Newspapers / University of North Carolina … / Sept. 22, 2005, edition 1 / Page 1
Part of University of North Carolina Wilmington Student Newspaper / About this page
This page has errors
The date, title, or page description is wrong
This page has harmful content
This page contains sensitive or offensive material
Thursday | September 22, 2005 Serving UNC Wilmington since 1948 Volume LVII | Number 4 Wilmington welcomes growth and change with Vision 2020 Plan The river walk in historic downtown Wilmington (left), as well as the store fronts and resturaunts along Front and Water Streets (Roy's Riverboat Landing, right) are just a few of the more scenic places located downtown. The Vision 2020 plan aims to bring all of downtown Wilmington to the same standards. Ben Wimmer News Editor Every popular city in America is celebrated for a signature part of its downtown area, and Wilmington intends to put this formula to use through the Wilmington Vision 2020 plan, Wilmington’s Vision 2020 Plan will aim at perking up its already beautifiil downtown area while drawing extra attention to where downtown meets the Cape Fear River. Other large cities in the southeast ern United States have exclusive areas that attract tour ists every year. New Orleans has its French Quarter, Miami has South Beach, popular bars and clubs in the coun try, Nashville, Tenn., has its country music scene, and Austin, Texas is known for its popular nightlife as well. Wilmington is bursting with potential and by 2020 it could be put to good use. The main goals of the 2020 plan include making downtown the most desirable place to live in Wilmington regardless of a person’s income, stressing the incorporation of the Cape Fear River into the downtown area for tourists, busi nesses and residents, and of course making downtown the most attrac tive part of Wilmington. The 2020 vision statement reads: “In the year 2020, the City of Wilmington, North Carolina will be recognized as one of the eastern seaboard’s most livable cities - a lead ing jewel of the mid-Atlantic region.” This dilapidated hotel is one of several decrepit areas still visible downtown. Atlanta is home to some of the most Theplanreahzesthat Wilmington is bursting with potential to be one of the top cities on the east coast and also under stands that the city already attracts a steady num ber of tour ists each year thanks to the U.S.S. North Carolina, various festivals and events and most importantly three nearby beaches that are unspoiled and that become heavily populated between Memorial Day and Labor Day. Wilmington’s population is also growing rapidly and pick ing up momentum as the years go by. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Wilmington’s population in 1990 was 55,530, in 2000 it was 75,838, and the bureau estimates that Wilmington’s 2003 population equaled 91,137. With Wilmington’s population and tourism on the rise, the city must also expand physi cally to accommodate. Vision 2020 understands that there are many parts of downtown that remain “The Vision 2020 Plan provides a clear roadmap to the development and redevelopment of our downtown area. Although this is designed to be a guide rather than policy, it does give us a vision to follow as we enjoy the increased vitality of downtown Wilmington.” -Wilmington Mayor Spence Broadhurst currently underway. Some of the other goals listed by the City staff for Wilmington empty and intends to stimulate growth with new businesses and renovation. Wilmington Vision 2020 is a collaboration involving Wilmington Downtown, Inc. and EDAW, Inc. along with other public organiza tions. Wilmington Downtown, Inc. is a group of multiple committees and also the new name of the for mer DARE, Inc. (Downtown Area Revitalization Effort), EDAW, Inc. is a design firm that specializes in various design and planning efforts including landscape architecture and planning/urban design. The plan was completed in 1997 and is Vision 2020 include: con structing pub lic squares and waterfront parks downtown, uti lizing the current empty spaces downtown, stimulating street level activity, improving economic devel opment downtown by increasing downtown jobs, finishing northem downtown’s grid pattem, making Front Street a two-way street, widen ing downtown sidewalks, increasing the number of special events down town, extending the riverwalk from the Cape Fear Memorial bridge to the Holmes Bridge, promoting the development of housing, providing public spaces for civic and leisure activities, preserving the historical and natural areas of downtown and see VISION 2020 page 5
University of North Carolina Wilmington Student Newspaper
Standardized title groups preceding, succeeding, and alternate titles together.
Sept. 22, 2005, edition 1
1
Click "Submit" to request a review of this page. NCDHC staff will check .
0 / 75