64 replies to this topic

[urbanvb]

Wikipedia states American Demographics Magazine projects the city of Greenville is among the top ten places for growth rate of both population and employment over the next 20 years. I was quite surprised to hear this. I wonder what is driving such growth? I would suspect ECU and Pitt County Hospital as well as influx of northerners to the region are contributing.

wikipedia article

Edited by urbanvb, 24 April 2007 - 06:01 PM.

[Lithuania]

^I would say you are correct on the growth factors.  Both institutions are growing...especially the hospital.  With the new cardiovascular center and the potential dental school, PCMH is definitely changing dramatically.

You can definitely see the growth by all the new subdivisions sprouting up.

[redjeep77]

Lithuania, on Apr 24 2007, 08:58 PM, said:

^I would say you are correct on the growth factors.  Both institutions are growing...especially the hospital.  With the new cardiovascular center and the potential dental school, PCMH is definitely changing dramatically.

You can definitely see the growth by all the new subdivisions sprouting up.

The dental school isn't potential anymore.  It's online and scheduled to start in 5 years.

[ChiefJoJo]

ChiefJoJo, on Apr 20 2007, 01:10 PM, said:

Communities should need to focus on what they do best--ie, what are their assets?

As the Piedmont becomes more urbanized, perhaps there could be environmental education programs utilizing the many undisturbed wetlands and tributaries in the lowland areas near the coast.  Maybe the UNC System could open satellite research campuses with grad students from all 16 campuses to study these areas and educate the public on their value.

Also, preserving their history should be of importance and could be emphasized to a much greater degree.  Many smaller communities date back to pre-Revolution days, and have a rich heritage that could be marketed in a package for a sort of Eastern NC Historic Adventure Trail... state could give grants for setting up preservation trusts in various E NC towns to participate and revamp those sites and later when its up and running, you might get history buffs who would get a little pamphlet with a map of the various towns and their historic homes and sites... maybe that would lead to B&B's and other small businesses setting up near those spots... that wouldn't cost too much to fund, market and implement... maybe they could even ride a special "murder mystery train" to the towns...

What about an E. NC BBQ & ribs tour?  Start a competitio for E NC BBQ joints and hold a competition each year in a different spot... Goldsboro, Kinston, Williamston, Greenville, etc

I'm just throwing out random ideas--probably wouldn't be popular, but at least would utilze the strengths those areas already possess.

This bird watching trail is just the type of ecotourism I was talking about.  Let's use some of our natural assets to our advantage insetead of trying to develop like the Piedmont.

[urbanaturalist]

I agree we need more reasons to conserve land, and possibly make profit from it.  However, sometimes I think its forgotten that the monetary values of natural resources should be more accurately studied.

I wrote on another thread that possibly having counties work together to be Greenways, especially near tributaries, rivers and wetlands, would be away to stifle development and protect land in Eastern North Carolina and statewide.

Not to mention the fact that the whole 1 million Land Conservation proposal hasn't recieved much funding or enough support.

[NcSc74]

Ahhh the good ole bobwhite. I used to try and whistle its call but couldn't quite get it. As far as eastern NC is concerned I think the state gov has gone about it all wrong. The writing was all over the wall as far as tobbacco and the Global Transpark...well we know what happened to that. IMO things could be alot differnet with eastern portion getting a fair share and the big metros getting the urban funding they need. A plan to replace manufacturing jobs and tobbacco farming needs to be in place. Also funding vocational schools to educate those who have lost those jobs so they can move in to the information age. Next pinpoint focus cities that have positive growth trends and funnel the majority of the funds earmarkded for the east to these cities so that highway and infrastructure money are used in a more efficient manner. Lets face it the east does not the density to require piles of highway funds. So if the focus was on 3 or 4 cities then the other metro areas of the state would get the emergency funding needed to fix their urban problems. Kinda sounds like herding but essentially it is opening up these cities to more oppurtunity while giving those citizens looking to stay close to home the amenities they desire in other cities.  New Bern, Greenville and Wilmington would be my first tier eastern cities that would get the extra focus. In doing so projects that take up much needed money in not so dense and indurstrial places could be used by a greater number of people. Also this would in fact encourage conservation because instead building roads and focusing on a whole region just 3 or 4 cities would see the greatest number of growth saving habitat that otherwise would be in danger.  I did not include Fayetteville because the economic engine of Fort Bragg/Pope AFB kinda of sets it apart. Meaning that cities growth will always be tied to federal influx of workers and not so much from inter-county migration.

[JeffC]

I grew up in Washington, which is another place that seems to be something of an oasis in the pervading sense of blight in Eastern NC.  Washington benefits from (1) beautiful waterfront city that attracts rec. boating and associated tourism; (2) proximity to Greenville allows it to serve as a bedroom community of sorts...I guess it's no further from Greenville than downtown Raleigh is from, say, Wake Forest or Clayton.  The main deficiency I see in small towns like Washington is a lack of political leadership with foresight who realize that you have to spend money (in the form of government revenues to fund the services and improvements to set your community apart from others) to make money (growth).  Washington has done a good job of the 2nd redevelopment of its waterfront (after one of those now in-explicable 1960s urban renewal projects where they redirected the entire focus of downtown away from the river by clearing all the warehouses and wharves and replacing with acres of asphalt parking lots), and there is some new waterfront condo construction going on.  I don't think the completion of the 17 bypass will impact the town...it will take away the limited truck/commercial traffic that uses 17 as a through route, but the tourists who use it as a scenic alternative to I-95 will still get off the bypass and explore the town.

[NcSc74]

JeffC, on Jun 25 2007, 06:48 AM, said:

I grew up in Washington, which is another place that seems to be something of an oasis in the pervading sense of blight in Eastern NC.  Washington benefits from (1) beautiful waterfront city that attracts rec. boating and associated tourism; (2) proximity to Greenville allows it to serve as a bedroom community of sorts...I guess it's no further from Greenville than downtown Raleigh is from, say, Wake Forest or Clayton.  The main deficiency I see in small towns like Washington is a lack of political leadership with foresight who realize that you have to spend money (in the form of government revenues to fund the services and improvements to set your community apart from others) to make money (growth).  Washington has done a good job of the 2nd redevelopment of its waterfront (after one of those now in-explicable 1960s urban renewal projects where they redirected the entire focus of downtown away from the river by clearing all the warehouses and wharves and replacing with acres of asphalt parking lots), and there is some new waterfront condo construction going on.  I don't think the completion of the 17 bypass will impact the town...it will take away the limited truck/commercial traffic that uses 17 as a through route, but the tourists who use it as a scenic alternative to I-95 will still get off the bypass and explore the town.

It is a shame that urban renewal strikes cities of all sizes. It would have been great to see those warehouses converted to apartments and condos. Also the possibilities for those wharves to be turned in to some kind of park or even a market makes me shake my head.  Noone could have known that those structures would be the "in" thing nowadays. I imagine that most sound side cities in the state went through this same type of thing. So much potential yet there very little vision.

[JeffC]

NcSc74, on Jun 25 2007, 01:00 PM, said:

It is a shame that urban renewal strikes cities of all sizes. It would have been great to see those warehouses converted to apartments and condos. Also the possibilities for those wharves to be turned in to some kind of park or even a market makes me shake my head. Noone could have known that those structures would be the "in" thing nowadays. I imagine that most sound side cities in the state went through this same type of thing. So much potential yet there very little vision.

I can't really fault them, though...who wanted to live in a converted warehouse in the 1960s??  That was the very height of the "ranch house in the suburbs" mania. Like pedestrian malls, it was an idea that seemed good at the time, but turned out to be horribly wrong.  Now, cities that tear down old, high quality industrial construction TODAY could, I think, be accused of lack of vision.

It makes me wonder, what actions regarding city renewal are WE taking TODAY that will be viewed 40 years from now as ultimately as wrong headed as the urban renewal urban demolition programs of the 1960s...

[davidals]

NcSc74, on Jun 24 2007, 04:24 PM, said:

New Bern, Greenville and Wilmington would be my first tier eastern cities that would get the extra focus.

Looking at the census data and the N&O article focusing on the fastest-growing US and NC cities today; there are a few interesting changes down east:

Wilmington's hitting 100,000 was after the cutoff date for those estimates (July 2006), thus it wasn't commented on in any of the press releases.  If that 100,000 is accurate, that would give Wilmington an increase of ~5,000 in a years' time; the 8th city in NC over 100k.  I didn't calculate the percentage of increase; it would be 4th or 5th fastest-growing (of cities over 50,000) in NC.  High Point, BTW, is about 2300 away from becoming the 9th NC city to hit 100k.

New Bern is - as of 7-06 - up to 27,650, with increases of a little below 1000 a year for the last few years.  About the same gains per year in Elizabeth City (19,056) and Rocky Mount (57,057).  Wilson aded about 400 people.

Greenville is (as of these latest estimates) 72,052 - about 600 away from overtaking Asheville as 10th largest city, though some pending annexations in Asheville might alter that for the time being.  Greenville's gain of ~3000 people, would also make it a candidate for 4th or 5th fastest-growing NC city.

Goldsboro, Jacksonville, Kinston & Fayetteville all saw slight declines.

[NcSc74]

I never spent much time in Greenville. Most times it was just to take my mom to a bone/joint specialist.  Cape Fear Vally(hospital) referred her so imagine the drive to G-ville from F-ville twice a week.  I guess that says something about the city and its position in eastern NC as far as medical facility wise.  I didn't get a chance to ride around and explore much so I don't know much about its infrastucture or the character of the place. I would imagine ECU plays a huge role in the area. I am curious so next time I'm home I think I will include it on my trek out east. I had planned on doing a pic tour driving up 17. I think I will make a side trip to Greenville on my way back to Fayetteville. I really want to take my kids to Roanoke Island and show them some history out there. We have been living in the southwest for a while it will be nice to take a break and see some trees and ocean but the sand not so much.

[Lithuania]

As other towns and counties lose population in Eastern NC, Greenville is still growing at a pretty rapid rate.  I just read this article in the Daily Reflector:

http://www.reflector...illegrowth.html

I doubt the student population of ECU was factored in the Census estimates.  What's funny is Greenville doesn't even seem this populated...probably because the downtown area is pretty small.  I agree with the article about the college and hospital being the impetus for growth.

[davidals]

Lithuania, on Jul 1 2007, 08:33 AM, said:

As other towns and counties lose population in Eastern NC, Greenville is still growing at a pretty rapid rate.  I just read this article in the Daily Reflector:

http://www.reflector...illegrowth.html

I doubt the student population of ECU was factored in the Census estimates.  What's funny is Greenville doesn't even seem this populated...probably because the downtown area is pretty small.  I agree with the article about the college and hospital being the impetus for growth.

It's been a while since I've been there, but I remember the downtown seeming kind of small, but pretty well-kept.  Riding around the city, it did feel a lot bigger, very sprawly, and that's been 5 years ago.  Not sure just how things have changed since; there was the impression of driving into someplace pretty substantial - 264 might be the dullest highway to have ever been built, and after that coma-inducing stretch of freeway between Wilson and Greenville, and you suddenly just *bang* happen upon this city, so I guess in one way or another it does leave an impression.

[Lithuania]

Greenville is pretty sprawled out, but if feels smaller to me because of the downtown.  Compared to cities of similar size within city limits (Asheville, Hickory, etc.) the downtown doesn't have larger buildings and is very compact.

From what i've heard, a lot of structures were demolished in the 70's, destroying older homes and businesses that had been blighted.  Because of this, Greenville seems so new (to me, at least).  

I agree - US 264 just kinda dumps you in Greenville after miles of pretty much nothing.  I guess after seeing nothing for an hour, Greenville seems like a larger city.

I'd like to see Little Washington take off...it has potential to be a nice spot like New Bern.

[JeffC]

Lithuania, on Jul 1 2007, 08:42 PM, said:

I'd like to see Little Washington take off...it has potential to be a nice spot like New Bern.

It already is a pretty nice spot.  The old downtown theater, the Turnage, is being renovated, and ECU Summer Theater series will do a couple of shows there each summer...Town has one of the most intact early 20th century downtown commercial districts you will find anywhere.

[Lithuania]

^I agree, it is a nice commercial district that has lots of potential.  I noticed last time I was down there that developers were trying to convert some of the old buildings into condos, which would be cool.  There are also some nice restaurants - I recently ate at Pia's and thought it was outstanding.  The theater renovations sound like a great addition...something that downtown Greenville does not have.

[DCMetroRaleigh]

Except for one mountain county, every county that lost population in NC was in eastern NC, particularly the northeast quadrant.

[NcSc74]

Not surprsing since the light manufacturing sector has packed up and headed over the Pacific ocean. However the business climate, recession and high energy prices have ushered in a new thinking for NC.  Finally the state is urbanizing and the major metro regions are growing at a nice clip. People go where the jobs are and as of right now all the innovation and job creation is happening in Charlotte, Triad, Traingle, Wilmington and not surprising Fayetteville area. I'm not sure about Greenville numbers but I'm sure it is drawing in a lot of people from all over the NE county areas. Not only that Hamptonm Roads continues to draw in NC residents. I gotta check the map but I think HR already has 1 or 2 NC counties in its metro area. IF not metro but surely CMSA.

[krazeeboi]

Yeah, Currituck County is included in the Hampton Roads MSA (I don't think HR has a CSA).

[DCMetroRaleigh]

July 1, 2011 US Census Estimates (Population and Growth from July 1, 2010)

Beaufort County
47,691
-0.1%
Bertie County
20,874
-2.0%   
Bladen County
34,928
-0.7%              
Brunswick County
110,097
+2.5%
Camden County
10,014
+0.3
Carteret County
67,373
+1,4%
Columbus County
57,712
-0.7%
Craven County
104,786
+1.2%
Currituck County
23,955  
+1.7%
Dare County
34,307
+1.1%
Duplin County
59,542
+1.8%
Edgecombe County
56,041
-0.9%
Gates County
12,043
-1.2%
Greene County
21,556
+0.9%
Halifax County
54,173
-0.9%
Hertford County
24,433
-0.9%
Hyde County
5,822
+0.2%
Jones County
10,020
-1.3%
Lenoir County
59,339
+0.3%
Martin County
24,180
+1.3%
Nash County
96,116
+0.3%
New Hanover  County   
206,189
+1.7%
Northhampton  County   
21,893
-0.9%
Onslow County
179,719
1.1%
Pamlico County
13,197
+0.4%
Pasquotank County   
40,696
+0.1%
Pender County
53,399
+2.3%
Pitt County
171,134
1.8%
Perquimans County
13,487
+0.3%
Robeson County
135,517
+1.0%
Sampson County
63,734
+0.5%
Tyrell County
4,364
-1%
Warren County
20,861
-0.5%
Washington County
12,973
-1.9%
Wayne County
123,697
+0.9%
Wilson County
81,452
+0.3
%

Edited by DCMetroRaleigh, 06 April 2012 - 05:03 PM.