The Harvey: New Bern

2025 Main Street Award: Economic Vitality

Best Adaptive Reuse Project

• Heron Hospitality

• Bruin Builders

• MBF Architects

• Sallie Baxter

• Providence Bank

• Swiss Bear, Inc.

• New Bern Historic Preservation Commission

• Atlantic Coast Landscape Company
  

Watch The Award Video

The restoration of the Harvey has not only restored a beloved landmark but redefined what’s possible for downtown revitalization in New Bern.

For over 200 years, The Harvey has stood as a fixture of the New Bern skyline. Nearly everyone in town has a “Harvey story”— whether it was taking classes there in the 1960s, living in its apartments in the 1950s, or enjoying fine dining and a rowdy basement bar in the 1990s. But after Hurricane Florence in 2018, the building sat vacant and deteriorating—its future uncertain.

That changed in December 2020, when a group of local owners stepped in with a bold vision: to transform The Harvey into the most unique and upscale overnight accommodations in New Bern. And they delivered.

Opening in May 2024, The Harvey now offers 10 beautifully restored rooms that blend historic charm with modern luxury. Every detail—from the preserved 18th-century craftsmanship to the elevated infrastructure—was thoughtfully executed. The result is a boutique hotel experience that attracts a new kind of visitor: business and cultural travelers and repeat guests who spend generously in downtown shops and restaurants.

The impact has been extraordinary. In just one year, The Harvey has achieved a 67% occupancy rate, sold over 2,400 room nights, and generated more than $466,000 in downtown economic impact. It has created jobs, collected over $54,000 in state and local taxes, and sparked new investment on its block— including a high-end wedding venue and office projects.

Thanks to support from Swiss Bear, The Harvey received grants for façade improvements, signage, and landscaping—each matched and exceeded by the owners. The result is one of the most attractive and inviting streetscapes in downtown New Bern.

And the recognition has followed. The Harvey has been featured on PBS’s North Carolina Weekend, in Our State Magazine, and maintains a perfect 5-star rating on Google.

This project is more than a renovation— it’s a resurrection. It proves that with vision, investment, and community support, even the most neglected spaces can become cornerstones of economic vitality and cultural pride.