WILMINGTON, N.C. (WECT) – During the Wilmington City Council meeting on Aug. 20, councilmembers made decisions on developments in legacy districts, Riverwalk repairs and more.

City leasing office space at Skyline Center

As planned to offset the purchase of the center, the council approved as part of the consent agenda a resolution to authorize a three-year lease agreement with Protocase USA, Inc.

The company is leasing about 3,194 square-feet of space, and the initial term will be three years with an extension option for four additional years. The rent will be $93,771 per year and escalate annually.

Council approves construction contract for Downtown Riverwalk repairs

Councilmembers approved using $1.1 million for constructing the Riverwalk North Marina Repair Project to address issues of standing water at the existing walkway and meet ADA accessibility standards. The stretch is between the Wilmington Convention Center and the Riverfront Park.

United Bank Building lease agreement to the U.S. Government

The U.S. Government Services Administration is looking to lease all 7,921 square-feet on the fifth floor of the city’s office building, which you might recognize as the United Bank Building, at 115 N. 3rd Street along with 28 parking spaces on the 2nd Street parking deck. The proposal would include a 10 year term with an option to renew for five years.

Currently, the city says the building is 35 percent occupied with three tenants and it operates at a financial break-even. If the lease set to expire in April 2025 does so, then it would be at 22 percent occupied.

The city is proposing $407,000 in annual office rent and $91,000 in annual parking rent, both to increase by 10 percent every five years.

A cursory estimate of improvements needed to make it work is $1.8 million, and most of it would be refunded to the city once the federal government starts using the space.

City staff analysis says the proposal would stabilize the financials of the building, make it more marketability and raise parking revenues, but cons would include a short term cash risk and the amount of staff work required to make it work.

With unanimous approval from the council, staff will work on finalizing details to deliver a resolution for the specific funding amounts later this year.

Calls for ceasefire during public comment

The public comment section opened with Johnathan Lacefield voicing his opposition to proposals by the group ILM for Peace in Palestine to have the Wilmington City Council call for a ceasefire, humanitarian aid and equal rights for Palestine.

He was followed by Suzanne Ortman, who called for the council to break their silence on the war in Gaza and resolve to support a ceasefire, and her sentiments were shared by a Palestinian-American resident afterward. Both of them were met with applause from the audience at the council.’

City pulls back on proposed changes to legacy districts

Following feedback from residents back in June regarding proposed changes to allowing developments in legacy districts, the staff recommended the proposed changes be withdrawn. You can learn more about that proposal in our previous coverage.

Council voted unanimously along with staff’s recommendation to withdraw the proposal.

Discussion around declaring property as unfit for human habitation

Councilmembers voted to direct the housing inspector to declare a building at 1209 S. 7th Street as unfit for human habitation, though a developer who is planning to buy the property plans to renovate it and get permits to make it once again habitable.

Five-year agreement for in-car cameras for the Wilmington Police Department

The WPD asked the city to authorize the city manager to enter into a five-year agreement with Axon Enterprise for in-car cameras and the Fusus Enterprise System. During the presentation, the department explained that the new system would allow for the camera feeds to be livestreamed to other people in the police force.

The $3.7 million cost will come from the department’s budget.

Kevin Spears noted that he was concerned about the tag readers as part of the system, but ultimately the city voted to approve the agreement.

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