Wilmington's riverwalk looks to grow as development stretches away from downtown

Emma Dill, Wilmington StarNews
·3 min read
The northern end of the Wilmington riverwalk Monday June 13, 2022 stops just before the Isabel Holmes Bridge by the Sawmill Point Apartments. The Wilmington City Council approved $50,000 in funding for a study that would look at extending Wilmington's riverwalk along the tidal marsh and possibly crossing under the bridges to the 4th street area. KEN BLEVINS/STARNEWS

Amid plans for new development, Wilmington leaders are for the first time formally exploring an extension of the city's iconic riverwalk beyond the Isabel Holmes Bridge.

City leaders say extending the riverwalk could "spur economic growth" in a northern downtown area that's seeing more activity.

It's already seeing an uptick. Live Oak Bank Amphitheater, which opened last summer, regularly draws thousands of concert-goers north of downtown and the area has seen the opening of several new apartment complexes in recent years, including Sawmill Point Apartments, Flats on Front and Pier 33.

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Jason Ruegg, the president and founder of Off the Hook Yacht Sales, sees potential for growth along the riverfront beyond the Isabel Holmes Bridge. Ruegg owns approximately 15 acres along the Northeast Cape Fear River just beyond the bridge.

“There’s a ton of room for development,” Ruegg said.

The site, located at 1701 J.E.L. Wade Drive, is one location of Off the Hook, Ruegg's company that buys and sells boats and yachts.

Since Ruegg bought the land in 2020, he's been planning to redevelop it. He bought the site for more than $3 million from Bennett Brother Yachts, according to New Hanover County property records.

The northern end of the Wilmington riverwalk Monday June 13, 2022 stops just before the Isabel Holmes Bridge by the Sawmill Point Apartments. The Wilmington City Council approved $50,000 in funding for a study that would look at extending Wilmington's riverwalk along the tidal marsh and possibly crossing under the bridges to the 4th street area. KEN BLEVINS/STARNEWS

Ruegg's plans include a new office for his company on the site. He also wants to build a dry dock and bring in a brewery and restaurant. 

He approached city staff to discuss the potential of extending the riverwalk north to his property.

His plans for the project hang on whether the extension of the riverwalk moves forward, Ruegg said. At this stage, Ruegg said he hasn't invested in more detailed redevelopment plans since his project depends on a longer riverwalk, he said .

“If the riverwalk doesn’t get extended, it would be kind of a waste of money,” he said.

The Wilmington City Council approved an ordinance last week putting $50,000 toward a feasibility study to explore extending the riverwalk's northern end. The boardwalk currently stretches along the waterfront, starting between Church and Nun Streets and ending beside the Isabel Holmes Bridge.

Off the Hook Yacht Sales, as an interest party, contributed $10,000 toward the feasibility study. The $40,000 given by the city came from the Wilmington City Council's contingency fund, which is set aside to pay for "unforeseen funding requests," according to the text of the city's budget.

A conceptual sketch of the northern extension shows the proposed riverwalk linking with Thomas and Willie Jervay Freedom Walk Park in Wilmington's Northside.

A map showing a potential Riverwalk extension that would connect the northern end of the Riverwalk with the Freedom Walk and a marina north of the Isabel Holmes Bridge. The Wilmington City Council has approved putting $50,000 toward studying the Riverwalk's extension.
A map showing a potential Riverwalk extension that would connect the northern end of the Riverwalk with the Freedom Walk and a marina north of the Isabel Holmes Bridge. The Wilmington City Council has approved putting $50,000 toward studying the Riverwalk's extension.

From there, the conceptual plan sketches the riverwalk moving farther north under the four ramps that fork from the Isabel Holmes Bridge and toward Off the Hook Yacht Sales.

Ruegg said he's heard from other property owners north of the Isabel Holmes Bridge who might be interested in developing their land if the riverwalk expansion moves forward.

A feasibility study of the extension will evaluate the site, identify potential alignments, identify potential opportunities and constraints, conduct a permit review and prepare cost estimates for a extension.

The city is working to find a "qualified firm" to complete the study, according to Dylan Lee, a city spokesperson. If the riverwalk is extended, the cost could be paid for by the city of Wilmington or through a partnership with another entity, Lee said.

The most recent phase of the riverwalk was completed in 2017. Work on Wilmington's riverwalk began in the 1980s when it was conceived as a way to generate interest in the waterfront and downtown Wilmington.

In 2015, Wilmington's riverwalk was named the top riverfront in the country by USA Today. This year, it came in third in the newspaper's reader poll behind riverfronts in Detroit and Cincinnati.

Reporter Emma Dill can be reached at 910-343-2096 or edill@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Wilmington StarNews: Wilmington's riverwalk could grow with proposed development