Neighbors raise safety concerns over proposed Living Hope location

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — Several Wilmington residents spoke out Tuesday against a proposed new location for the Living Hope Day Center, raising safety concerns about the building itself and its proximity to nearby schools.

At least a dozen residents who live near the former Sorrow Drowner Tiki Bar on Dock Street attended Tuesday’s Wilmington City Council meeting. Seven residents spoke during the public comment period in opposition to Living Hope’s proposal to relocate the day center to the building.

Patrick Sheehan, who lives next door to the former bar, said he initially was excited when he noticed construction activity at the property earlier this year.

“My office is in the back of our house; I can see into their parking lot. So I saw a couple trucks out there, like construction vehicles, and I saw blueprints, and so I was excited. I’m like, ” Oh, good, what’s coming in?”

Sheehan said that excitement changed after he learned Living Hope was considering the property.

“I went over, introduced myself, said ‘Hey, I’m the neighbor,’ and that’s when we found out that this was coming,” Sheehan said. “We started contacting our immediate neighbor whose home was for sale. They were furious because of what it’s going to do to their cost or their equity in their home.”

Residents raised questions about whether the former bar is appropriate for use as a day center, including concerns about its lack of showers and bedrooms.

“Why Living Hope? Why this particular building that was a theater? It doesn’t have showers, it doesn’t have bedrooms?” one resident asked.

Others focused on the property’s proximity to nearby schools.

“This location certainly doesn’t avoid schools. The safety of our kids should be a great concern,” another resident said.

New Hanover County Schools Superintendent Christopher Barnes also addressed the issue, saying the property is within walking distance of students from three nearby schools.

“We are concerned as a school system that area is within the walking distance used by students attending three nearby schools: an elementary, a middle and a high school,” Barnes said.

The proposed relocation comes as Living Hope prepares to leave First Baptist Church because of ongoing renovations.

The concerns raised Tuesday also included questions about how the center would operate, including its hours, how people would be handled before opening and after closing, and what safety measures would be in place.

One resident, Erica, who lives near the proposed location, attended a closed-door meeting held by Living Hope on Monday to answer residents’ questions. She said she left without receiving answers to several concerns.

“Several residents asked legitimate questions about operation hours, plans for people arriving before opening and after closing. Safety concerns attendance. Not a single question was answered,” she said. “I’ve heard council members say they are not part of this decision. So who is going to answer these questions and who is going to be liable?”

Living Hope CEO Tony Perez acknowledged the difficult meeting in a Facebook post, saying the organization plans to learn from the experience.

After Tuesday’s public comment session, city staff clarified that Wilmington City Council is not involved in the decision on whether Living Hope can operate at the proposed location.

City staff also said any discussions the city has had about a low-barrier shelter are separate from Living Hope’s proposal.