Scanlon said.

Fireworks will take place in downtown Wilmington beginning at 9:05 p.m. Fireworks will be shot from a barge located at the convergence of the Cape Fear & Northeast Cape Fear Rivers, just north of the USS Battleship North Carolina, and will be viewable along the downtown riverfront.

Images from last year’s celebration.

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“Year after year, Wilmington residents and visitors rightfully flock to downtown on July 4th to celebrate Independence Day with a fabulous fireworks show over the river. The addition of Riverfront Park two years ago and our partnership with the Wilmington Symphony Orchestra last year have enhanced the experience. As the son of an immigrant and first generation American, this celebration has always been very special to me, and I can’t wait to celebrate America together with this amazing community,” said Mayor Bill Saffo.

The  4th of July Celebration is free and open to the public. Funding for the event is made possible by the City of Wilmington, New Hanover County, and  Wilmington Symphony Orchestra. Cumulus Media is the event’s media sponsor.

Schedule:

5:00 p.m. – Gates Open

5:00 p.m. – 6:30 pm – Music provided by Cumulus Media

6:30 p.m. – Rukus (musical entertainment)

7:30 p.m. –  Wilmington Symphony Orchestra

9:05 p.m.  –  Fireworks will take place at 9:05 pm 

About the Symphony:

The Wilmington Symphony Orchestra provides symphonic music at the highest degree of excellence through performance opportunities for regional musicians and educational programs for our community’s youth. For information about WSO, Inc., visit www.wilmingtonsymphony.org.

Event Reminders:

  • Fireworks are best viewed along the Riverwalk.
  • No outside food or drink
  • This is cashless event.   Food and beverage sales only accept debit, credit or mobile pay (Apple Pay or Google Pay)
  • Public may bring beach chairs (with legs no longer than 9 inches) or blankets
  • No animals allowed inside the venue with the exception of registered, working service animals.

For more information visit www.wilmingtonnc.gov/july4th or call 910.772.4177.

Williston Legacy Graduation: Honoring The Classes of ’69 & ’70

The City of Wilmington’s Equity and Inclusion Office has worked with county and school district partners to collaboratively host a Legacy Graduation for the Williston Senior High School classes of 1969 and 1970, scheduled for July 1 at 2 p.m. at the Williston Middle School Gymnasium. The ceremony will be streamed live on WECT.com and on WECT’s Facebook page.

The school district’s desegregation plans in the late 1960s did not provide an opportunity for these classes to graduate from their historic school, with district officials abruptly closing the senior high in 1968 and repurposing the building.

Mayor Bill Saffo said the graduation ceremony will provide a long-belated chance to honor these graduates’ connection to “the greatest school under the sun.” In a message to graduates, Saffo praised their courage in the face of racism and the “innumerable contributions each of [these graduates have] already made here in Wilmington and beyond,” while expressing regret that it has taken over 50 years to formally recognize them as Williston alumni.

In the weeks leading up to the graduation ceremony, New Hanover County Schools has been sharing the stories of the alumni who lived through those turbulent years. Read more of their stories here.

Phillip Clay, Ph.D., will serve as keynote speaker. Clay is a 1964 graduate of Williston Senior High School and served as the first Black Chancellor of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).

For more information on the jointly-hosted Legacy Graduation event, contact Joe Conway, the City of Wilmington’s Chief Equity and Inclusion Officer (Joe.Conway@wilmingtonnc.gov), or visit www.nhcs.net/community/williston-legacy-graduation.

Juneteenth Part 3: The History of Celebrating The Holiday

While there was an eagerness to celebrate the anniversary of Juneteenth, there was also fear about how those celebrations would be received, given the already existing backlash against emancipation and the fall of the Confederacy. In places like Richmond, VA, the fear was so great that the African American community made sure to advertise what they were, and were not, celebrating.

As a result, early celebrations were often held in churches and homes.

Thankfully, times have changed, and Juneteenth celebrations are flourishing across the country, including right here in Wilmington.

The Wilmington Juneteenth Committee, Inc has been organizing events recognizing the importance the Freedom Day since 1995, long before it was on the radar of most of Wilmington. The major theme of the first Wilmington Juneteenth Festival was “Family Reunion,” honoring the fact that when enslaved individuals were finally freed, one of the first things many people did was attempt to find and reunite with families. This tradition continues to resonate with Juneteenth celebrations around the country.

The first Juneteenth Festival in Wilmington involved a magnificent Juneteenth Festival Parade. The first Grand Marshal was esteemed Williston Graduate and Civil Rights hero Major General Joseph A. McNeil. McNeil, along with Franklin McCain, Ezell Blair Jr. (later known as Jibreel Khazan), and David Richmond were first-year students at the Agricultural and Technical College of North Carolina (now North Carolina A&T State University) who decided to protest segregation, beginning with the lunch counter at a Woolworth’s Department store in Greensboro. 

Each passing year saw the festival expand to include activities such as the Juneteenth Gospel Festival, a Talent Show, Dance Contest, Sweetheart Ball, Quiz Bowl, Teach-In Series, Juneteenth Queen Contest, Double Dutch Jump Rope, Sorority Step Show, and Juneteenth Urban Hike and luncheon.

Unfortunately, as with most of the country, Covid brought a halt to public celebrations for three years. However, the Juneteenth Festival made a triumphant return in 2022, increasing events and sponsorship. As a result of their tireless efforts, the City of Wilmington’s Commission on African American History awarded the Juneteenth Committee with a Living Legends Award at its annual banquet.

This year’s Juneteenth celebration promises to be the biggest of all, and the committee is thrilled it will be able to be enjoyed by more members of the Wilmington community now that the City of Wilmington has recognized Juneteenth as an official holiday. This year’s events include a gospel festival, golf tournament, teach-in, the annual Juneteenth Festival, and for the first time, a Juneteenth Breakfast.The committee is excited for its 28th celebration of this monumentally important holiday and encourages everyone to attend as many of the events as they can.

Check out the full calendar of events and consider attending the first annual Juneteenth Breakfast.

Article by Amy Schlag, Equity and Inclusion Specialist at the City of Wilmington.  This is three of a three-part series.

Council Recap: Downtown Campus Update, Urban Forest Master Plan, Healthy Homes Program

Wilmington City Council holding its first regular meeting for the month of June. First up, the Urban Forest Master Plan was presented to council.

This plan aids in prioritizing tree maintenance and is an essential tool in helping to enhance the city’s urban forest.

“And that leads to the question of why plan? In short, we plan because trees are intrinsically valuable to both individual and community well-being. The benefits trees provide are myriad and diverse,” said consultant Joe Joyner.

Next, council took their first vote on the recommended budget for fiscal year 2023-2024.

The budget does not include a tax rate increase but does include funding for the potential purchase of the northern downtown campus.

Council will take its second and final vote on June 20th.

The budget goes into effect on July 1st.

Lastly, council approved the creation of a Healthy Homes program.

This program will assist eligible homeowners in addressing health and safety issues in their housing units and is funded by a $1.5 million grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).

City Council will meet again on June 20th at 6:30 p.m.

For more on this meeting, visit WilmingtonNC.gov.

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