This area of New Hanover County is seeing rapid development. Here's why and what's ahead.
If you've driven down Carolina Beach Road recently, you’ve likely seen “for sale” and “under contract” signs dotted along this busy thoroughfare.
In the past year, an increasing number of residential complexes have been approved for development, including Sea Breeze Townhomes, McQuillan Pines, and the coming Pierson Point.
But residential developments aren’t the only projects seeking approval in this rapidly developing part of New Hanover County. There’s also a potential auto-shop, U-Haul business, Pod Storage space and veterinary service on the way.
If there’s one thing the Wilmington City Council and New Hanover County Commissioners have made clear, it’s that economic development is a major priority. The City’s Comprehensive Plan and Land Development Code lays out the necessity for a “safe healthy place to live with a high-quality of life by focusing on infill and redevelopment, job growth, and housing options” for the next 25 years.
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The Wilmington Realtor Foundation, a nonprofit associated with the Cape Fear Realtors, is working to address affordable housing with an upcoming development on Carolina Beach Road, Pierson Point. Foundation President Jody Wainio said there are a few different reasons for why Carolina Beach Road seems to be such a hot spot.
“It was a residential desert for so long but is in a location that is close to the beach, it’s on the water side of 421, and it brings a lot of positive features because of the location with schools and shopping,” Wainio said.
Because of its location and residential growth, you can expect the future of Carolina Beach Road to see even more new complexes coming to the area.
“In general, the city’s plans seek to guide the physical development of the city to make it more connected, locate services closer to residents and residents closer to services, and prioritize the preservation of trees and development of affordable housing options," said Jerod Patterson, the communications director for the city. "The city’s development code relies on a number of strategies and zoning approaches to help accomplish those and many other goals,”
The growth officials want to see makes sense in regard to the population growth that Wilmington and New Hanover County are experiencing. In fact, the city of Wilmington and New Hanover County’s latest Housing Needs Assessment Update states that the county is 29,000 homes short of what it requires to accommodate its population.
But the affordability of homes being developed along the road is a concern for some.
While the Wilmington Realtor Foundation is in the beginning stages of its workforce housing project, Pierson Point -- a 48-unit attached townhome community -- some argue that other developments aren’t quite as affordable.
For instance, LeAnne Pierce, vice chairwoman of the county's board of commissioners, recently questioned the Sea Breeze Townhomes development -- attached single-family units at approximately 3,000-square-feet -- because of its high price-tag.
“Is that housing for schoolteachers and fireman? I don’t think that 3,500 square-feet or $550,000 is that kind of housing,” she said at a recent commissioners' meeting. Nevertheless, the rezoning for the development was approved.
More: With new businesses moving in, US 421 corridor poised for more economic development
This article originally appeared on Wilmington StarNews: Carolina Beach Road continues to develop with apartments, neighborhoods
