Home   Projects   Completed Projects   2020   Belhaven

Belhaven

nivo slider image nivo slider image nivo slider image nivo slider image

Project Scope

The CPNI Virtual Workshop with the Belhaven, NC was completed October 22-23, 2020. The CPNI team met with officials, residents, and community members from the Village of Marvin for a two-day virtual workshop. CPNI and NCGrowth conducted this workshop virtually and in person in order to maintain social distance during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Belhaven is a beautiful town on the banks of the Pungo River. Popular as a stop on the intracoastal waterways, many passersby and visitors have become permanent residents over the years. Though Belhaven is a hidden gem of the inner banks’ area, the town experienced a significant economic recession when the primary employer, Pungo Hospital, left in 2014. Since then, the town’s businesses have experienced a “renaissance,” and residential real estate sales have increased. However, the town is still left with many vacant properties and would benefit from a more robust economic development plan

Team Members

NCGROWTH WORKSHOP VOLUNTEERS:

  • Jess Wilkinson, NCGrowth Economic Development Manager
  • Rachel Taylor, NCGrowth Economic Development Analyst

CPNI TEAM:

  • Brian Crutchfield, team leader – Timmons Group
  • Doug Burns, SGA | Narmour Wright Design
  • Michael Cole, ColeJenest
  • Phil Jones, Retired UNCC
  • Wayne Robinson, VHB
  • Pat Fogleman, CPN of NC

Recommendation

Next Steps for Belhaven

Plan

  • Appoint a planning committee or master planning taskforce
    • Recommend a five to ten-year vision guide the process
    • Make a plan for public input and diverse community engagement
    • Incorporate Land-Use & Land Acquisition plans into Master Plan
    • Consolidate Maps and Identify Community Assets and Needs

Activate Downtown

  • Form a 501(c)3 Downtown Development Organization
  • Create Attractive and Walkable Spaces
  • Increase Wayfinding and Develop Placemaking Initiatives

Invest in Multi-use Development that is Compatible with the Environment

  • Use existing assets to develop creative uses and events that work with the natural landscape

Strategically Market the Town

  • Engage in External and Internal Marketing
    • Create a strategic marketing plan
    • External: focus on attracting visitors and businesses
    • Internal: focus on community engagement and buy-in
  • Create an Online and Social Media Strategy
    • Start by focusing on a few platforms
    • Encourage businesses to host “review-ins” to boost search engine optimization
    • Create a “one-stop-shop” website for all trip planning and local information
  • Engage in Cross-Promotion
    • Encourage businesses to work together to promote the district, each other, and the town
  • Build Community Engagement through Internal Marketing

Build Equitably and Engage in Community Development

  • Build Equity into all aspects of the planning and redevelopment process
  • Create a community profile
  • Engage community members from diverse backgrounds
  • Conduct appropriate impact analyses and research
  • Consider forming a community development taskforce or committee

Design and work with Council to approve form-based codes

Final Summary


Click here to read the final report