City of Wilmington moves toward major land purchase as questions swirl over location
WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — Last month, the Wilmington City Council approved a resolution earmarking up to $1 million to acquire an unidentified 120-acre piece of land to be used for a potential new park, following a brief presentation by city manager Becky Hawke.
“We do have an opportunity that we believe is before us that is very time sensitive,” Hawke said. “Where if we are able to pull this together, we would be able to acquire a fairly notable tract of land.”
And county commissioners agreed on Monday to enter into a funding partnership to match the city’s funds.
The city council is also looking to partner with the New Hanover Community Endowment on the purchase.
Since then few details have been released, leading people to speculate about the property’s location.
A user on the Wilmington subreddit made a post several weeks ago, believing the city is looking at a 120-acre property located just north of MLK Parkway at its intersection with Kerr Avenue.
The property is owned by a relative of Bill Cameron, a current Endowment board member, with Smith Creek Land LLC as the real estate company for the property.
Back in 2012, 35 acres of that same property were offered by Smith Creek as a possible site for a baseball stadium to bring an Atlanta Braves affiliate to the port city, but the project was struck down in a referendum.
Cameron said the rumors are not true.
“The relative of mine who does have a ownership interest in that property told me he has absolutely no idea what, what that is about,” Cameron said. “That he certainly has not had any discussions with anyone and that tells me that that rumor is totally unfounded.”
The property is also listed as part of a planned extension for Independence Boulevard to connect it with MLK, with construction expected to start in 2030.
Cameron said he does not speak for the Endowment and wants to make clear that there is no connection between his family and any piece of property the city is trying to acquire.
No additional details about the property have been revealed to the public at this time.
