Allison Platt while at Rivers & Associates prepared a vision plan for the waterfront and downtown of Hertford. The plan has been adopted by the Town and assisted the Town in applying for a successful $196,000 USDA grant for more detailed Riverfront Plan and Downtown plan, along with a Community Plan to address housing issues within the historic neighborhoods. See the Community Plan under Master Plan.
The plan envisions revitalization of many underutilized downtown buildings, and new uses along the mostly-vacant northern riverfront such as an Inn/conference center/restaurant, relocated historic houses for purchase or Airbnb use, rehab of an old ice plant to a microbrewery, and reconfiguration of the Town docks to accommodate plans for regional fast ferries in the future.
Existing public uses are reorganized along the waterfront to provide more public access and improved recreational opportunities, including a continuous waterfront walkway along the entire length of the northern riverfront, picnic pavilions, a playground, and an amphitheater overlooking the river.
RESULTS: As a result of this plan, the NC Department of Commerce admitted the Town to its new $48 million Rural Transformation Grant Fund in early 2022. This summer the Town received a grant of $14.9 million to replace water and sewer in the entire community and another grant to address stormwater and flooding. Regeneration by Design assisted the Town in applying for the Commerce Downtown Development Grant. This grant was funded, and will provide upgraded linkages from the planned Fast Ferry landing area to the downtown.