Lumberton is located within the Coastal Plains region of southeastern North Carolina nestled along the banks of the Lumber River. The City is a regional hub of business activity positioned at the crossroads of Interstate 95 and Interstate 74 (US 74). Lumberton’s geographic location at the midpoint between New York and Florida has led to the development of the hospitality industry along Interstate 95. Hotels and restaurants serve travelers and provide employment opportunities within the region. The City hired Benchmark Planning to prepare its Downtown Master Plan, which has provided the vision for completing the performance stage and fountain on the square, the Lumber River overlook and trail, downtown building façade improvements, and several other enhancement projects within downtown.
As part of the next phase of implementation, the City engaged Benchmark Planning to prepare Downtown Design Guidelines and a strategy for maintaining the historically significant buildings and structures in the downtown, supporting the continued private investment in Lumberton’s ongoing downtown revitalization efforts. The guidelines were adopted in 2022 and are currently being implemented.
