By Megan Williams
Wilmington, NC – Wilmington's street fairs may be changing their address.
Traditionally, celebrations have stretched along the riverfront north from Market Street. But several impending developments will make it harder to shut off that portion of Water Street for festivals.
In a recent presentation to city council, Parks and Recreation Director Gary Shell pointed to changes that include the redevelopment of the Wachovia bank building into condominiums, the realignment of the driveway and the installation of a Ruth's Chris steakhouse at the Hilton, and a planned hotel next to the Coastline Convention Center.
Each of those developments will mean more traffic on North Water Street, and more people inconvenienced when it's shut down. Additionally, the parking deck that currently houses festivals' food courts is slated for demolition in the coming years.
"There are a number of challenges that we see ahead," Shell said recently of the presentation, "and we were simply making everyone aware of those and suggesting that they start looking at alternatives."
Wilmington Downtown Inc. and the Azalea Festival are doing just that.
The groups are looking at possibly routing future fairs a block or two inland, using the first two blocks of Market Street and a couple blocks of Front Street, with a possible performance stage and food court at the parking lot on Second Street.
John Hinnant, head of Wilmington Downtown Inc., says the new pattern could have the added bonus of more business for downtown stores.
"We're excited," Hinnant said, "This is an opportunity to create a better atmosphere and more foot traffic that benefits our merchants as well as the rest of downtown."
The proposed map would still incorporate Water Street in front of the Federal Courthouse, which is already used for the weekend farmer's market and summer concerts.
Hinnant says his group hopes to get feedback from business owners before taking the new street festival plan to City Council in the next few weeks.