New Bern Redevelopment Commission Meeting March 11, 2026

The City of New Bern Redevelopment Commission held a meeting on March 11, 2026, focusing primarily on property sales, redevelopment policies, and budget considerations. A significant portion of the discussion centered on the potential repurchase of a property at 821 West Street due to misunderstandings about deed restrictions and building stipulations that were not clearly communicated to the original buyer. The commission decided to table the decision on repurchasing the property until their May meeting to allow further clarification and input from the buyer. Additionally, the commission reviewed and discussed adjustments to their budget line items, particularly concerning professional services, advertising, utilities, and land acquisition funds, ultimately opting to maintain the current budget allocations with no immediate changes. The meeting also touched on ongoing efforts to update property sale protocols to better accommodate various types of lots and potential buyers, as well as a prospective partnership with Habitat for Humanity involving a possible $50 million grant opportunity for redevelopment projects. No formal contract awards or vendor selections were made during this session, but policy and procedural updates were emphasized to improve future procurement and property management activities.