At the June 15th meeting, New Hanover County Commissioners approved going forward with a public-private, mixed-use redevelopment of the Government Center, and heard an update from Partnership Advisory Group Co-Chair Spence Broadhurst on the future of the New Hanover Regional Medical Center.
During the meeting, Commissioner Rob Zapple asked if the process surrounding the sale of the hospital could be slowed down considering the impacts of the coronavirus pandemic and the recent civil unrest in the country.
PAG Co-Chair Spence Broadhurst responded by reiterating the group’s confidence in moving forward with the current timeline:
“One fact is we’ve been talking about this for a year. My opinion is, a year is a pretty long time with an issue as important as this, but one thing we have found at every step of the way is that the events that are unfolding in front of us just reaffirm the importance of asking these questions.”
Broadhurst also said at the meeting it’s difficult to operate in this new reality as an ‘independent island’ with ‘restricted resources’.
Commissioner Woody White complimented the proposals of three of the finalists--Atrium Health, Duke Health, and Novant Health, adding that he hopes to vote for one of them at the Commissioners' July 13th meeting.
The Commissioners also unanimously approved the rezoning of a site on Middle Sound Loop Road for the construction of affordable senior-living apartments, and approved a rezoning and special use permit to allow the expansion of the Davis Retirement Community on Porters Neck Road.
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The PAG will hold its next meeting this coming Thursday and a public hearing is scheduled for next Monday, June 22nd.
And Rob Zapple is a member of the WHQR Board of Directors.