By: Susan Moffat-Thomas, retired Executive Director Swiss Bear Downtown Development
Pedestrian connections in New Bern’s historic downtown play a vital role in creating a strong sense of community and provide an exceptionally pleasant walkable experience. Improving and developing new inter-block connections, were important goals of the downtown revitalization effort. And today our walkable downtown is an environment where people want to get out of their cars and explore, shop, dine, look at the outstanding architecture, and just enjoy people-watching.
But, in the late 1970’s, pedestrian access from the mid-block parking lots to shops that fronted Middle, Pollock, Craven and South Front Streets, were woefully inadequate, generally unattractive, and in some cases dangerous. To improve and enhance walkability, Swiss Bear, Inc., the newly created non-profit, began working in partnership with local government to revitalize the downtown and its waterfront. Their initial focus was development of a new interior block parking lot and Bear Plaza. This new mid-block pedestrian park was constructed on the site of a department store on Middle Street, that burned down and was never rebuilt. Named Bear Plaza, this new public square, also provided a pedestrian connection to the newly constructed interior parking lot, called Federal Alley.
The importance of pedestrian connectivity was reiterated in the 1990 Urban Design Plan (UDP),a guideline for unified growth and development, and recommended the existing through-block pedestrian connections needed to be improved. The plan also pointed out the need for a pedestrian connection from the inter-core parking area (Federal Alley) to Pollock Street, and if, and when the opportunity arose, a pedestrian connection should be developed.
In the early 1990’s, acting on the UDP’s recommendations, the existing inter-block connections, Church Alley (adjacent to Tom’s Coins), the walkway between First Baptist Church and O. Marks, the walkway along the Century 21 building from South Front into the interior Federal Alley parking area, and the alley between Morgan’s Tavern and the adjacent building were improved. But no option was available to provide a connection to Pollock Street, a street lined with buildings.
Fortunately, the opportunity arose in 1990, when Swiss Bear learned the owner of the “old” pool hall on Pollock Street, considered selling it. The removal of this small one-story building, in poor repair without architectural distinction, would allow a dramatic direct view of the steeple of the Episcopal Church, mirroring the view of the First Baptist steeple through Church Alley. With approval from the MSD Advisory Committee and the City, a Swiss Bear Board member approached the owner and worked out an agreement for the City to purchase the building with the special tax district (MSD) funds and Swiss Bear hired a landscape architect to design a plan for the space with plantings, old brick from the original New Bern streets, street lights, benches and a tiered water fountain.
Following the city’s demolition of the building, the project was put on hold as the remaining MSD funds were committed for the major streetscape improvements to the 100/200 blocks of Middle Street. To move the project forward, Swiss Bear initiated a fundraising campaign and raised $60,000 to fund construction materials, streetlights, benches and planting materials, and the City agreed to provide the labor. Additional funding to purchase the three-tier cast iron fountain was contributed by Dr. and Mrs. Harry MacDonald in honor of his parents, L. R. Thomas & Sons constructed the abstract wood wall hanging and donated and the brownstone plaque in the sidewalk, recognizing the MacDonald’s contribution. Other contributors to the project, were listed on a bronze plaque on the brick wall facing the lane.
The challenge to select an appropriate name for this pedestrian connection, was met by the late, Reverend Edward Sharp, then Rector of Christ Episcopal Church. A strong supporter of the revitalization effort, Reverend Sharp’s recommendation, James Reed Lane, was presented and approved by the New Bern Board of Aldermen. The name of this Lane – rather than alley – is in memory and honor of James Reed, an 18th century pioneer in public education. After 230 years, the Reverend James Reed, first rector of Christ Church, received belated recognition for his role in establishing, in 1764, North Carolina’s first incorporated public school in New Bern, which was built on the site now occupied by the New Bern Academy.
The completion of James Reed Lane, another important pedestrian connection, was dedicated on February 25, 1996. Remarks by keynote speaker, Patrick Dorsey, North Carolina Secretary of Cultural Resources, Reverend Sharp, the city and Swiss Bear officials, in celebration of another important inter-block connection, adding to the walkability and “sense of place and community” in our historic downtown.