This Market Street hotel is being torn down. What's next?
Something is different along Market Street. Loads of rubble and dirt surround the former Carolinian Inn.
The controversial site of the old hotel is seeing some changes. The 2916 Market St. property has a storied history that nearby residents have been an active part of.
Though some hotels along Market Street have been deemed “nuisance properties” by District Attorney Ben David, they are highly coveted by builders looking to develop what some consider an underutilized area, according to those in local real estate.
Police data shows that at one point, the two-mile stretch of road had a handful of hotels where more than 60% of Wilmington’s illegal activity occurred.
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Last year, there were plans from Orange Capital Advisors to bring a 112-unit apartment complex and 36 townhomes to the nearly 9-acre site of The Carolinian Inn until it was met with strong opposition from locals.
Even though the hotel was recently torn down, according to the city, Orange Capital Advisors no longer plans to develop on the site. “A demo permit was submitted by the property owner, but no plans have been submitted for redevelopment at this time,” according to an email from the city.
The developers revoked their request to rezone the property one day before its city council hearing in late 2022. Records indicate that the property is still maintained by RIGI, INC — the hotel’s original owners.
Polly Tait, a local resident, was involved in protesting the Orange Capital development from the beginning, spending her free time advocating for resident concerns.
“The property is surrounded by R–15 single-family home zoning and they wanted the property rezoned to the highest density,” Tait said. “The impact on neighborhood traffic would have been dangerous and the strain on the drainage system would have been significant. It’s a very hard-working little patch of urban forest that needs to be preserved or carefully developed for minimal environmental impact.”
While there are no current plans for development, the city stated it would still like to see the redevelopment of the underutilized property and an increase in density in that location.
Tait isn’t completely opposed to development either, as long as it appropriately serves the community. “If it must be developed, then I want to see it remain zoned for single-family homes. That’s non-negotiable for me. I can imagine a community of ecologically friendly, small footprint, single family homes that prioritizes affordability and minimal environmental impact. There are so many wonderful possibilities for that property,” Tait added.
This article originally appeared on Wilmington StarNews: Wilmington's Carolinian Inn on Market Street torn down
