What's happening to the Salvation Army site in downtown Wilmington? Here's the latest.
The city of Wilmington has plans to demolish the Salvation Army’s former downtown thrift store and shelter in the coming months.
The city bought the Salvation Army’s building and land, which is located at 820 N. Second St., earlier this year for $4.8 million. City leaders called the buy a “strategic” move that gives the city an opportunity to redevelop the site and draw more economic development to the area.
The purchase included a lease-back period that allowed the Salvation Army to lease the space from the city as it wrapped up its operations and moved out. The Salvation Army’s lease ends next month.
After that, the city will spend $97,800 to demolish the structures on the property.
More: In 'strategic' move, city of Wilmington will buy downtown's Salvation Army site
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Here’s what to know about the site's future:
Where is the Salvation Army going?
The organization has relocated most of its social services to the Harrelson Center, according to Major Ken Morris, a pastor and corps officer with the Salvation Army.
Locating in the Harrelson Center will allow the Salvation Army to work more closely with other agencies serving the homeless, Morris wrote in an email to the StarNews, and will help reduce the potential for a service gap.
“As we continue our services to the homeless and work even more closely with other agencies, we trust that there will not be a gap in services in the downtown area,” he wrote.
The Salvation Army also has plans to rent space to replace the downtown thrift store, but the group hasn’t yet finalized a lease, according to Morris.
When will demolition take place?
At the city council’s April 18 meeting, Aubrey Parsley, the city’s director of economic development, told council members he expected to finalize the demolition contract with 4 Seasons Demolition, Inc. within two weeks.
All demolition will be completed within 60 days of a finalized contract, meaning it should take place during May or June.
What are the city’s plans for the site?
A third-party appraisal of the property recommended the city remove the existing structures to put the land to its “highest and best use,” Parsley said.
While it remains unclear exactly what’s in store for the 1.88-acre property, the land is adjacent to several parcels acquired by the city to develop a “northern gateway” that would usher visitors and locals into downtown.
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What’s the Salvation Army’s long-term plan?
The Salvation Army is building a community center and shelter facilities off of Martin Luther Kind Jr. Parkway. The nonprofit purchased the 22-acre site in 2016.
To pay for construction, the nonprofit launched a fundraising campaign and plans to rely, in part, on proceeds from the sale of its downtown site. The organization expects to begin construction on the new facility later this year, according to Morris.
Reporter Emma Dill can be reached at edill@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Wilmington StarNews: What's happening to the Salvation Army site in downtown Wilmington?
