New Bern Redevelopment Commission Meeting July 8, 2026

The City of New Bern Redevelopment Commission convened on July 8, 2026, but did not have a quorum to conduct official business. The meeting featured a detailed presentation by John Ford, general manager of Down East Realty and Custom Homes, on the benefits and modern standards of manufactured and modular homes. Ford emphasized the affordability and quality improvements of manufactured housing, suggesting potential ordinance changes to allow new manufactured homes in more areas of the city to increase affordable housing options. The commission discussed the possibility of amending city policies or overlays to permit such housing, with legal counsel noting that changes would require action by the Board of Aldermen. Additionally, Ryan from TRC provided an update on the EPA Brownfields Assessment and Planning Grant awarded to New Bern, outlining the grant's purpose to inventory, assess, and plan cleanup for contaminated properties to facilitate redevelopment. TRC reported $124,000 remaining in the grant with ongoing phase one and two assessments, and discussed the competitive nature of future grant applications. The presentation included examples of successful brownfield redevelopment projects and emphasized the importance of environmental assessments in reducing liability and encouraging investment. No formal votes or motions were taken due to lack of quorum, but the discussions highlighted potential future procurement and redevelopment initiatives involving manufactured housing and environmental remediation projects.