Beaufort County, NC loses its towers of dreams…
A bunch of out-of-state developers floated up the Pamlico River a year or so ago and 
bought a funky old waterfront park called Whichard’s Beach. They hired a fancy architect, issued a bunch of big-time press releases written by expensive advertising agencies to pimp the property and it began. The Beaufort County real estate agent’s wet dream. A 13-story condominium complex, wait! did I say “A”? I mean TWO 13-story condominium complexes on the Pamlico River.
Hurricanes be damned! we said, build ‘em high!
This amazing new development, said to be awash in waterfront amenities and brimming with promises of crystal clear waters on pristine sandy beaches, these condominiums were a sure-fire! hot damn! way for local folks to make money. Big money! Real estate agencies started renting dilapidated downtown storefronts and hanging out their shingles. Agents sprouted up like dandelions… moving here from all over the east coast area to get their finger in our development pie. I remember walking downtown and telling Val it wouldn’t last long… there just wasn’t that much that Beaufort County had to offer to people other than us.
This was to be THE REMBREY on PAMLICO SHORES. It was to be a mecca of water-borne entertainment for the happy vacationer from Manhattan to Minsk. This place was going to be swell! And if you don’t believe me, you can believe the press releases written by their advertising agency.
Area residents began to bitch and moan about losing public access to the Pamlico River. Environmentalists started asking about sewage, water… utilities which made the City realized it could reap tax revenue and offered utilities hook-ups.
Then the unspeakable happened.
Reggie took his ball and left the playground.
Fountain Powerboats took their races away. And Beaufort County imploded. (by the way, Jamal took his boat home with him)
Yesterday, the Beaufort County Commissioners let fly a big one. Nope, we wouldn’t be getting no 13-story condos here in Beaufort County, NC. Whichard’s Beach would now be developed into single-family dwellings… no $1,000,000 condos for the downtown real estate agent pie.
(obviously I’m going to write more about this… it’s just that it’s late, I want to talk to my wife for a while, and the dogs need to poop.)
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and no, this is not advertising.
Debbie Heath
on January 1st, 2009
so happy to hear this condo thing didnt take i spent every summer on whichards beach with my grandparents the andersons
Tony Hawkins
on June 18th, 2009
Interesting read! My paternal side of the family lived in Beaufort County/Belhaven for many years. After years of hearing stories about the area and visits as a child, to hear that part of ‘down East’ NC was considered for development and now-not; what’s up with that? Did someone not know about the weather or the unpredicatability of the sea?
Is that your last blog?