Project Summary

OVERVIEW
The 2024 Coastal Dynamics Studio is focused on designing coastal environments associated with the waterfront area of the Town of Belville, NC, which is located along the Brunswick River.

CONTEXT
The Town of Belville waterfront area is located on the Brunswick River, directly across from Eagles Island. Roughly 22 miles upriver from the mouth of the Cape Fear River, Belville and its surrounding environment have rich natural and cultural histories. This area, including the communities of Belville, Leland, Navassa, and Wilmington, has played an integral role in the ecological significance, commercial development, and industrial activities of the Lower Cape Fear Region.

PROJECT VISION
The Town of Belville has created a plan to expand the Belville Riverwalk Park and develop the future downtown Belville area on the Brunswick River. This plan, called The Belville Vision 2030 Plan, identifies priorities for the park expansion and future downtown development.

The Vision 2030 Plan describes how the Town of Belville will:

• Create a vibrant riverfront destination.

• Protect and enhance the natural environment.

• Create physical connections between the riverfront and the future downtown development.

• Incorporate local culture and history.

Beginning with the goals of the “Town of Belville 2030 Vision Plan”, students in this studio worked collaboratively to create new visions for Belville’s waterfront area. The primary goals of all project proposals were to enhance recreational, transportation, and economic development opportunities while also adapting existing and new park space, roadways, and commercial amenities to ecological challenges, such as sea level rise, saltwater intrusion, and wind and tidal flooding that threaten areas along its riverfront.