WILMINGTON — The people have spoken and the results are in from the City of Wilmington’s public input meeting from last week.
The meeting was the kickoff for the Greater Downtown Plan. Senior Planner Christine Hughes explained the meeting as, “the first in a series of small-area plans designed to supplement and implement the comprehensive plan.”
Approximately 50 people attended the meeting according to the City of Wilmington and offered their opinions on different aspects of downtown life.
“Citizens were asked to share what they like best about the greater downtown, what the challenges of the area are, and what would make greater downtown even better. In addition, small groups were asked to help define the neighborhoods or parts of the greater downtown study area,” according to the city’s website.
According to the results, the greatest assets of the greater downtown area include restaurants, bars and breweries first and foremost. Live music and entertainment, historic buildings, the waterfront and Riverwalk also ranked high as Wilmington’s assets.
When it comes to making the downtown area better, transportation options were at the top of the list.
There were 20 comments received saying that, “more alternative transportation options including biking paths and lanes, light rail, expanded trolley and bus routes, and bike and sidewalk connections, would make greater downtown better.”
Greenspace and infrastructure improvements were also toward the top of the list for items that would make the area better.
Safety and crime topped the list of concerns for attendees, with 11 comments on the issue being one of the greater challenges facing the downtown area. Transportation and traffic congestion were also considered a challenge the city faces.
Some of the favorite things for people to do while downtown included walking along the riverfront, eating and drinking, attending live music, and other forms of entertainment.
The lack of grocery store options for the downtown region were highlighted by a map plotted with grocery stores that residents of downtown shop at. Most of the stores people reportedly shop at are located east of downtown, with a focus on the Oleander Drive area.
75 percent of people responding to the survey disagreed or strongly disagreed with the statement I have adequate access to fresh food within walking distance of my home.
Grocery options were also one of the more popular responses for what would make greater downtown better.
Public transportation was also questioned in the survey. Only 13 percent of respondents either agreed or strongly agreed that the WAVE Transit system was reliable. 54 percent of people that responded to the survey either disagreed or strongly disagreed that they were able to get to most places they need to without a car.
The City of Wilmington will continue to conduct public input meetings and will update the schedule as dates become available.
Michael Praats can be reached at Michael.p@localvoicemedia.com
