Consideration for new developments near Echo Farms bring pushback from residents

"If we don't stop this, there's no end to it."

NEW HANOVER COUNTY (WWAY)–A proposed development plan could bring hundreds of luxury apartments to the rapidly growing Echo Farms area in Wilmington. If the project gets the green light, some residents are concerned it could make the area even more congested.

“If we don’t stop this, there’s no end to it,” said Barbra Williams.

Residents are flustered and confused.

“I’m begging tour authorities here in Wilmington- the men and women we voted for, they are overdeveloping our town,” Williams said.

Homeowners in the Echo Farms neighborhood, like Barbra Williams, are upset that a developer wants to build 580 apartments not far from where they live.

“Stop and consider the quality of life of their children and grandchildren in the future,” Williams said.

Right next door, Tristan Merediz, president of West Wood HOA, is also against more developments in the area and says now is the time to let their voices be heard.

“We need to attend the zoning commissioner meetings and write to them, [and] make our thoughts known. At least it goes on the public record,” Merediz said.

Merediz says 60 acres at 3990 Independence Blvd were originally intended for conservation by the original landowner, Flossie Bryan. However, luxury apartment developer Blackstone/Northwood Ravin applied to rezone the land for residential properties.

But, in this increasingly growing high-traffic area, more development, some say, would only make things harder to get around.

“It’s just unbelievable, and the older we get, we are losing confidence to go out on the highways here in Wilmington,” said Williams.

Merediz and others have sent letters to city and county planning staff stating that, ‘Wilmington does not need more, ‘luxury apartments.” Their letter also points out that the Riverlights development, which is adjacent to Echo Farms, “has not completed all the building of their land.”

“We’re all in favor. We don’t want any more buildings around here. We don’t want any more traffic,” Merediz said.
“I have steadily seen [over] these two years, it’s gotten longer and longer and longer to get to where we need to go,” Williams said.

WWAY reached out to Wilmington Councilman David Joyner to see what he had to say. In a statement, he says,
“According to city staff, the developer has withdrawn the application. While it’s possible they could reapply in the future with an amended application, there is currently no pending action before the City of Wilmington to rezone the land for commercial development.

County Commissioner Dane Scalise has proposed making the land a permanent green space akin to Airlie Gardens, which I support.”

County commissioners are planning a zoning board meeting on November 13th to discuss any zoning changes for the area.