Growing pains in Wilmington

[TLT]

A few citizens in Wilmington feel the city is growing to fast. Every other year during city elections (this year included) there is a group of citizens who think Wilmington is growing out of control and way to fast. We hear remarks like "We don't won't to be a Raleigh by the river" (thats my favorite) . I would love to live in a "Raleigh by the river". A few years back, say 6 or 8 years ago these citizens had a lot of pull in the city government, but when they elected Harper Peterson Mayor, who wanted to stop growth or put a moratorium on it, the city council accomplished almost nothing for a two year period. People had enough and elected pro growth mayors and city council members since.

We do have our growing pains. The failing sewer system has put construction on hold in the a large part of the city until major expansions and upgrades are completed by January of next year at the latest. Traffic congestion is major pain, the construction and expansion of streets and highways are at least 10 years behind the growth of the city. Example being Military Cutoff Widening project, where Mayfaire is located, by the time it is complete this November it is projected to be obsolete, meeting maximum daily trip capacity even with the new expansion.

Do other NC cities have or had the same anti growth opponents in now or in the past?

How should Wilmington handle the problems of traffic congestion and sewer woes?

How are other cities handling their growing pains?

[CapeFearRiver10]

A few citizens in Wilmington feel the city is growing to fast. Every other year during city elections (this year included) there is a group of citizens who think Wilmington is growing out of control and way to fast. We hear remarks like "We don't won't to be a Raleigh by the river" (thats my favorite) . I would love to live in a "Raleigh by the river". A few years back, say 6 or 8 years ago these citizens had a lot of pull in the city government, but when they elected Harper Peterson Mayor, who wanted to stop growth or put a moratorium on it, the city council accomplished almost nothing for a two year period. People had enough and elected pro growth mayors and city council members since.

We do have our growing pains. The failing sewer system has put construction on hold in the a large part of the city until major expansions and upgrades are completed by January of next year at the latest. Traffic congestion is major pain, the construction and expansion of streets and highways are at least 10 years behind the growth of the city. Example being Military Cutoff Widening project, where Mayfaire is located, by the time it is complete this November it is projected to be obsolete, meeting maximum daily trip capacity even with the new expansion.

Do other NC cities have or had the same anti growth opponents in now or in the past?

How should Wilmington handle the problems of traffic congestion and sewer woes?

How are other cities handling their growing pains?

[lma1973]

My question is this: Who on Earth would want Wilmington to become a Raleigh on the coast? Ugh....that idea just sounds hideous!!

[TLT]

My question is this: Who on Earth would want Wilmington to become a Raleigh on the coast? Ugh....that idea just sounds hideous!!

[CapeFearRiver10]

What city would you like Wilmington to resemble? The growth is not going to stop or likely slow down anytime soon, in fact recent economic predictions from UNCW Professors of Business see Wilmington's economy growing at about double the pace of the rest of the state for the near future. The county is already the third densest in population in the state following Mecklenburg and Wake county. By the year 2030 New Hanover is projected to be around 275,000 people making a density of near 1,400 people per square mile which was about the density of Mecklenburg County two years ago. The Wilmington Metro Area will have a population of 525,000 thats about 60,000 more people than are in the Durham or Winston Salem Metros areas as of the 2006 estimates or the population of Wake county just 10 years ago. I know its hard to believe, but we need to wake up and smell the coffee, Wilmington is no longer the small town it was 20 years ago and we can't get the tooth paste back in the tube . What do you want Wilmington to look like in the future?

[brokenraven]

I think it would be really cool if an upscale department store (ie, Nordstrom) would open up in downtown. It could make the area even more of a tourist destination, although it would worsen said traffic problems.

[TLT]

I think it would be really cool if an upscale department store (ie, Nordstrom) would open up in downtown. It could make the area even more of a tourist destination, although it would worsen said traffic problems.

[RiverwoodCLT]

There was a trolley that went from downtown Wilmington to Wrightsville Beach. Boy I bet they would love to have it now.

Where would you run a LRT in Wilmington without mixing it up with car traffic?

[TLT]

There was a trolley that went from downtown Wilmington to Wrightsville Beach. Boy I bet they would love to have it now.

Where would you run a LRT in Wilmington without mixing it up with car traffic?