City renovates downtown alley

WILMINGTON — The City of Wilmington is hailing another victory in its plan to clean up alleys downtown.

Toomer Alley is a popular pedestrian path between Front Street and the Market Street parking deck. It runs between Kingoff’s Jewelers and the old Bailey Theater site.

The Green Building Alliance got a grant to do the work with help from the city. Cape Fear Community College architecture students submitted renovation design plans as part of a contest.

The winning student says the key was using pervious concrete that allows water to sink into the ground underneath.

Renovation designer Dave McLean said, “If you go around town we’re getting so many areas where there’s so much run-off in these retention ponds and everything. This was to show the city and other people that you can use this type concrete and stop some of that run-off”

Toomer Alley is named after Henry Toomer, an 18th century businessman who owned property north of the alley, including a pub where President George Washington dined in 1791.