Developer makes plans to build Burgaw's largest apartment complex
Burgaw is continuing to see growth with entrepreneurs opening new businesses, but one of the biggest signs of change could be an apartment complex with close to 200 living spaces, which would mark the largest in town.
Hawthorne Residential Acquisitions, LLC received a rezoning approval from town officials to continue with pre-construction work for 192 multi-family units on 16.8 acres near U.S. 117 Bypass South. The area for the plan with eight three-story buildings is about the size of 12 football fields. If it's built, some of the amenities will include a clubhouse, swimming pool and garages for vehicles.
Mayor Olivia Dawson said it will be a great addition to the community of more than 4,000 people.
"Offering a nice housing option for many, this will allow us to accommodate more residents, which will support our local businesses," Dawson said. "I hope that these contribute to more walkable communities and increase some development opportunities while supporting our small town character."
James H. Gantt, town manager, said progress for the apartments will depend on sewer availability for the corridor.
"We're working to put in a sewer line to accommodate that," Gantt said. "So, there's still some time before that development can be built. But it is a great opportunity that we have to make sure that we got housing available for those who live and work here."
During a meeting in May, Burgaw commissioners also approved a request for one multi-family building containing four two-bedroom apartments to be located at 404 S. McRae St. on less than half an acre. Gantt said other developers are also showing interest in Burgaw.
"There's growth coming to Burgaw, and we are seeing, like all of Pender County, growth spreading from Wilmington towards this direction," he said.
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Hawthorne Residential Partners, a Greensboro-based business, operates more than 75 properties in cities across eight states. Some of the apartments and townhomes in the Cape Fear region are in Oak Island, Leland, Hampstead and Wilmington.
According to a documents provided by the North Carolina Department of Transportation, regarding a traffic study, the build year was listed for 2024.
An official from Hawthorne Residential Partners could not be reached as of Tuesday.
A need for housing
Richard Johnson, founder of Burgaw Now, and other town leaders are working on projects to revitalize the community with upcoming attractions such as Burgaw Brewing. He believes one of the challenges is lack of housing.
"We need every one of those," he said in reference to the apartment project from Hawthorne.
Johnson hopes the upcoming apartments will be attractive and appealing, and affordable at the same time for young people.
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"From my standpoint, the prime market is the young professionals who can't find housing in Wilmington because it's so expensive," Johnson said. "And plus, Wilmington is getting busier and busier, so there's some appeal to be able to escape, get out of town and get to a more quiet, sort of, Mayberry neighborly type of place that I think Burgaw is going to quickly become."
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In addition to apartments, he mentioned Creekside at Burgaw as an idea housing community with the right size with under 100 homes. He doesn't want to see a huge development, with thousands of homes in one spot, but like other leaders he welcomes the growth.
"I think you could put 10 Creeksides within 5 miles of Burgaw and they would all sellout," Johnson said about the demand. "I think there's so much pent up demand in Burgaw for (houses, condos, and apartments), that 'If you build it, they will come.'"
Reporter Chase Jordan can be reached at cjjordan@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Wilmington StarNews: Developer looks to build Burgaw's largest apartment complex
