Wilmington — Local residents and tourists have 

 rediscovered downtown Wilmington and its 

 waterfront. Using federal, state and local money, the 

 city of Wilmington has built a riverfront park along 

 the Cape Fear River about one block from the heart of 

 downtown. The revitalization was spurred by a com- 

 bination of private investment (the renovation of the 

 Cotton Exchange and Chandler's Wharf) and by the 

 realization that the city had turned its back on a 

 unique resource, says Michael Hargett, project direc- 

 tor for the Riverwalk. 



In addition to the park, city officials used federal 

 funds to provide low-interest loans to downtown 

 businesses for facade renovations and local funds to 

 make street improvements — brick streets, special 

 lighting and trees. 



Wilmington's most recent efforts stem from a 

 report, "Wilmington Looks to the River." The city is 

 building a riverwalk to tie together public and private 

 development. In addition, city officials are planning 

 to build mini-parks or pocket parks along the IV2- 

 mile-long riverwalk. 



Hargett says private investors are responding to the 

 city's new look. "We had one two-block area that was 

 like a ghost town," he says. "Now that area is at least 

 50 percent occupied." 



New Bern — If two is better than one, then New 

 Bern should be a step ahead of the pack. It has 

 two waterfronts — one along the Trent River and 

 another along the Neuse River. To take on the task of 

 revitalizing two waterfronts. New Bern citizens 

 formed Swiss Bear Inc., a private redevelopment cor- 

 poration. This group acted as a catalyst for the city's 

 revitalization efforts, says Brad Bass, director of plan- 

 ning and community development. 



In initial revitalization efforts, federal funds were 

 used to leverage private money for a hotel and mini- 

 convention center on the Trent River, Bass says. In a 



second project, a river study area, called Union Point, 

 is being developed at the confluence of the Trent and 

 Neuse rivers. The city sponsored a design competition 

 and selected a plan for this project. Now they are pur- 

 suing financing, Bass says. 



Along the Neuse waterfront, plans call for a 

 rehabilitation of the Holiday Inn using a combination 

 of public and private funds. Officials are awaiting 

 word on funding applications for this project. 



Elizabeth City — Some folks say the best way to 

 come to Elizabeth City is by boat. The city has 

 capitalized on its waterfront by building 14 slips for 

 visiting boaters. Called Mariners Wharf, the docks 

 were funded by the Committee of 100, an economic 

 development committee of local citizens. The slips, 

 which were designed to attract boaters traveling the 

 Intracoastal Waterway, provide 48 hours of free 

 dockage, says Jerry Allen, the director of parks and 

 recreation in Elizabeth City. 



Senior volunteers for the parks and recreation 

 department meet each visiting craft with a rose for the 

 lady of the boat and the offer of transportation to 

 laundries and grocery stores. Allen says the project 

 has been extremely successful. The boaters enjoy their 

 stay and townspeople have returned to the water- 

 front. 



"Almost every city or town in the United States is 

 trying to revitalize, but most of them don't have a 

 river to work with," he says. "We feel the river is our 

 greatest asset." 



The city is also interested in developing a park area 

 along the waterfront. Rich Novak, Sea Grant's area 

 specialist in Manteo, is providing technical assistance 

 to city officials planning this area. 



Morehead City — Mayor Edward S. "Bud" Dixon 

 says Morehead City will soon complete the 

 first phase of its revitalization plan — spiffing up an 



