10-year challenge: What has changed in Wilmington since 2012

Matt Born, Wilmington StarNews
·4 min read

The 10-year challenge has been circulating on social media for quite some time.

The fad, which has grown in popularity at the start of 2022, is designed to make people look back to a photo of themselves from 10 years ago and compare it to one today.

In honor of the trend, here's a look at some of the changes certain Wilmington places have experienced during the past 10 years.

Union Station

A view of Cape Fear Community College's Union Station in 2012, left, and 2022. The building opened in 2013 and was designed to resemble the original Wilmington Union Station. [MATT BORN/STARNEWS]
A view of Cape Fear Community College's Union Station in 2012, left, and 2022. The building opened in 2013 and was designed to resemble the original Wilmington Union Station. [MATT BORN/STARNEWS]

In 2012, Cape Fear Community College’s Union Station was still under construction. The building, at the corner of Front and Red Cross streets, provided more classrooms for the growing college, expanded health care training labs and a student services center.

It was designed after the original Wilmington Union Station that stood in the same location. That building opened in 1913 and was demolished in 1970.

Lanes Ferry Dock & Grill, Rocky Point

Lanes Ferry Dock & Grill along hwy. 210 in Rocky Point in 2022, left, and the same spot in 2012. The historic general store was severely damaged by flooding from Hurricane Florence and has been moved. [MATT BORN/STARNEWS]
Lanes Ferry Dock & Grill along hwy. 210 in Rocky Point in 2022, left, and the same spot in 2012. The historic general store was severely damaged by flooding from Hurricane Florence and has been moved. [MATT BORN/STARNEWS]

Kenny McManus opened Lanes Ferry Dock & Grill in 2011 at 11016 NC Highway 210 in Rocky Point. The restaurant was located in the old general store that was constructed in 1932 close to the banks of the Northeast Cape Fear River.

Sadly, flooding from Hurricane Florence in September 2018 damaged the historic building and left McManus without a home for his very popular restaurant.

With the help of a GoFundMe campaign McManus opened Lanes Ferry Food Truck in 2019.

The truck is open every week from Wednesday through Saturday. He’s at Eagle island Seafood every Wednesday and Jerry’s Barber Shop in Rocky Point several other days during a month. For the schedule check www.lanesferry.com.

PPD in Wilmington

The PPD building in 2012, left, and in 2022, after the mixed-use Pier 33 development had been completed. [MATT BORN/STARNEWS]
The PPD building in 2012, left, and in 2022, after the mixed-use Pier 33 development had been completed. [MATT BORN/STARNEWS]

In 2012, the PPD building was one of the only major developments along the Cape Fear River on the north end of downtown Wilmington.

Since then, almost the entire area has been developed and PPD was sold to Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc. in late 2021.

More: 'Business as usual:' Amid sale, PPD to keep its footprint in downtown Wilmington

The $65 million mixed-use Pier 33 development can be seen along the water in the picture from 2022.

Residents began moving into the development in 2020. The project has 286 residencies, 525 parking spaces and 20,000 feet of commercial space.

South Front Apartments

The South Front apartments in 2012, when they were being renovated, and in 2022. The apartments are on the site of the former Nesbitt Courts housing project. [MATT BORN/STARNEWS]
The South Front apartments in 2012, when they were being renovated, and in 2022. The apartments are on the site of the former Nesbitt Courts housing project. [MATT BORN/STARNEWS]

In 2012, South Front Apartments was still in the process of being renovated at the site of the former Nesbitt Courts housing project. The housing opened in 1940 and closed in 2007.

The Wilmington Housing Authority sold the 13-acre property in 2010 to Tribute Properties for its redevelopment.

3rd St. in downtown Wilmington

A view looking up Third St. in downtown Wilmington in 2012, left, and in 2022. The road was undergoing the North Third Street project in 2012. between Market and Harnett streets. [MATT BORN/STARNEWS]
A view looking up Third St. in downtown Wilmington in 2012, left, and in 2022. The road was undergoing the North Third Street project in 2012. between Market and Harnett streets. [MATT BORN/STARNEWS]

The $9.4 million North Third Street project took place in 2012. It included the replacement of water and sewer lines, underground utilities as well as new street paving, sidewalks, curbs, lighting and traffic signals.

Battleship North Carolina

A look at the Battleship North Carolina in 2012, left, and 2022. The Battleship's walkway and cofferdam were completed in 2018. [MATT BORN/STARNEWS]
A look at the Battleship North Carolina in 2012, left, and 2022. The Battleship's walkway and cofferdam were completed in 2018. [MATT BORN/STARNEWS]

The Battleship North Carolina has seen plenty of change over the past 10 years.

In 2021 the popular tourist attraction completed a $14 million repair project. The project included repairs on the ship’s hull that had deteriorated over the years and a beautiful walkway that now circles the ship.

North end of downtown Wilmington

The north end of downtown Wilmington in 2012, left, and 2022. The north end has seen a tremendous amount of growth over the past 10 years. [MATT BORN/STARNEWS]
The north end of downtown Wilmington in 2012, left, and 2022. The north end has seen a tremendous amount of growth over the past 10 years. [MATT BORN/STARNEWS]

The north end of downtown Wilmington looks very different than it did in 2012.

In the election that year, voters overwhelmingly chose not to spend $37 million on a baseball stadium that would have brought a minor-league affiliate of the Atlanta Braves to the north end of Wilmington.

Since then the entire area has seen various developments.

This specific area next to the Isabel Holmes Bridge is the current location for the Sawmill Point Apartments.

Trader Joe's in Wilmington

The construction of Trader Joe's at the corner of College and Oleander was well under way in 2012. [MATT BORN/STARNEWS]
The construction of Trader Joe's at the corner of College and Oleander was well under way in 2012. [MATT BORN/STARNEWS]

The long-awaited store began construction in 2012 and opened its doors on Nov. 30, 2012.

The 13,000-square-foot specialty grocery store is known for its rabid fans and many in the area had been trying to get one of the stores in Wilmington for several years. The store sits on more than an acre at the corner of S. College Road and Oleander Drive.

Construction of the Veterans Affairs clinic in Wilmington was well underway in 2012. [MATT BORN/STARNEWS]
Construction of the Veterans Affairs clinic in Wilmington was well underway in 2012. [MATT BORN/STARNEWS]

Wilmington VA Clinic

The long wait for a VA clinic in Wilmington finally ended when the clinic opened in April of 2013 after being under construction for all of 2012. The building is located next to Wilmington International Airport at 1705 Gardner Drive.

This article originally appeared on Wilmington StarNews: Social media's 10-year challenge: Wilmington NC edition