Carolina Beach votes in favor of multi-million dollar land purchase

CAROLINA BEACH, NC (WWAY) — The Carolina Beach Town Council has unanimously approved the purchase of 9 parcels of land for $15 million.

All 9 parcels are located near the town’s boardwalk.

Four are currently used as privately owned parking lots for the boardwalk, while the rest are small lots located behind the boardwalk’s sound stage.

Those lots are often used as areas for amusement park rides.

Mayor Lynn Barbee explained how the town would cover the cost of the purchase.

“We would to go out and take financing to buy this property,” Barbee said. “We will probably take some money out of the general fund, but we will certainly also be looking for grant funding from any available grants to us to rebuild that sort of oceanfront park idea.”

Barbee added that this purchase will not affect the town’s other ongoing infrastructure projects.

Council member Jay Healy said he’d like to see the parcels used to improve the town’s ability to host music events.

“I would love to see us push the stand back, the band stand and create an open space for our residents and visitors,” Healy said. “Music venues, we can make it look a lot better than it is right now.”

Barbee said the town does not have an exact plan of how the parcels will be used right now and the council will be asking for input from residents.

The purchase is expected to be finalized sometime in the fall.