Water Street Parking Deck demolition to begin in May

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — Developers of River Place, the multi-use projects that will replace Wilmington’s Water Street Parking Deck, just announced a schedule for the parking deck’s demolition.

Developers confirm demolition will be well underway the week of May 8.

The general contractor confirms that all the necessary permits, public notices, safety precautions, disposal agreements, public access easements and power supply will be in place for the physical demolition process to be started around that time.

“Our revised projections actually took us to mid- to late-April as the earliest date we might get underway with the deck’s demolition, but that put us right into the path of Azalea Festival, the Wells Fargo Championship and UNCW graduation, all events that will deliver tourist traffic to downtown,” said Lucien Ellison, managing partner of East West Partners.

In order to avoid the introduction of heavy equipment, traffic impact and anticipated noise, East West Partners decided to delay the start until after those events.

When complete, River Place will provide downtown with a mixed-use property including 32,000 square feet of commercial space, 171 living units, 57,000 square feet of public plazas and easements and parking for 409 cars, 174 for public use in a public/private development with the city.