GREATER FIVE POINTS
2025 UPDATE TRANSFORMATION PLAN
WHERE IS GREATER FIVE POINTS?
Greater Five Points is a collection of neighborhoods around the Five Points commercial area in New Bern, North Carolina, including the Greater Duffyfield neighborhood to the north and Walt Bellamy to the south. This area is just west of Downtown New Bern.
The Volt Center (left) and Trent Court (right)
WHY ARE WE HERE?
In 2014, the New Bern Housing Authority (NBHA) received a Choice Neighborhoods Planning Grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Together, public housing residents, community partners, and the broader neighborhood developed the Greater Five Points Transformation Plan, which was accepted by HUD in 2016.
WHAT’S CHANGED?
Local businesses in the Five Points Commercial Area
Conditions have changed significantly since 2016. Hurricane Florence damaged Trent Court in 2018. Craven Terrace, which was previously part of the 2016 Transformation Plan, has since been renovated through the Rental Assistance Demonstration program. FEMA flood maps and risk assessments have changed, impacting a larger area of the Trent Court site. The COVID-19 pandemic affected residents and service providers. The housing market has become even more challenging — there is a growing need for affordable housing in this community. Finally, there are new organizations and partners interested in investing in this community and supporting residents.
For these reasons, NBHA started a process in 2024 to update the Greater Five Points Transformation Plan, capturing the community’s vision and preparing to apply for funding to implement the vision.
HURRICANE FLORENCE
In 2018, Hurricane Florence heavily damaged Trent Court. Originally, there were 218 units at Trent Court. The storm damaged 108 units in 12 residential buildings, causing families to move off-site. Many current residents have traumatic memories of the storm and flooding at Trent Court.
Updating the Greater Five Points
Transformation Plan and developing a shared vision for Trent Court are important steps in unlocking FEMA funding for the demolition of the damaged buildings and new construction of replacement housing. New Bern Housing Authority is committed to preserving public housing on the waterfront and ensuring the original Trent Court residents have the opportunity to return to the site.
Hurricane Florence caused catastrophic destruction throughout the Carolinas with record-breaking rainfall.
The storm moved very slowly, allowing for massive amounts of rainfall in addition to wind damage.
HURRICANE FLORENCE
The flooding caused significant destruction to the Trent Court buildings and trauma and loss for residents.
218 units existed at Trent Court before the storm
108 units in 12 residential buildings were damaged
108 families moved off-site
A RENEWED COMMITMENT TO TRANSFORMATION
The 2024–2025 Update Process
In 2024, the New Bern Housing Authority began a process to update the Greater Five Points Transformation Plan. Eight months of robust community, resident, and stakeholder engagement informed this update. The Transformation Plan is divided into three categories: People, Neighborhood, and Housing. The recommendations included in the update align with the current needs and visions of the residents and broader neighborhood.
PEOPLE
Supporting positive outcomes in health, employment, and education for Trent Court residents
NEIGHBORHOOD
Trails, parks, transportation, economic development, and amenities for the Greater Five Points neighborhood
HOUSING
Redevelop Trent Court public housing into mixed-income housing with one-for-one replacement and first right-to-return for Trent Court residents
to residents’ needs Refine the Housing, Neighborhood,andPeoplePlans
Decide on the Strategies & Update the Transformation Plan
Each category has goals to reach, specific objectives to target, strategies to achieve each objective, and metrics to help measure success. Partner organizations are supporting each goal.
The Vision
Greater Five Points will be a community rich in opportunity that builds upon our heritage and assets with a focus on our future. It will be a great place for current and future residents to live, work, play, worship, and create.
THE RESIDENTS OF TRENT COURT
Trent Court residents are resilient, determined, hopeful, and family-minded. Every household at Trent Court completed an in-depth survey to help NBHA better understand the residents’ needs and visions for the future. Residents answered questions about their family’s access to healthcare, job training, early childhood education, after-school programs, neighborhood amenities, transportation, and healthy food. Understanding what the families of Trent Court need helped to lay the groundwork for partnerships with New Bern area non-profits and organizations that are eager to support the residents in achieving their goals.
Households completed the needs assessment of respondents live in 2-person households
total residents of households are African-American of heads of household are male of Trent Court households have lived in Trent Court for less than 5 years
The average family size at Trent Court is 101 37% 247 85% 22% 64% 62% 28% 22% 60% 25%
55% of Trent Court households have children under the age of 18
48% 2.4 of Trent Court households do not have convenient connection to the Internet of Trent Court households don’t have a bank account of Trent Court households need accommodations in their units for mobility, hearing , or vision impairment of Trent Court households use public transit to commute for jobs, school, appointments, daily needs, etc.
of households have a high school diploma of Trent Court heads of household are
PEOPLE
HOUSING PLAN
Trent Court will be redeveloped as mixed-income housing. In order to build a replacement unit for every existing unit at Trent Court and add affordable and market-rate housing, at least 437 new units must be built. New housing will be built on three sites in the Greater Five Points neighborhood — the Trent Court site, the former Days Inn site, and the former F.R. Danyus School site. Trent Court residents have first right-to-return to the new housing. All three sites will be mixedincome, with affordable and market-rate residents living side-by-side and sharing amenities.
Single-Family Housing For Large Families
Park
White Recreation Center
Center
F.R. Danyus School Site
Days Inn Site
Trent Court Site
Existing building to be
HOUSING GOALS
GOAL 1
GOAL 2
Trent Court is redeveloped to replace 218 existing public housing units one-for-one in a mixed-income community
New mixed-income developments offer high-quality housing choices
GOAL 3
New mixed-income housing is environmentally and socially resilient for the future
Single-Family Homes for Large Families
Several single-family homes have been built on Walt Bellamy Drive for large families. Four more homes will be built as part of the mixed-income housing
PEOPLE PLAN
The People Plan focuses on supporting the residents of Trent Court. Engaged partners will help residents achieve their goals in education, health, financial wellbeing, and engagement. The metrics in the plan are tracked long-term for measurable progress toward these goals. The People Plan also focuses on supporting residents through the relocation process. Trent Court residents have the first right-toreturn to the new mixed-income housing. Urban Strategies Inc., the People Lead, will support every family to ensure they are stable and thriving.
of Trent Court residents find it hard to work because of their health problems
PEOPLE GOALS
GOAL 1
GOAL 2
Children enter kindergarten ready to learn
GOAL 3
Children are supported academically, emotionally, and socially, and graduate from high school
Residents are connected to primary and preventive healthcare
GOAL 4
Residents engage in programs and activities that promote healthy lifestyles
GOAL 5 Residents have financial stability
GOAL 6
GOAL 7
Residents have the skills and credentials for wealth creation, including a living wage, through viable and sustainable employment
Households are informed about the Choice Neighborhoods transformation
of Trent Court households make under $20k a year 71% of Trent Court parents participate in the Parent Teacher Organization 28% of Trent Court residents said financial issues are one of the biggest challenges facing their household right now 12%
NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN
The Neighborhood Plan focuses on economic development, infill housing, community wellness, transportation, safety, and community pride. These investments will benefit the broader neighborhood, not only the area immediately around Trent Court. Developing safe walking and biking routes to the new Stanley White Recreation Center, celebrating the important AfricanAmerican heritage in the Greater Duffyfield neighborhood, and installing public art at key gateways will transform Greater Five Points into a neighborhood of choice.
NEIGHBORHOOD GOALS
The Fountain at Old McCarthy Square
Before the 1950s, a streetcar operated on Queen Street, making the area around Queen and Pollock Street lively, with a fountain at the intersection.
As the fountain and streetcar tracks were removed, historic homes and businesses experienced reduced activity. Restoring the fountain is essential for revitalizing this key neighborhood entry and creating a vibrant hub.
2006 Report on ideas for a restoration and preservation project
The Intersection of Queen and Pollock Street Today
“The entrance to the neighborhood needs a big facelift.”
McCarthy Square Fountain
West St. School Museum
Honoring African-American Education in New Bern
West Street Grade School was New Bern’s first African-American public school. Fire destroyed the original structure in 1905, but the school’s new principal, J.T. Barber, successfully championed the construction of the state’s first African-American brick school building. Two years later. F.R. Danyus succeeded J.T. Barber, but unfortunately, the original brick school building also burned in 1969. By adapting the school building into mixed-income housing and creating a museum to honor its history and notable alumni in the cafeteria annex, the legacy and history of African-American education on this historic site can be preserved and celebrated.
West Street is home to many important AfricanAmerican historic sites in New Bern
The West St. School Museum could be part of an expanded African-American Heritage Trail
West St
Bern St West St. School Museum
New MixedIncome Housing
Special Paving Walkable Streets in Transformed Trent Court
Pedestrian-friendly streets with sidewalks and on-street parking for guests.
New streets on the redeveloped Trent Court site will be walkable, with sidewalks, street trees, and on-street parking for guests. Walt Bellamy Drive could be paved with special paving to slow cars and encourage pedestrians to access the riverfront park.
Supporting Vibrancy on Queen and Broad Street
The new mixed-income housing on the former Day’s Inn site could include retail space, amenity areas, and childcare services on the ground floor. This will create an active pedestrian experience, restoring Five Points as a mixed-use neighborhood center.
New Crosswalk
LEAD ORGANIZATIONS
Co-Applicant
Co-Applicant
Housing Lead
People Lead
Education Lead
WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?
New Bern Housing Authority and its partners are committed to pursuing funding to redevelop the Trent Court site and transform the Greater Five Points neighborhood. Urban Strategies, Inc. and NBHA will support Trent Court residents throughout the process with Family Support Services, connecting every household to resources, service providers, and housing relocation support. HRI Communities and NBHA will co-develop mixed-income housing in phases, starting with the vacant former Days Inn and F.R. Danyus sites. The focus will remain on rebuilding high-quality, mixed-income housing on the riverfront, supporting the residents, and attracting amenities to the neighborhood.
Redevelop the Charles Taylor Building as NBHA’s offices
Pursue Historic Preservation Approvals for the Trent Court site Demolish the Damaged Buildings
Build new housing on the former Days Inn and F.R. Danyus School sites
Relocate families from the Trent Court site, with support Move families back to the redeveloped mixed-income housing at Trent Court
Redevelop Trent Court as new construction, in phases
