Report lists ways to preserve Swansboro's historic downtown

SWANSBORO — The way to preserve and revitalize Swansboro’s historic downtown is now summed up in a 26-page report.

Swansboro’s Downtown Renaissance Committee has submitted the draft report that outlines the study process and lists findings and recommendations for the preservation and revitalization of the town’s historic downtown district.

The public will be able to comment on the report at a March 15 public information meeting. The report can be reviewed at town hall or at www.swansboro-nc.org.

The findings and 50 different recommendations of the draft report fall under four key categories: organization, promotion, design and economic structuring.

Gene Cole, with the Renaissance Committee, sees it as a comprehensive resource for town leaders as they pursue downtown improvements.

“I think the committee did a thorough investigation of the needs and desires to come up with a plan of action,” he said. “It gives some guidance regarding some areas of concern and areas where additional work can be done to meet our goals.”

Cole, a former parks and recreation director for Onslow County, said the waterfront is one of the downtown district’s key assets, but there is general consensus that more public waterfront access is needed, such as dockage for transient boaters.

The charm and historic character of downtown are also big assets, and recommendations include implementing a streetscape design that would look at the appearance of downtown.

“The streetscape was a focal point of interest, as well, with a recommendation for a design of the way downtown should look or could look,” he said.

But aesthetics are only a part of the effort.

Making it a destination and promoting its combination of business, waterfront and historic aspects is a broad goal seen throughout the recommendations.

One recommendation suggests the town and Swansboro Historical Association consider working together to establish a Swansboro history museum. One possibility, it states, might be to move the historic one-room frame schoolhouse, owned by Norman Wells, from its location on Main Street Extension to the downtown area for that purpose.

Another recommendation is the formation of a Downtown Swansboro Association made up of businesses, property owners and other interested parties to pursue common goals for the downtown district. The group could also be the springboard to formation of a nonprofit corporation that would oversee long-term downtown revitalization efforts.

A number of downtown projects have been accomplished during the past two years, including opening of the Visitors Center, which also serves as home to the Swansboro Area Chamber of Commerce; the acquisition by the town of downtown property for a public square; and receipt of grant funding for a dock walk and pier facility at the end of Moore Street.

The report of the Downtown Renaissance Committee shows there is more work to be done.

Town Manager Pat Thomas, who assisted the committee, said the final finding of the committee is that downtown improvement efforts take a long-term commitment.

“Everybody you talk to tells you that downtown revitalization is a long, incremental process,” he said.

Thomas said the draft report of the committee has been forwarded to town commissioners. Any public input from the March informational meeting will be taken into consideration before the report is finalized by the Board of Commissioners.

Serving on the Downtown Renaissance Committee were: S.D. “Junior” Freeman, chair; W.T. Casper; Gene Cole; Russ Davis; John Freshwater; Lee Manning; Evelyn Moore; Joe Rhue; Bob Shuller; and Frank Tursi.

Mayor Scott Chadwick and former Commissioner Jim Allen were board liaisons to the committee and Town Manager Pat Thomas and Town Planner Jennifer Holland assisted as staff members.

Contact Jannette Pippin at 910-382-2557 or jpippin@freedomenc.com.