The Week in Review

....your Wilmington Connection

March 22, 2008

Easter resembles Christmas in that it is a most sacred holiday which has been associated with secular symbolism, the purpose of which is to get people to celebrate it. Of course, the modern motivation is to sell candy. Yes, when the church established an Easter celebration, pagan rites of spring and the earth's renewal became intertwined with the religious celebration, and has been ever since. What could symbolize spring and renewal better than an egg? Maybe cute baby animals, of which there are plenty in Easter symbolism. Of course, this year Easter is so early, you may be hiding your eggs in the snow if you live up north! Take this time and spend it with friends and family, sit back relax and let inspiration and imagination fulfill your day. Happy Easter!

Wilmington Real Estate Market

A warm week in Wilmington with today topping 75 a great day at the beach, and when the sun goes down you can be assured that tomorrow will be a sunny day in Wilmington. House prices are still standing strong in Wilmington with homes selling for 96% of their list price. Homes that are priced at $900,000 and above are selling for 90% of their list price. Here is what has been happening in the real estate market this week.

Strong Febuary for Home Builders

Febuarys numbers were a break for the largely bad news -ridden housing market. On Monday, The National Association of Home Builders said its housing index for March was the third lowest reading ever. The index gauges builders perceptions of business conditions, potential buyers interest and expectations for home sales over the next six months.

Leland Coucil Votes to provide Water to Brunswick Forest

Leland intends to take on water in northern Brunswick County.

The Leland Town Council voted unanimously Thursday to come up with a plan to provide water to Brunswick Forest, Leland's biggest development, and possibly beyond.

"As time goes on, that could be expanded" to other developments, Town Manager Bill Farris said Friday.

The resolution says Leland, which already provides sewer service to Brunswick Forest and other customers, would have to build a $2 million water tank in connection with entering the water business.

The pending construction of a water tank was at the center of the North Brunswick Sanitary District's

March 6 decision to deny any new water connections to Brunswick Forest on U.S. 17 and another major client, Mallory Creek on N.C. 133.

The district wants Brunswick Forest to pay for the tank to improve the area's water pressure, since the development has helped cause low-pressure problems, sanitary district commissioner Poe Butler said last week. Other developments also could chip in, he added.

Oak Island to trade trees for more Sewer Service

Some of the trees that line Oak Island Drive will soon fall victim to the town's sewer project.

Seventy-six blocks of blooming Bradford pears and crape myrtles don't stand a chance against progress. The trees that line the south side and some on the north sideof Oak Island Drive from East 46th Street to the west end will be uprooted to make room for vacuum sewer lines, force mains and equipment.

"It's just impossible to install all that without disturbing the trees," wastewater project director Troy Davis said.

They won't all come out at once, but in the end the sacrifice will be made.

"It's a sad scenario there," said Jane Kulesza, chairwoman of Oak Island Tree City USA Advisory Board. But she acknowledged that it's an unavoidable part of expanding sewer service on the island.

"The unfortunate reality is that there will be trees that will be moved. However, those Bradford pear trees have a relatively short life span. They are not going to last that many more years," she said.

The trees were planted about 15 years ago, Town Manager Jerry Walters said, noting the town has been working with the tree city advisory board for a year on how to deal with the loss of vegetation.

Trees will be replanted, but what type has yet to be determined.

....until next week in the Week in Review Tina