FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
The Harrelson Center Nears Completion with Final Expansion
New office suites will welcome up to eight nonprofits
The Harrelson Center, Wilmington’s campus of nonprofits, is completing its third and last phase of its campus expansion, with an anticipated release of eight new office suites in its Vicki Dull Annex this August. The fourth and fifth floors of what was once the jail tower for the New Hanover County Law Enforcement Center, will soon serve humanitarian nonprofits in suites ranging from 1,774 to 2,263 square feet. Two of the eight suites have been leased – one to Foster Pantry and another to Legal Aid of North Carolina for their criminal record expungement services. Five suites on the fourth floor and one suite on the fifth floor are available. Qualifying tenants must be registered with the IRS and have a verifiable 501c-3 designation and be accepted as a partner through the Center’s Board application process. For more information visit harrelsoncenter.org or call 910-343-8212.
“We are thrilled to be completing the renovations to the former jail and fully realizing the vision for a campus of humanitarian nonprofits that offer hope, opportunity and empowerment,” said the Harrelson Center’s Executive Director Meade Van Pelt. The Center offers well-below-market rent and administrative resources to its on-campus partner nonprofits, as well as onsite parking and use of Plaza on Princess, the Center’s special event space with capacity for up to 300 people. The Harrelson Center’s downtown location on Fourth Street, between Market and Princess streets, also offers easy proximity to public transportation.
By sharing common ground and purpose, the Harrelson Center further provides nonprofit leaders opportunities to capitalize on each other’s strengths and perspectives. Such synergy in service is enhanced by a full-time community navigator who provides referrals for people seeking access to community services and the Harrelson Center’s Help Hub, which supports neighbors and partner clients with health care navigation for unmet healthcare needs and emergency financial assistance to secure housing stability. There are presently 21 partner nonprofit organizations on the Harrelson Center campus with another 17 associate partners off campus.
The first phase of renovations to the former law enforcement center was completed in 2015 at a cost of $1.5 million and created space for seven non-profit organizations. The second phase of renovations, at $2.5 million, was completed by summer of 2021 and included demolition of exterior courtyard walls at the corner of Market and Fourth Streets, and completion of Plaza on Princess event space. This phase also began the transformation of the jail tower to the Vicki Dull Annex with demolition of the tower’s interior, renovation to interior ramps connecting the existing campus to future partner suites, and a new elevator, stairwell, roofing and HVAC systems for the annex. This final phase of construction is valued at $1.5 million and simply completes the eight office suites in what had been only roughed in in 2021. All construction is fully paid for through gifts, grants and completion of the Harrelson Center’s capital campaign in 2022.
The Harrelson Center has occupied the former New Hanover County law enforcement center since the jail was relocated at the end of 2004 and FBC Holdings purchased the downtown property and building, with a gift from Bobby Harrelson in memory of his late wife Jo Ann Carter Harrelson. The nearly 40 humanitarian nonprofit organizations that partner with The Harrelson Center address crisis response, health and wellness, disability and special needs, conflict resolution, housing and food security, interpersonal violence, youth enrichment, childhood and family support, career development and equity and access.