Cape Fear Development Brings on Aubrey Parsley to Spearhead Public-Private Initiatives Across the Region
Cape Fear Development
December 2, 2025
Cape Fear Development is pleased to announce that Aubrey Parsley has joined the firm as Managing Director of Public-Private Partnerships, a pivotal role that strengthens the company’s ability to deliver complex community-focused, public sector projects across the southeast and mid-Atlantic regions.
Parsley brings extensive experience in economic development, civic real estate strategy, and large-scale public projects. Most recently, he served as the Director of Economic Development for the City of Wilmington, where he helped lead many of the city’s most significant real estate and redevelopment efforts in recent years. His leadership was instrumental in the City’s acquisition and repositioning of Skyline Center, the transformation of the long-dormant site at 1110 Castle Street, the facilitation of multiple affordable housing initiatives, and the management of more than $11 million in public asset dispositions. Parsley also guided more than twenty municipal leases that generated roughly $20 million in committed revenue and supported significant corporate recruitments that strengthened Wilmington’s economic landscape.
Prior to his economic development work, Parsley served as an engineer with Norfolk Naval Shipyard and in various business roles with Norfolk Southern Corporation where he gained deep experience with complex, capital intensive infrastructure projects and large-scale operational systems. That background continues to shape his approach to problem solving and value creation.
“Aubrey’s breadth of experience in the public sector and his ability to bring clarity, structure, and momentum to difficult projects aligns perfectly our firm’s goal to address the growing needs of our region” said Brian Eckel, Co-Founder and Partner at Cape Fear Development. “His expertise will allow us to deepen our public-private partnership capabilities and pursue transformational opportunities with municipalities and public agencies. We are thrilled to welcome him to the team.”
Parsley’s arrival represents an important expansion of Cape Fear Development’s capabilities at a time when many local governments are pursuing strategic redevelopment, infrastructure reinvestment, and new ways to activate publicly owned sites. His leadership enhances the firm’s ability to guide municipalities through the complexities of civic redevelopment, structure partnerships that align public goals with private investment, and deliver projects that create long-term value for both communities and stakeholders.
“Aubrey brings a level of insight and experience that immediately elevates what our team is able to do,” said Mike Brown, Partner at Cape Fear Development. “His leadership will make our work with public partners stronger, more effective, and more responsive to the needs of the public sector as we continue to take on transformative projects throughout the Southeast.”
About Cape Fear Development
Cape Fear Development is a full-service real estate development firm specializing in land acquisition, entitlements, redevelopment, and public-private partnerships across industrial, retail, office, multifamily, and residential asset classes. With a commitment to strategic growth and community-centered development, the firm partners with public entities, investors, and local stakeholders to deliver projects that contribute meaningful economic and social value to the Cape Fear region and beyond. For more information, visit www.capefearcommercial.com.