Thursday, March 28, 2024

City asked to donate 10th Street site for future Michael Jordan clinic

The City of Wilmington is asked to donate 2 acres of property at Fanning Street for a Michael Jordan Family Medical Clinic. The city has owned the land since 1912. (Port City Daily photo/Alexandria Sands Williams)

WILMINGTON –– Two acres of land currently overrun by tall grass and enclosed by a chain-link fence could be the future site of one of two Michael Jordan Family Medical Clinics in the Cape Fear region.

Novant Health is requesting the City of Wilmington donate the land, located along 10th and Fanning streets. The parcel neighbors colorful structures decorated in childlike murals, home to Dreams of Wilmington, a nonprofit providing youth “equitable access to arts education.” To the west is Oakdale Cemetery.

In February, CBS This Morning broke the news that basketball superstar Michael Jordan, a Wilmington native and Laney High graduate, gifted Novant Health $10 million to establish two new family medical clinics in the Wilmington area.

Jordan opened the doors to similar clinics last year in Charlotte. The two medical offices, funded with a $7 million gift, now provide comprehensive primary care and mental health services to patients with little-to-no healthcare coverage.

PREVIOUSLY: Michael Jordan’s $10m gift to Novant Health surprised health officials and county leadership

The Wilmington City Council is expected to vote on the land contribution during an upcoming meeting.

The New Hanover County Board of Commissioners is asked to donate the second site. The board is likely to confirm the transfer of 1410 S. 15th St. during its July 13 meeting.

County and city leaders seem to be in support of the donations. Chair Julia Olson-Boseman and Wilmington Mayor Bill Saffo touted the news earlier this week in a media event on 15th Street, alongside Dr. Philip Brown, Novant Health’s chief community impact officer.

The City of Wilmington has owned the property in question since 1912. It used the land for various purposes through the decades, according to a city spokesperson. Most recently, it was an “operations site for fleet and the public services department.”

The entire city-owned parcel spans nearly 8 acres. According to the spokesperson, the city plans to subdivide it if the approximately 2 acres are gifted to the clinic, retaining the other 6.

New Hanover County’s potential donation site was purchased more recently. It was intended to serve as an overflow parking lot for the now-completed Health and Human Services headquarters on Greenfield Street, but the county staff has deemed the extra space unnecessary, according to the upcoming meeting agenda.

The county is placing two conditions in its agreement: First, Novant would return the parcel to the county if ground has yet to break within five years; secondly, Novant would “work to determine if a day center shelter for the homeless can be co-located on the property.”

The city did not specify what stipulations its land agreement might include.

“City staff is still working on the details of the contract,” spokesperson Jennifer Dandron said, “but at this time no conditions have been set forth or agreed upon by the city.”


Send tips and comments to alexandria@localdailymedia.com

Alexandria Sands
Alexandria Sands
Alexandria Sands is a journalist covering New Hanover County and education. Before Port City Daily, she reported for the award-winning State Port Pilot in Southport. She graduated from UNC Charlotte and wrote for several Charlotte publications while there. When not writing, Williams is most likely in the gym, reading or spending time with her Golden Pyrenees. Reach her at alexandria@localdailymedia.com or on Twitter @alexsands_

Related Articles