New Hanover County, working with Wilmington Downtown Incorporated (WDI) selected the Benchmark Planning team to conduct a Market Demand Analysis to determine viable development opportunities for the Downtown central business district and a Site Analysis to examine land use codes and architectural issues that could lead to the redevelopment of the entire one block site called Project Grace. During the process, Benchmark team members identified a greater opportunity for the County to leverage its investment beyond the redevelopment of the main public library, encouraging the relocation of the Cape Fear Museum of History and Science into a newly constructed joint space with shared meeting rooms, lobby, and other operational efficiencies. Benchmark met with County staff and key stakeholders to establish a plan to relocate the EMS station that was on the property and begin the planning process of collocating the two major destinations into one facility in downtown, building the patronage opportunity for both the museum and library. At the conclusion of the study, the County contracted with Benchmark to lead Phase Two of the project, helping the County prepare a request for proposal to select a development team to redevelop the entire downtown county-owned block.
Implementation Status
The Local Government Commission (LGC) approved the County’s $57 million financing plan to fund Project Grace. The New Hanover County Main Public Library and Cape Fear Museum of History and Science are now open! Plans are underway to leverage the county-owned parking deck with private developers for the redevelopment of the remainder of the site.
