Water Street deck redevelopment inches forward

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — Wilmington City Council discussed the water street parking deck proposals at Tuesday night's meeting. 

The city is now looking at the top four out of six proposals after two of the developers dropped out. They each cost about $60-million and they'll bring almost 600 parking spots and more than 200 apartments or condos. 

Council woman Laura Padgett did not support going forward because she said the project is moving too fast while critics said it isn't the right move. 

Business owner Wesley Keeton just next door to the deck says it costs too much. "It's money that they're spending that could be spent on other things than adding in more living downtown and a ridiculous amount of parking," Keeton said. "We've got parking decks that are not necessarily utilized."

Keeton says these proposals jeopardize the city's historic vibe. It's a vibe he says brought him here and continues to bring so many others. "I know they say build it and they will come, but our aesthetic of what our town and city looks like, no," Keeton said. "I just think it's too over powering for what we've got currently." 

Residents like Richard Camillettie say the Water Street parking deck has become historic downtown Wilmington's eye sore. "It's beyond it's time," Camillettie said. He says it needs to go. "It's not used that much," Camillettie said. "I think we can make better use of the real estate."