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Council starts review of options for 801/pier complex including possible sale or RFP
Summary
Council directed staff to pursue options for the 801/pier complex: explore marketing or sale of the 801 building (standalone or combined with the pier complex), consult legal/real-estate counsel on statutory sale and lease steps, and study deed/zoning conditions to preserve commercial uses if sold.
Oak Island — The council asked staff on April 28 to begin parallel analyses of options for the 801 building and the adjacent pier complex, including selling, issuing RFPs for leases or pursuing public‑private partnerships while protecting the town’s operational needs for the pier.
Staff outlined the current picture: the pier and pier-house operations operate near break-even on day-to-day receipts but the 801 building (a town-owned commercial asset) lacks operating revenues sufficient to cover one-off capital needs; the town subsidized capital repairs this year. Council members expressed interest in options that generate revenue or transfer capital burden while preserving public assets: ideas included selling 801 as a commercial parcel, RFPing lease or sale opportunities with clear public criteria, retaining the pier and pier-house for municipal operations, and adding deed restrictions or zoning controls to ensure continued commercial use and protect the pier’s operating functions.
Legal and procedural next steps discussed included: staff research of state statutes governing sale or lease of public property, preparing an RFP or request for brokerage services, and clarifying how existing leases (commercial and residential) would be handled if ownership changed. Council asked staff to return with timelines, statutory options, and practical constraints (for example, whether an RFP can require a buyer to maintain commercial uses or whether deed encumbrances are necessary).
Why it matters: The 801/pier complex contributes to town revenue and tourism operations; disposing of or restructuring the complex would have both fiscal and operational consequences. Council members emphasized preserving municipal access and local revenue streams while avoiding repeated capital-subsidy obligations.
Next steps: Staff will analyze statutory sale/lease options, prepare an RFP/realtor procurement plan if appropriate, provide a pro forma of likely fiscal outcomes, and return with a recommendation of next steps and timeline.
