WRIGHTSVILLE BEACH — A historic building is safe from demolition for the next year after a historic commission voted in favor of preserving it Monday.
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The Wrightsville Beach Historic Landmark Commission voted down an application to demolish a historic building after agreeing every avenue to save the building had not been explored by the applicant, WuWu LLC.
Steve Wheeless from WuWu LLC requested the demolition to build a new house on the property.
The commission vote gives the applicant a one-year delay to find a solution for saving the building, effective immediately. After the year is up, the application can be reviewed again and considered for approval.
Commissioners Nancy Faye Craig, Henry Temple, and Martha Rice were the only members present on the five-member board and passed the vote unanimously.
The Williams-Bordeaux Cottage is located on 407 North Lumina Avenue and was built in 1922; it was recognized as a historic property in 1999. It’s one of the last surviving historically preserved homes in Wrightsville Beach north of Stone Street, along with its former neighbor Ewing-Bordeaux Cottage, which once resided at 405 North Lumina Avenue. Both are the last standing of six houses that survived the “Great Fire of 1934” —a fire believed to have started in the Kitty Cottage and burned more than 100 buildings.
While Ewing-Bordeaux Cottage was moved to the Wrightsville Beach historic square, Williams-Bordeaux still remains on its original property. The cottage was sold to WuWu LLC in October 2024 for $2.5 million. Williams-Bordeaux Cottage is 792 square feet with four bedrooms and two-and-a-half bathrooms. Wheeless acquired the property in a bid to shield his current home on 501 N Lumina Ave.
“The reason we bought it is because we look to the south of that house — we did not want a big monstrosity next to our house,” Wheeless said. “And as far as moving it, I would be glad for somebody to come get it.”
Wheeless told Port City Daily after the meeting his intention is to build a new home that he can share with his family on the property.
“Our family’s growing,” he said.
Wheeless requested a certificate of appropriation to approve the demolition of the house for the purpose of later constructing a new one. The application indicates the home is not up to date with the current building standards, as it is very close to the public right of way easement.
Commission members Craig, Rice and Temple disagreed with demolishing the building, stating it is a prominent part of Wrightsville Beach’s history and its architecture a key example of the town’s character.
“One of the true attractions of living at Wrightsville Beach is it has some character to it, and the character is manifested by these older havens,” Temple said. “You ride by, you know who Betty Bordeaux was, you know the fire that took the houses out. They are a part of the history of the town and the ambience of the town.”
Craig agreed and advocated for the house to be moved to a different location in Wrightsville Beach where it could be preserved.
This happened with Ewings-Bordeaux Cottage in 2018. Wolfe House Movers relocated the small historic house for the Town of Wrightsville Beach to become part of the Wrightsville Beach Museum, located in the 1909 Myers Cottage in the historic square. Chris and Debbie Strickland donated Ewings-Bourdeaux to expand the museum.
However, the museum was served an eviction notice on Ewings-Bourdeaux by the town last year after a children’s camp complained about the museum not allowing the camp use of the cottage. As well, the town said the museum’s lease had expired. Now, the Harbor Island Garden Club utilizes the cottage.
“I just think it’s prudent not to at least look into how this can be saved somewhere else,” Craig said of the Williams-Bordeaux Cottage.
Jan Brewington, the president of the Wrightsville Beach Museum board, spoke during public comment, stating the applicant had not reached out to her or any other organization in any attempt to preserve the building.
“I’m also on the board of the Historic Wilmington Foundation, and we also have connections with Preservation North Carolina, and I can tell you that none of these three organizations have been contacted or even knew until this past Friday that this house was in danger of being demolished,” Brewington said. “We would pledge our support and any help we can give to saving it.”
Wheeless stated that he is currently leasing the property to a tenant for a year, so he is willing to cooperate with finding the cottage a new location.
While the board suggested potentially finding ways to expand the Wrightsville Beach Historic Square to make room for the cottage, Tony Wilson, the town’s director of planning, said the historic square is likely full as it already has four historic homes on site, including the Ewing-Bordeaux Cottage. It would be difficult to make room for another but the town will look into possibilities, per Craig’s request.
Three town residents spoke during public comment as well. They agreed with the idea to build a new house on that property in the Wrightsville Beach architectural style. However, they also did not want to see the cottage demolished.
“I think it’s also our best interest to save this little structure,” Mike Edmonds said. “For that little structure to be standing there is a miracle unto itself.”
Wheeless has one year to work with the town to consider a relocation site for the cottage and find funding to move the home. The application will be revisited by the Historic Landmark Commission on Jan. 12, 2026.
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