Southport residents upset over proposed sale of property

SOUTHPORT, NC (WWAY) – Dozens of Southport residents turned out Thursday night as the city’s Board of Aldermen held its first meeting since members voted to sell a piece of waterfront property.

Southport Marina has offered to buy the two and a half acre property for $650,000. The land used to be the city’s wastewater treatment plant.

Residents do not want to see this land go.

“You look out over here at all this pristine water here. It’s just a gorgeous place,” Brian Stevens said. “That’s what brought me here, and that’s what’s going to keep me here. But I want more access to the waterways. Southport should have more access to the waterways.”

Stevens is one of dozens of Southport residents fighting against the proposed sale. Most are concerned about the recent offer to buy the land that used to be a wastewater treatment plant.

The board recently voted to sell the property to Southport Marina.

“I would hope that the Board of Aldermen would go back through the right channels of going through the Planning Board, the Parks and Recreations Boards, getting feedback from the citizens and re-evaluating their negotiations,” Kim Jones said. “I don’t even think there have been negotiations. It’s just been looking at this one offer.”

Jones feels like she and other residents have not had a chance to voice their opinions.
Stevens, like many, want to see the land turned into some sort of green space.

“Do not, do not sell your waterfront property,” Stevens said.

About a dozen other people voiced their concerns as well. The consensus was they want to see the land used to enhance the city, not be sold to someone else.

WWAY reached out to the mayor and several board members, but all of them declined to comment.