New Hanover County Commissioners scrap inspections for historic buildings

NEW HANOVER COUNTY, NC (WWAY) — Commissioners in New Hanover County have decided not to move forward with an inspection program for historic buildings. 

The idea came in response to a facade and roof collapse at two different historic buildings in downtown Wilmington last year. 

The draft proposal would have required buildings more than 100 years old to be inspected every five years. 

That would include more than 438 buildings in Wilmington, along with another 37 spread across the county. 

The board decided 3-1 to not move forward with the proposal. 

Commissioner Rob Zapple pushed for the idea over concerns about public safety.

“The historic nature especially of our downtown area, it just made a lot of sense to me,” he said. “Last thing in the world that any of us wants is for someone to be, you know, hurt, injured, or worse on our public streets.” 

Zapple says he’s hopeful the issue will be brought up again in the future—but it is tabled for now.