Location: Wilmington, NC
Downtown Master Planning Services City of Wilmington, North Carolina
Closing: 3:00 p.m. Eastern time on Monday, July 13, 2026
Background
This project will be the first major initiative to implement the Greater Downtown Plan, which was adopted by the City Council on June 16, 2026. The Greater Downtown Plan is designed to guide the growth and development of the 18 neighborhoods that were part of the city in 1945 to achieve the following vision:
“Greater Downtown Wilmington honors its rich history while moving toward a more sustainable future. It’s a welcoming and affordable place to live, full of local character and culture, with growing opportunities for work and business – all within a walkable and charming urban setting.”
Study Areas
The strategies and actions identified in the Greater Downtown Plan will guide development of detailed master plans for the two study areas:
- The Northern Riverfront District, which is the northern gateway to Downtown Wilmington and home to City Hall, the Wilmington Convention Center, Live Oak Bank Pavilion, and over 22 acres of vacant or underused land, over 12 acres of which are owned by the City.
- The site of the City's former administrative complex at the intersection of Chestnut Street and North Third Street, across the street from Thalian Hall and Project Grace, a mixed-use development including the new home of the Cape Fear Museum and downtown/central library.
Project Objectives
- Northern Riverfront. Create a thriving, vibrant gateway district that prioritizes transformative placemaking and public amenities to attract both investment and visitors, and helps to achieve the vision for Greater Downtown as it grows and adapts to changing conditions.
- Former City Administrative Complex. Identify a redevelopment strategy that builds on the site’s key location and adjacent uses in the heart of downtown and supports continued investment and development of the Central Business District.
Final Product
When completed, the city will have a roadmap to success, including:
- A plan that identifies preferred land uses, scales, and intensities, along with the placemaking and public amenities that can drive investment and visitors to the Central Business District;
- A playbook in the form of design standards and updated covenants and restrictions that spur creative design while providing predictability and the ability to adapt to changing conditions; and
- An economic incentive toolkit that identifies steps the City can take to help drive investment and catalyze action.
Approach
The City is seeking to assemble a team of consultants to assist in this effort through the issuance of three separate requests for qualifications from firms that focus on the following specialties. The links provided will take you to the City's contracting page with the RFQ for that specific service request.
The firms selected for this work will be expected to coordinate work plans and deliverables with each other and with multiple City departments. The City anticipates its role will include the following:
- Developing and executing a community engagement strategy with input from each of the consulting firms.
- Providing data and expertise on existing conditions and current challenges.
- Actively participating in visioning, development of alternative scenarios, and final recommendations.
- Packaging the final deliverables from each consulting firm into documents for adoption by City Council, including: a cohesive master plan document, land development code amendments, updates to restrictive covenants, and updates to policies and procedures.
- Leading adoption efforts with support from consulting firm technical experts.
How to Apply
Statements of Qualification must be submitted by 3:00 p.m. Eastern time on Monday, July 13, 2026, to be considered.