Agenda includes concept drawing of new Martinique site near waterfront

EDENTON — The Edenton Town Council is expected to revisit one of its most closely watched economic development efforts Tuesday night, with an update on the Harbor Towns Maritime Center initiative, a proposed project amendment, and new materials that appear to introduce a historic Chowan County home into the town’s waterfront.

Council is scheduled to meet at 6 p.m. Tuesday, May 12, 2026, inside council chambers at 504 S. Broad Street. According to the published agenda, the evening includes a Harbor Towns Maritime Center Presentation by Chris Morris, with AR Chesson, followed later by Harbor Towns Project Amendment under new business.

Tuesday’s meeting is open to the public and will also be available remotely via Zoom, https://us02web.zoom.us/j/2524822155?pwd=T0NFUEJ0MXlnV3B2UFA1S0R0ajgzUT09

Meeting ID: 252 482 2155 Passcode: 458434 Dial in Option: 301-715-8592 (Meeting ID & Password same).

Public comment is limited to three minutes per speaker.

In the agenda packet is a conceptual rendering labeled “Martinique House,” depicting a historic home positioned along Edenton’s South Broad Street waterfront with landscaped walkways, benches, public gathering space, shoreline improvements, and pedestrian connections. While the agenda itself does not explicitly identify Martinique as part of the Harbor Towns initiative, the rendering appears in materials connected to the Harbor Towns project amendment, raising questions about how the historic property may fit into the town’s long-term waterfront plans.

Martinique, located on the 3000-block of Rocky Hock Road, is considered one of rural, northern Chowan County’s significant historic homes, tied to the county’s plantation-era history and early architectural heritage. It was built in 1752 and is the oldest plantation house in northern Chowan County, according to the book Between the River and the Sound.

In recent weeks, the Elizabeth Vann Moore Foundation published a series of Facebook posts highlighting the home and its history.

In 2009, Martinique was removed from its location along the Chowan River and moved toward the end of the driveway leading to Rocky Hock Road. A new home was built in its place. According to Between the River and the Sound (published in 2012), the building was awaiting a buyer through Preservation North Carolina. Elizabeth Van Moore Foundation purchased the home, according to its social media posts.

Tuesday’s discussion comes amid continued public scrutiny surrounding Harbor Towns, a nonprofit initiative originally promoted as a regional maritime and ferry project involving communities across northeastern North Carolina.

At council’s February meeting, Harbor Towns officials acknowledged major setbacks involving two high-speed ferries that had once been central to the project. Harbor Towns treasurer Peter Thomson told council the vessels were sitting in Belhaven and were being offered for sale after operational realities made deployment difficult. “There is no master mechanic here that can handle that kind of boat. There is no lift here. There was no fuel here.”

Despite those setbacks, council voted earlier this year to continue moving forward with approximately $1.4 million in state-backed waterfront improvements associated with the project, including repairs to the Penelope Barker House, public restroom reconstruction, lighting upgrades, and other tourism-related infrastructure. Harbor Towns officials have said that the town has until the end of May to finalize how it will spend its allotment of a $10 million state grant.

The rendering of Martinique in Tuesday’s packet is not labelled as being part of the Harbor Towns project. If it is part of the project, it adds a new preservation dimension to that discussion, though several details remain unclear ahead of the meeting — including who would own the structure if relocated, what funding source would be used for the move or site preparation, how it will be moved from northern Chowan County to downtown Edenton, and whether preservation groups be have formally partnered with Harbor Town or the town on the concept.

The addition of Martinique, like the work on the Barker House presented in the February meeting, would also represent a change in the initial plans for Edenton’s portion of the Harbor Towns project. The original plan included renovating the building that houses the Waterfront Park office and restrooms.

Beyond Harbor Towns, council’s consent agenda includes several other significant items.

Council is expected to approve a $225,751.50 construction contract with Burnette Enterprises of Wilmington, Inc., for the Paradise Road Water Main Extension after seven bids were received in April.

Council will also consider accepting a $500,000 grant agreement connected to Project Teapot, the redevelopment of the Brick (211 S. Broad St.) into office space for Provalus, a project town officials say could create 61 full-time jobs within three years.

Another consent item would authorize the town’s annual audit contract with Thompson, Price, Scott, Adams & Co., P.A. of Wilmington. Town records show Edenton has used the firm in previous fiscal years, making Tuesday’s action a continuation of an existing relationship.

Council is also expected to review and vote on a proposed Economic Development Rider that would offer temporary electric rate incentives to attract new commercial or industrial tenants to large vacant buildings. It was discussed at the April committee meeting.

One notable absence from Tuesday’s agenda is the town’s proposed Fiscal Year 2026–27 budget. With North Carolina local governments required to adopt budgets before June 30, the omission leaves limited time for public review and council action before the state deadline.

Editor’s note: This story was updated at 8:48 a.m. May 9 to include information about Martinique.