If you live off Masonboro Sound Road or Greenville Loop Road, you probably already know which intersections turn into ponds after a heavy storm. In the Pirate Cove neighborhood, that’s been a sore spot for years. Now the City of Wilmington has a fix on the calendar: a roughly $1.1 million drainage project aimed at keeping streets passable and cutting down on flooding in the neighborhood.
Here’s what was approved, when it’s expected to happen, and what it means if you own a home nearby or are thinking about buying in the Masonboro area.
What Wilmington approved
At its October 6, 2026 meeting, Wilmington City Council awarded a construction contract for the Pirate Cove Drainage Improvement Project to East Coast Contracting, a Wilmington company, according to the city’s council meeting minutes and staff report. As WECT reported on October 15, 2026, the goal is to make pipes and ditches bigger so the neighborhood floods less and roads stay open during heavier rain, while also repairing eroded areas.
City staff told WECT that Pirate Cove sits flat against Hewlett’s Creek, and that roads including Buccaneer and Blackbeard flood in heavy rain. Council also approved an agreement for the Cape Fear Public Utility Authority to reimburse the city for relocating water and sewer lines that are in the way of the new storm pipes.
Where the work happens
The project covers about a half-mile corridor starting at Greenville Loop Road and running along parts of West Blackbeard Road and Buccaneer Road. The planned work includes:
- Replacing undersized and failing stormwater pipes
- Stabilizing eroded drainage channels
- Improving the open channel and piped system in part of the subdivision
- Creating access so city crews can maintain the drainage way going forward
When to expect it
City officials expect construction to start in 2027, and staff have described the job as taking about eight months once it begins. No exact start date has been published yet, so if you live on one of the affected streets, keep an eye on city notices for timing and any lane closures.
What it means for Pirate Cove and Masonboro homeowners
Drainage projects like this one don’t change a property’s FEMA flood zone overnight, and they don’t promise that no water will ever collect again. What they can do is reduce how often streets and yards hold water after big rain events, which matters for everyday life and for how a home shows to future buyers.
It’s also worth being honest about the limits. In WECT’s story, one longtime resident whose home sits just outside the project area said he worries the work won’t help his street. If your home is near the edges of the project, it’s reasonable to ask the city’s Design and Construction Department how the upgraded system is expected to affect water flow around your lot.
A few practical steps for current owners:
- Document what you see now. Photos of standing water after storms give you a before-and-after record once the project is done.
- Keep your own drainage in shape. Clear gutters, swales, and any ditch frontage on your lot, since a bigger city system works best when water can reach it.
- Review your coverage. Pirate Cove is near Hewlett’s Creek, so it’s smart to check your property’s flood zone on North Carolina’s Flood Risk Information System and talk with your insurance agent about flood coverage, whatever zone you’re in.
What it means if you’re buying near Masonboro Sound
The Masonboro area is one of the most sought-after parts of south Wilmington, with mature trees, water access along Hewlett’s and Whiskey creeks, and an easy drive to Wrightsville Beach and Monkey Junction. Neighborhoods like Pirate Cove were largely built before today’s stormwater rules, which is part of why drainage upgrades are happening now.
If you’re touring homes here, we’d suggest:
- Ask the seller directly about past water on the lot or in the crawlspace, and get the answer in writing.
- Drive the street after a heavy rain if your timeline allows. It tells you more than any map.
- Have your inspector look closely at grading, the crawlspace or slab, and where downspouts send water.
- Factor in construction. If the home is on Buccaneer, West Blackbeard, or the nearby stretch of Greenville Loop, expect crews and some disruption during 2027, with the payoff of an upgraded system afterward.
What it means if you’re selling
If you plan to list a Pirate Cove or nearby Masonboro home in the next year or two, the approved project is useful context for buyers. Be upfront about any past flooding as required on North Carolina’s disclosure forms, and share what the city has approved. Buyers tend to respond well to a clear story: here’s what has happened, and here’s what the city is doing about it.
FAQ
When will the Pirate Cove drainage work start?
City officials have said they expect construction to begin in 2027, with an estimated duration of about eight months. A specific start date hasn’t been announced.
Will this change my flood zone or flood insurance?
Not automatically. Flood zones come from FEMA maps, which change through a separate process. The project is meant to reduce street and yard flooding during heavy rain, so talk with your insurance agent about your specific policy.
Who pays for the project?
The city is funding the construction contract through its stormwater capital projects, and the Cape Fear Public Utility Authority agreed to reimburse the city for moving water and sewer lines that conflict with the new pipes.
Thinking about Masonboro or south Wilmington?
Every street around Masonboro Sound has its own story when it comes to water, traffic, and value. Whether you own here now or you’re weighing a move, reach out to Aspyre Collective and we’ll help you look at the specific homes and streets you care about.
