So I'm looking at being in Wilmington in early November for about a week. It looks like the area I'll need to be in is around 9th and Princess. Is this a decent area? Am I good to look for Airbnb places to stay in this general vicinity or should I look elsewhere? Where exactly are the heavy crime areas of Wilmington?

Also, will I be able to carry with my Texas CHL there? Any weird restrictions I should be aware of?

Thanks so much, guys!

quote:

Originally posted by Monk:
So I'm looking at being in Wilmington in early November for about a week. It looks like the area I'll need to be in is around 9th and Princess. Is this a decent area? Am I good to look for Airbnb places to stay in this general vicinity or should I look elsewhere? Where exactly are the heavy crime areas of Wilmington?

Also, will I be able to carry with my Texas CHL there? Any weird restrictions I should be aware of?

Thanks so much, guys!

Well...didn't you just bring back some memories..

If there were doors into Hell, one would be near 9th and Princess. I almost killed a guy at 12th and Chestnut (3 blocks up, 1 over), saw the worst open-air drug market in the same spot. Almost killed another guy at 11th and Princess. I've probably arrested 100 people within 10 sq blocks of 9th/Princess. Pointed my gun at many many bad guys in the area. Several gang-bangers have shot at or stabbed and/or killed several other gang bangers in the immediate area. I've done car chases down that street, not one, or two, but near a dozen official or unofficial. Foot chases, too. Raided more than one house in the dark looking for murderers or attempted murderers. Heard running gun-fights between gang bangers...robberies, lots of robberies.

You could imagine just about any sin or too-insane-to-believe story, and you're within a smoke's walking distance to it from 9th/Princess.

Other than that, it's a nice spot!

But, it's in the heart of historic downtown, in a city founded in 1739, with more ante-bellum homes still standing than most. It's beautiful, 9 blocks from the Cape Fear River and beautiful downtown. 9th/Princess is an industrial/commercial area, but it's residential a block east or north. It's within the heart of some of the worse crime in the area, but it's not the worst spot. Just close to some of the worst spots, by a couple of blocks. There was a time when the area of 11th/Princess was what I considered the most dangerous block in the entire city, but I believe that has passed.

I have had friends who lived in the area, and (other than witnessing the drug deals or the drive-bys) were never victim to any crimes. But anything north or east will be bad. Bad as in-don't walk around at night unless you are planning on getting robbed or shot. South isn't much better, and 2 blocks south starts getting right back into the shit. West, toward the river and downtown proper, gets better the further you go...but you've got a few blocks worth of heightened danger before you get to the "safer" areas.

During the day, most of it will look inviting and safe. Most of it is. Unless it's not. Running gun-fights in broad daylight were not unheard of when I was there.


Your TX permit will be good. NC honors everyone's I believe. Take a look at http://www.handgunlaw.us/ to see if there is anything that concerns you, I don't want to steer you wrong.

As far as Air BnB, there are truly some gorgeous houses in the area. One block can be shit and the next amazing. If you have any specific locations you're looking at I'd be glad to give it a look for you.


Yes...I might miss it a little...

Thanks Chongo for responding so well to help a member out! One more great reason to love SigForum!

I can corroborate Chongo's depiction. I was the WIC Fraud Investigator for the State (imagine the buying and selling there) and of the three stores I visited, it was the only time I ever felt the need to worry about a drive-by. At each store. I think the owners were even worried for my safety.

Hahahaha thanks, guys. What a glowing recommendation. :P Guess I'd better bring the plate carrier with me.

I'd be attending the Cucalorus Film Festival, so I'd like something that's close by there, but obviously, not if I'm gonna have to go Mad Max just to get around.

Right now I'm looking at places on 3rd and Nun St, 5th and Church, Grace and Nutt, and 9th and Meadow.

All those are good spots, just remember that any area near downtown is or is close to a crime ridden area. Venture out at night carefully.

The Grace/Nutt spot is in downtown proper. The rest are within walking distance. That one would have my vote. It's only 7 or 8 blocks from 9th/Princess, maybe a 10 min walk, 2 min ride, but it's a pretty 10 min walk, and it won't be too hot or cold most likely.

Third and 5th are both 4-lane streets. 3rd is a major street, lots of traffic. 5th Ave has less. Either would be a nice spot, but it's about double the walk to 9th/princess.

9th/Meadow is probably nice. If more of your time is going to be spent there than downtown, it'd get my vote. But I'm particularly fond of downtown. But that's right at the Cape Fear Museum, which is a good visit, and a theatre I used to take my kids to. It's also a block from the probation office, a shady as hell dollar general, a block from a stout open-air drug market spot, and I had a hell of a fight in a parking lot 1 block east in 2009 with a cheeky fellow called "Tooka", who was a Blood enforcer, and thought he wanted his 1911 more than I did.

Grace/Nutt has potential. Nutt St is just a block's worth of street that goes under a single story parking lot, the streef being level with the river, or nearly so. If the deck is standing...they were talking about knocking it down lately. Anyway, if it's an AirBnB on Nutt st, there is good potential for a river view athe the least, and a 150 year+ old room at best, both interesting to me! Plus, you're 300 feet from the river and the riverwalk, and in the real downtown. And you could hit the battleship with a good slingshot from there!


It's also the same area as the backside of the old Bullocks Hospital, rumoured to be one of the most haunted spots in the state...which I know they were converting to apartments...

I've got stories about the area around Grace/Nutt, too, but I'll quit with the stories lol.

*When I say 'downtown' I mean from 5th Ave to the water. When the media talks about 'downtown' they mean from 17th street, or maybe Forrest Hills Dr or Kerr Ave to the river. You'll understand the difference when you see it.

I recommend going to the cape fear serpentarium and getting the pulled chicken nachos from the Front Street Brewery. Maybe a ghost tour or a historic carriage ride. Lots of interesting shops downtown. Breakfast at the Dixieland Grill, lunch at Chops Deli. Then again, you really can't go wrong anywhere down there.