In August 2006, the Waterfront Access Committee was created by the General Assembly to assess the loss of diversity of uses along the coastal shoreline of North Carolina. Their findings suggested that there were grounds for an immediate response by the state to ensure existing and future waterfront-dependent uses, as well as retain and enhance public access to coastal public trust waters.
The Cape Hatteras Working Waterfront initiative is an attempt to create a blueprint for other such projects around the state. The plan calls for a maritime heritage center to be built on the property between Oden’s Dock and Avon Seafood, a location that would provide access for commercial fisherman, recreational boaters, and tourists alike. The heritage center would have a special focus on the people of Hatteras Island and the trades and skills that have been employed for generations.
Programming at the site would be designed to appeal to locals and visitors alike, including porch talks, the arts, old time cooking and demonstrations of work skills and tools. Such a site would allow local watermen to have an informal exchange with visitors walking around the boardwalk in Hatteras Village. Partnerships with local organizations such as the Coastal Studies Institute, NC Sea Grant, the NC Aquarium, and the Coastal Federation will also supplement the educational opportunities at this site.
A site has been identified for the heritage center in Hatteras Village, and currently the county is waiting for the State to endorse and help fund the project. Once the preliminary funds have been attained, the grant application process and fundraising will ensue.