Goodnight buys Castle Street properties with plans for renovations, repairs

A developer who restored historic structures on North Entrance and Princess streets in downtown Wilmington has turned his focus to yet another corridor.

Not too long ago, James Goodnight acquired 555 Castle St. for $800,000 from the Davis spouse and children, according to residence tax documents. 

The purchase provides to what Goodnight refers to as an assemblage of houses on Castle, which also consists of 539, 545 and 551 Castle St. as very well as 515 Price’s Alley. 

A plaque related with 555 Castle suggests it was created as Alex Kosch Furniture in 1922, Goodnight stated.

“Though the building’s facade has been altered about the years with stucco and a more recent storefront, there is some terrific historic masonry, an unique cornice, and tin ceiling visible,” he mentioned in an e-mail. “The team is psyched to dig in and see what else is hiding ready to be introduced again to light.”

Some parts of Castle Avenue are in risk of losing their historic designation simply because of buildings that have been lost in the 20 several years given that Wilmington performed its final study, which is set to be up-to-date this calendar year. 

For buildings that have been demolished, these types of as all those in the 600 and 700 blocks of Castle Road that had to be torn down mainly because of hurricane problems or neglect, it’s much too late to do something.

“Once they’re absent, there is certainly no coming again,” claimed Travis Gilbert, executive director of the Historic Wilmington Foundation.

But in the situation of 555 Castle, which even now stands, Goodnight mentioned he’s hoping to have an affect on its status. 

“While we won’t be making a new historic making, we’ll hopefully be bringing a single again to contributing status, which is fantastic in gentle of modern news of some more mature buildings becoming lost to progress,” Goodnight stated in the e mail. “Though it is a little bit way too early to say for positive, the believed is that this making will be another historic preservation tax credit rating undertaking.”

The building is at present property to Cape Worry Antiques & Residence Decor, which was marketing a store closing sale with window indications on Monday. 

Goodnight said, “We’re leasing 555 back again to Cape Worry Antiques via the stop of April, so inside demolition and discovery won’t begin until eventually later on this 12 months.”

He is also leasing back 539 Castle St. to its seller Michael Moore and Michael Moore Antiques for the time currently being. Amid the other qualities Goodnight has acquired in Wilmington is the building that holds seafood restaurant Seabird at 1 S Entrance St.

Gilbert said, “James Goodnight has a wonderful observe document of stewarding old structures.”