Appeals Court upholds Wilmington Convention Center hotel deal

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — A North Carolina Appeals Court panel has upheld a lower court’s ruling that the City of Wilmington did not violate a 2006 court ruling that it would not use public money to subsidize private enterprise when it sold land for the Convention Center hotel.

“We’re ecstatic about the court’s strong opinion concerning the strength and validity of the city’s legal position on this issue, and we’re ready to move forward,” Mayor Bill Saffo said in a statement. “We will work with Harmony to move as quickly as possible to begin construction on the hotel so that we can begin to realize the economic benefits of this important project.”

Citizen Glenn Wells and the owners of the Hilton Riverside have been fighting the city in court for years over the hotel plan. They argued the city sold property to Harmony Hospitality at too low a price, thus subsidizing the purchase. But the three-judge panel said the sales price of $578,820 meant a profit for the city, which originally bought the land for $267,281.

Click here to read the Appeals Court decision

Harmony plans to build a $33.6 million, 186-room Embassy Suites hotel next to the convention center along the riverfront.

The plaintiffs have 35 days to appeal to the North Carolina Supreme Court.