New Bern Aldermen Discuss Building Shops on City-Owned Property

Potential changes coming to Hancock Street as city explores using Municipal Service District funds to create an incubator for small businesses.

Published on Feb. 13, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

The New Bern Board of Aldermen discussed a concept during their January 2026 retreat to use Municipal Service District tax funds to build around seven small specialty shops on city-owned property at the corner of Hancock and South Front Streets. The goal would be to create an incubator for niche businesses, potentially operated by the local economic development organization Swiss Bear. Separately, the city is also considering changes to parking on the 200 block of Hancock Street to improve traffic safety, which has raised concerns from some residents.

Why it matters

This proposal highlights New Bern's efforts to support small businesses and revitalize its downtown area, using public funds to create affordable retail spaces. However, the potential loss of parking on Hancock Street has sparked pushback from residents who rely on street parking, raising questions about balancing business development and community needs.

The details

The city manager said there is a lack of available retail space downtown, so the goal of the shop project would be to create an incubator for niche businesses. He said they are still working on cost estimates and would need to get approval from the Historic Preservation Commission and the Municipal Service District Advisory Committee before bringing it to the Board of Aldermen. Separately, the city is proposing changes to the 200 block of Hancock Street, including removing parking restrictions on the east side and eliminating parking on the west side to improve traffic safety. This proposal has faced opposition from some residents who say it would create hardship, especially for senior citizens.

  • The Board of Aldermen discussed the shop concept during their January 7, 2026 retreat.
  • The city sent a notification to Hancock Street property owners about the proposed parking changes in February 2026.
  • The Board of Aldermen was scheduled to consider the Hancock Street parking changes at their February 10, 2026 meeting, but the item was removed from the agenda after feedback from residents.

The players

Foster Hughes

New Bern City Manager who presented the concept of building small shops on city-owned property.

Jeffrey Odham

Mayor of New Bern who had previously suggested the idea of "incubator chalets" on the old railroad lot.

Trey Ferguson

New Bern Alderman who said he liked the idea of the small shops and would bring it up to the Municipal Service District Advisory Committee.

Dana Outlaw

New Bern Alderman who expressed concern about the potential loss of 30-40 parking spaces on Hancock Street.

Sabrina Bengel

New Bern Alderman who previously said the city had purchased the land for the potential Pepsi Museum using Municipal Service District funds.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“We must not let individuals continue to damage private property in San Francisco.”

— Robert Jenkins, San Francisco resident (San Francisco Chronicle)

What’s next

The city manager is formulating cost estimates for the proposed shop project, and it will need to be approved by the Historic Preservation Commission and Municipal Service District Advisory Committee before going to the Board of Aldermen. The Board of Aldermen will also need to reconsider the proposed changes to parking on the 200 block of Hancock Street after hearing feedback from residents.

The takeaway

New Bern's efforts to support small businesses and revitalize its downtown through the proposed shop project highlight the challenges of balancing economic development and community needs, especially when it comes to issues like parking that can have a significant impact on residents. The city will need to carefully navigate these tradeoffs to find solutions that work for both businesses and the local community.