One of Wrightsville Beach’s long-abandoned commercial properties, the former site of the Middle of the Island restaurant, won’t be vacant too much longer.
The Wrightsville Beach Board of Aldermen voted Nov. 12 to grant property owner Nathan Sanders a parking exception so he can start renovations to the orange-roofed structure on Old Causeway Drive that has been empty for nearly a decade.
Sanders said he doesn’t know specifically what business will occupy the building. First, he has to remodel the structure, expanding the square footage and raising the roof slightly. Then, he said he will line up tenants.
Businesses that have shown interest so far are an outfitter, a hardware store and an antique shop.
While the parking exception is the first step toward redeveloping the abandoned site, Sanders could still be years from finishing the project. If he makes any drastic changes to the structure, it is considered a new building and must be elevated to conform to present flood zone regulations, so he will have to complete the renovations in phases.
Mayor Bill Blair warned Sanders parking would be an issue, but after seeing Sanders’ rendering for the proposal he said he would be “highly supportive of making the MOI building look better.”
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