Print
Government

If City Seeks New Proposals, Company Has Castle Street Redevelopment Plans

By Cece Nunn, posted Jan 14, 2022
On the city-owned property at 1110 Castle St., two large bow-roof structures, built in 1948, are in need of renovation. (File photo)
A local development team hoping to transform a defunct property on Castle Street into a mixed-use project has dropped its plans, but officials at another Wilmington company hope to fill the void. 

Clark Hipp, a Wilmington-based architect, and his partners “couldn’t meet the city’s requirements” to make their proposal feasible for the former WAVE Transit facility at 1110 Castle St., Hipp said this week.

The city of Wilmington-owned property was the subject of a request for proposals (RFP) issued by the city in 2019, and Hipp Architecture & Development's proposal was the only response.

But a Wilmington firm that had joined Hipp’s group later in the process, business development company Genesis Block, plans to continue its own separate efforts to redevelop the block, aiming to respond to a new RFP if one is issued.

The Wilmington City Council at its meeting next week is expected to consider a resolution to withdraw the previous RFP and direct the city’s staff to develop a new one for 1110 Castle St.

In October, the council voted to continue the Castle Street resolution to its second meeting in January this year after members cited concerns about the Hipp proposal and to give Hipp’s group more time to try to reach an agreement on an affordable housing component. 

Hipp's group withdrew the plan in December.

Genesis Block, however, is working on a proposal for GIN at Castle, with “GIN” standing for "Genesis Innovation Neighborhood."

Girard Newkirk, CEO of Genesis Block, said the GIN at Castle idea could turn 1110 Castle St. into a hub for inclusive entrepreneurship, arts and entertainment, community spaces, dining and flexible housing options.

According to Tuesday's city council agenda, a new RFP for the property would be "reflective of the current needs of the community, to include a focus on affordable housing and economic development" and would be brought back to the council for consideration before being issued.

Tuesday's council meeting starts at 6:30 p.m. in council chambers at Wilmington City Hall, 102 N. Third St.
Ico insights

INSIGHTS

SPONSORS' CONTENT
Georgiarowe

Salling and Tate Dentistry Launches Annual "Gunner’s Runners" Shoe Collection Event, Aiming to Surpass Last Year's Success

Georgia Rowe - Wide Open Tech
Untitleddesign2 9202334730

Best in the State: Providing Quality Care to Medicare and Medicaid Patients Allows Novant Health New Hanover Regional Medical Center to Reinvest in Community

Novant Health - New Hanover Regional Medical Center Novant Health
Tommytaylor ceo unitedway

How Philanthropy Fits Into Your Financial Plan

Tommy Taylor - United Way

Trending News

Conservation Group Signs $8M Deal To Buy The Point On Topsail Island

Audrey Elsberry - Mar 26, 2024

National Organization Bestows Top Award On Cape Fear Professional Women In Building

Staff Reports - Mar 26, 2024

Engineering Firm Hires Four Employees

Staff Reports - Mar 26, 2024

N.C. Ports Officials React To Baltimore Bridge Collapse

Audrey Elsberry - Mar 26, 2024

NCino's Fourth-quarter Earnings Signal Rebound From Liquidity Crisis

Audrey Elsberry - Mar 27, 2024

In The Current Issue

Q&A: Andrews Reflects On Leadership

Pender County Manager David Andrews is slated to retire this summer after 33 years in local government....


Expanding Tastes On Castle Street

As John Willse and Beth Guertin, owners of Wilmington Wine bottle shop and now the recently opened Creative Tastings restaurant on Castle St...


MADE: Polyhose Inc.

Polyhose manufactures and fabricates hose protection, paint hose assemblies and rubber hydraulic assemblies from its Pender County facility....

Book On Business

The 2024 WilmingtonBiz: Book on Business is an annual publication showcasing the Wilmington region as a center of business.

Order Your Copy Today!


Galleries

Videos

2023 Power Breakfast: Major Developments