More downtown growth, less downtown crime?

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — More business growth downtown could be changing people’s perspective on crime.

It’s got a river front named number one in the nation, a historic district and now downtown Wilmington will see even more businesses, and apartments than ever before.

Commercial real estate broker John Hinnant says Islands Fresh-Mex Grill will move into the Fuzzy Peach on Front Street this summer, Redix will open on Grace Street in May, and other established Wilmington businesses are looking to open on the north end.

“When you see chains and chainlets and when you see big established names in our community saying ‘hey maybe we ought to look down town,’ That’s a very positive sign,” Hinnant said.

Downtown also has a night life.

“There are a lot of great places just to come eat, have a drink, hang out, see your friends,” resident Blake Ferguson said.

Comments on WWAY’s website paint a different picture of downtown.

One person said, “Don’t let the huge police presence and crime get in the way of your plans for growth… the crime is so bad no one wants to go downtown.”

So we asked Blake Ferguson while he was downtown how he see Wilmington’s crime.

“When I’m downtown on Friday night like tonight, I don’t really think about if I’m on Front Street, on Market Street, ‘Am I going to get mugged?’ But I know there are places not to go,” Ferguson said.

We also asked UNCW student Catherine Elliott.

“I think that crime happens in certain areas all over Wilmington, but I think the outskirts are going to be worse then central downtown,” Elliott said.

John Hinnant says the crime has gone down in the area.

“I think anytime you have people you have crime, and I think the city and county working together have done a great job in decreasing the violent crime downtown,” Hinnant said.

Crime or no crime, Wilmington’s business district is going to have several new neighbors this year.