As repairs are planned for an iconic Wilmington landmark, the city is considering relocating it in the next decade.
Kenan Fountain is one of the most instantly recognizable fixtures of downtown Wilmington. Situated in the middle of Fifth Avenue and Market Street, the fountain shares a corner with the Bellamy Mansion, the Carolina Apartments and the historic First Baptist Church. While a staple of downtown, the structure is also known for traffic flow limitations, safety concerns and vandalism.
The fountain has been out of service since 2023 when an N.C. Department of Transportation contractor damaged it, Wilmington Director of Public Services Dave Mayes said at a meeting on June 2. The city plans to repair the fountain and possibly move it out of the busy intersection.
How much will repairs cost?
A bid to repair the damage from the contractor came in at $285,000, a $60,000 increase from the engineer’s estimate. A $98,560 insurance claim has been received, and the city intends to file an additional claim to cover the remaining cost. A bid for restoration of the fountain’s concrete, which has sustained damages from collisions over the years, came in at $103,500, roughly one-third of the engineer’s estimate…