Located in Brunswick County, just across the Cape Fear and Brunswick Rivers, Belville lies in the Northeast quadrant of the county, just 3.5 miles from downtown Wilmington. Strategically located on the banks of the Brunswick River and at the intersection of U.S. 74-76, N.C. Highway 133 and U.S. 17, Belville has traditionally been the crossroads and water crossing for local travelers and commerce from the historic plantations along River Road. As Wilmington grew, the south and western parts of the state were built and eventually merged together at Belville. Incorporated in 1977, downtown Belville became a gateway to the Port City. With its primary businesses along Main Street (Highway 74/76) being gas stations, a diner, motels and service businesses. Belville was a haven to highway travelers. The highway was then relocated in order to build a new bridge, and the highway expanded to four lanes to accommodate more traffic from these major travel corridors and from the fast growing communities in the area. As the new growth concentrated around the highway and traffic no longer passed down Main Street these highway businesses slowly died away. Eventually, all but one business closed and the remaining motels became plagued with undesirable transients, as the commerce declined and the town receded into its blighted condition there was no longer enough revenue to support the municipal properties and services once owned by the Town. Belville’s once thriving community lost its own waste-water treatment plant, its waterfront park and its prime Downtown waterfront on the harbor. Currently, little remains of the former downtown except for a Department of Transportation maintenance yard, erected on the site of the former anchorage for over 200 World War II Liberty Ships. Urban Smart Growth through extensive on-the-ground due diligence and with the support of state and local governments has been named Master Developer of Downtown Belville, which consists of 80 acres adjacent to the river. The Downtown Redevelopment plan has been further supported by adopted zoning and tax increment financing legislation. Urban Smart Growth intends to develop a mixed-use residential/retail/entertainment town center, focused on a marina with public river front boardwalks and open space preservation of adjoining wetlands on the only land for miles which is not held in a permanent open space preserve. Urban Smart Growth in conjunction with Five Points Development has also acquired, entitled and zoned an adjacent parcel, which is approved for 120 Market-Rate residential units to be spread among ten buildings along twelve waterfront acres. Urban Smart Growth is currently evaluating the feasibility with progressing on the construction of this Site in the current economic climate as local demand has yielded a need for additional multifamily product.
"Proposed Belville Waterfront Redevelopment Rendering"
"Proposed Belville Downtown Redevelopment Rendering"
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