RFPs & RFQs
City of Wilmington, NC Downtown Master Planning Services
The City of Wilmington is seeking to assemble a team of consultants to assist with Downtown Master Planning. This project will be the first major initiative to implement the Greater Downtown Plan, which was adopted by the City Council on June 16, 2026, and focuses on the following areas and objectives:
- Northern Riverfront. This area serves as the northern gateway to Downtown Wilmington and is home to City Hall, the Wilmington Convention Center, Live Oak Bank Pavilion, and over 22 acres of vacant or underused land, more than 12 of which are owned by the City. The objective for this study area is to create a thriving, vibrant gateway district that prioritizes transformative placemaking and public amenities to attract both investment and visitors, and helps to achieve the vision for Greater Downtown as it grows and adapts to changing conditions.
- Site of the City’s Former Administrative Complex. The site of the City’s former administrative complex is located at the intersection of Chestnut Street and North 3rd Street across the street from Thalian Hall and Project Grace, a mixed-use development including the new home of the Cape Fear Museum and downtown/central library. The objective for this area is to identify a redevelopment strategy that builds on the site’s key location and adjacent uses in the heart of downtown and supports continued investment and development of the Central Business District.
Three Requests for Qualifications have been issued for firms specializing in the following areas to assist in this effort:
The firms selected for this work will be expected to coordinate their work plans and deliverables with one another and with multiple City departments.
Statements of Qualifications are due by 3:00 p.m. Eastern time on Monday, July 13, 2026.
Questions may be submitted via email to Linda Painter, Director of Planning and Development (linda.painter@wilmingtonnc.gov) and Ariental Fullwood, Buyer (ariental.fullwood@wilmingtonnc.gov).
Hickory Comprehensive Plan and Development Ordinance RFQ
The City of Hickory is seeking professional planning services for the creation of a new comprehensive plan and development ordinance. The current comprehensive plan, titled Hickory by Choice 2030, was completed in 2011. The plan has been regularly updated by city staff. However, the plan’s time horizon and increased development pressures makes it necessary to undertake a new planning process to take the city forward over the coming decades.
In order to implement the plan, the city will need to revisit its current development ordinance to make necessary changes to ensure it works as an adequate tool to implement the strategies and objectives which come out of the new planning process. As with the current plan, the development ordinance has been regularly updated to address identified weaknesses and can be found at the same web address as the plan.
The Request for Qualifications contains the information and timeline for submission of qualifications for consideration by the city in selecting a qualified firm. The method of selection is outlined within the Request for Qualifications.
The RFQ can be found online with a deadline of July 8, 2026.