6 of New Bern's key residential developments to watch in 2022
As New Bern’s housing market soared in 2021, work began on over 600 single-family and multi-family residences to meet demand.
From January through November, the City of New Bern issued 374 permits for new single-family homes and one multi-unit permit. It was for the Viridian at Carolina Colours, a new assisted living facility that will house 155 residents and hopes to have a partial opening in January.
More: Coming soon to New Bern: Resort-style senior living facility
This number is higher than the previous two years.
The City issued 201 single-family permits and 11 multi-family permits in 2020. In 2019, 193 single-family permits were issued.
As of November, Craven County had issued 250 residential building permits, nine multi-family and 241 single-family.
In the coming years, people will continue to be drawn to the New Bern area through over 500 new jobs created by several recent economic development announcements, expansion of MCAS Cherry Point, retirement plans, or simply by its small-town charm.
More: What 2022 holds for Craven County economic development after huge success in 2021
More: Vital growth provided by Cherry Point for Havelock and New Bern
Many of the area’s newest residents will fill the homes that broke ground this year.
2021 residential development recap
1. West New Bern
West New Bern’s first single-family neighborhood will feature 65 D.R. Horton homes, 15 of which are already under construction and will welcome residents in the coming year.
The square-footage of the homes range from 2,175 to 2,824 and there are three and four-bedroom floorplan options.
The prices for the homes start at $297,000 and max at $325,000.
D.R. Horton representatives say that the homes and community are meant to serve buyers at every stage of life and accommodate all types of lifestyles.
The single-family neighborhood sits behind Comet West New Bern, a 224-unit apartment complex that has already started welcoming residents.
The complex features four buildings with one and two-bedroom units and a community clubhouse. Square footage starts at 689 and goes up to 1,327 for the biggest two-bedroom offering. Prices start at $997 and max at $1,440.
The clubhouse has a fitness studio, yoga room and a resort-style pool.
More: West New Bern: Construction starts on medical facility, residents soon welcome
After starting as Craven Thirty in 2012, the development has transformed into one of New Bern’s key projects.
Eventually operating as a community within itself yet only minutes from downtown New Bern, the site could house a grocery store, movie theater, bank, offices and more retail in the future.
2. Tyler, Home on the Lake
Over 90 building permits were issued for single-family homes in Tyler, Home on the Lake in 2021.
The 270-acre community gets its name from the 60-acre lake at its center that residents can use for fishing and kayaking or to bike around its banks.
There are currently 200 D.R. Horton homes already built and another 222 developed homesites. This year’s home sales are a sign of the strong market, averaging eight a month.
Buyers can choose from seven different floor plans ranging in size from 1,500 to 2,824 square feet with prices starting at $244,990 to over $300,000.
This summer, the pool was completed and future amenities could include nature trails, pocket parks, playgrounds and more lake activities.
More: A 270-acre master-planned community thrives under new ownership, millions in improvements
Originally started in 2007, the community was re-launched under new ownership in 2018 and has been bolstered by millions of dollars in improvements.
Developers say the future of Tyler, Home on the Lake could include multi-family housing or town homes on a 33-acre tract of undeveloped land.
3. Bluewater Rise
At the beginning of November, a fifth neighborhood was approved for the 500-acre Bluewater Rise development.
Monitor Cape will span 46.01-acres and add 120 lots around 8,740 square feet each when complete. The first phase of development will include 52 lots on 17.55-acres.
Bluewater Rise started in 2015 when A. Sydes Construction purchased the land off of Old Airport Road from Weyerhaeuser for $2.1 million.
Since then the coastal-themed neighborhoods of Fenwick Isle, South Wind, Bendigo Bay and Hutton Pointe have been started.
Homes in Bluewater Rise have a median list price of $332,000, but go as low as the $200,000s and as high as the $400,000s. Buyers can choose from a variety of signature A. Sydes Construction floor plans.
More: Planned neighborhood in 500-acre New Bern development replenishes housing inventory
The development has the potential for a total of 1,000 single-family lots and is one of the area’s newest large-scale, residential developments.
4. Bayberry Park
Carolina Colours’ Bayberry Park neighborhood offers residents smaller, low maintenance lots, while still having access to all of the developments amenities.
Phase three kicked off in 2021 and is hoping to welcome residents by summer of 2022. It will include 51 lots on 21.41 acres off of Bayberry Park Drive and Cinnamon Run Drive.
Homes in the Bayberry Park neighborhood are mostly priced in $300,000s and average square footage is in the 2,000s. They appeal to young families, retirees and military personnel, being only minutes from MCAS Cherry Point.
Carolina Colours has 350 single-family houses and over 100 lots already sold. Developer Ken Kirkman said residential development is no more than halfway complete.
5. Derby Park
Now on its seventh phase, 68 more single-family homes were approved in July for Derby Park.
The lots range in size from 0.16-acres to 0.39-acres and the total site is 37.98-acres.
Developed by Crayton & Company, Derby Park homes start in the $160,000s and are located around 10 minutes from downtown New Bern. They range in size from 1,900 to 3,000 square feet.
6. Craeberne Forest
Welcoming its first residents in 2008, Craeberne Forest’s first two phases will have 290 homes when finished around the end of 2022.
Local builder J.C. Jackson has 14 homes under construction and some are pre-sold. They range in size from 1,600 to 3,315 square feet and have three to five bedrooms.
Located off of Highway 17 and Trent Creek Road, Craeberne Forest homes have a median list price of around $214,000 average 50 days on the market.
Fueled by the planned $25.4 million N.C. 43 Connector that will add a signalized intersection outside of the community’s entrance, the undeveloped 675-acre tract of land has multiple future uses.
More: New residential development in Craven sits on 675 acres
Phase three will begin in 2023 and add 321 single-family homes, while the rest could be used for multi-family housing depending upon demand.
Growth and Development Reporter Julia Masters can be reached at jmasters@gannett.com or 828-318-3108.
This article originally appeared on Sun Journal: Recap of New Bern's residential developments underway in 2021
