Proposed site of Broad Street Fishing Pier in downtown New Bern, NC. (NBN Photo) The city is working on plans to build a fishing pier at the end of Broad Street on the Neuse River in downtown New Bern, NC. Foster Hughes, the city manager, presented a concept plan for the Broad Street Pier Project to the New Bern Board of Aldermen during the March 26, 2024 meeting. He said that he had been working on the project with Robert “Bobby” Aster along with staff and other agencies. According to Craven GIS map website, the proposed site is located at 400 E. Front Street. The property is designated as a ..read more

Sudan Shriners Temple in downtown New Bern, NC. The Craven County Board of Commissioners approved a concept design for the redevelopment of the Sudan Temple property located on Broad Street in downtown New Bern, NC. Oakley Collier Architects presented a redevelopment plan to the Board of Commissioners during their March 18, 2024 meeting. According to the meeting minutes, Tim Oakley and David Collier “presented a conceptual design for the redevelopment of the Sudan Temple property which is necessary to include in the application process for a demolition permit for the old structure.” “They expl ..read more

A cyberattack on a technology company disrupted CarolinaEast Health System’s ability to process claims and payments. This resulted in CEHS asking the North Carolina Local Government Commission to approve a request to obtain a $45 million loan to cover operational expenses. The security incident on Change Healthcare, a subsidiary of UnitedHealth Group, impacted countless health systems, hospitals, physician offices, pharmacies, and other providers. According to a press release, the cyberattack was discovered on Feb. 21 and action was taken to “disconnect Change Healthcare’s systems to prevent ..read more

Notice of public hearing on the side of West Thurman Road in New Bern, NC. (NBN Photo) The New Bern Board of Aldermen will meet on March 26, 2024 at 6 p.m. in the City Hall courtroom located at 300 Pollock St. Items on the agenda include: -Consider closing streets for the Neuse River Bridge Run and the New Bern Civic Theater’s Arts in April. -Consider initiating the upset bid process for a property located on Lincoln Street. -Presentation on the findings of a pavement condition survey. -Conduct a public hearing and consider applying C-3 commercial zoning to 684 W. Thurman Road. -Hold a public ..read more

New Bern Housing Authority office (NBN Photo) A newly released video of the New Bern Housing Authority’s Board of Commissioners meeting raises questions about the legality of a piggyback contract agreement. It also shows what happened leading up to the executive director’s resignation six months ago. NewBernNow.com’s request for public records prompted the New Bern Housing Authority to publish the video of the Board of Commissioners special meeting held on Sept. 12, 2023. The purpose of the meeting was to consider a FEMA consulting agreement and to go into closed session to discuss a personnel ..read more

The New Bern Board of Aldermen meeting is scheduled for March 12, 2024 at 6 p.m. in the City Hall courtroom located at 300 Pollock St. Here are some of the agenda items: -Members of the public will have an opportunity to speak to the board during the Petition of Citizens period. -The Redevelopment Commission will give a presentation on a proposed health and wellness center in the Duffyfield community. The board will consider a request to convey the property at 727 Third Ave. to the Commission so they can give the property to CarolinaEast Health System. According to the agenda, CEHS would be r ..read more

Part of land parcels subject to rezoning located off South Glenburnie Road in New Bern, NC (NBN Photo) The New Bern Planning and Zoning Board determined that the rezoning of two properties located next to South Glenburnie Road is consistent with the land use plan and in the public interest. The City of New Bern’s Developmental Services staff asked the Planning and Zoning Board to consider the rezoning of two “Glenburnie Road” land parcels from residential to commercial during their Feb. 15, 2024 meeting. The request was made by Ward & Smith, P. A. on behalf of JKB Associates Limited Partne ..read more

Proposed sites for multifamily housing development off N.C. 43 in New Bern. The New Bern Board of Adjustment will hold a public hearing on Feb. 22 to consider a special use permit application for a proposed high-density, multifamily housing project off N.C. Highway 43 in the Lake Tyler community. The evidentiary hearing is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. at City Hall, 300 Pollock St. Stars & Stripes 4F, LLC asked for the land to be rezoned from R10A to R8, but the request was denied by the New Bern Board of Aldermen on July 11. The rezoning would have allowed the developer to increase the number o ..read more

Roundabout at Waterscape Way and Landscape Drive in Carolina Colours. The New Bern Board of Adjustment granted ThriveMore permission to build a three-story, multi-family continuing care retirement community in Carolina Colours, but inconsistencies in testimony and parcel identification were identified in the special use permit. The project would add a multi-story apartment complex, multi-family cottages, a hybrid apartment building and two commercial outparcels to a residential neighborhood in New Bern. ThriveMore is planning to develop an independent living, assisted living, skilled nursing a ..read more

New Bern Now has been the only local, independently owned news source for the past 15 years. Although we have a large audience, only a small number of readers understand that news can’t be free. We can no longer continue unless more people become paid subscribers. Local news, especially in-depth and investigative journalism has rapidly declined since 2009, leaving thousands of “news deserts” across the country. Lack of reporting can undermine public accountability, lead to corruption and result in a less informed community. NBN produces comprehensive public interest journalism. This kind of r ..read more