As New Hanover County’s rural neighborhoods are transformed into bustling suburbs, a quiet area north of Porters Neck is poised to be the next development hotspot.
It’s no secret that New Hanover is uniquely limited on available land. At 192 square miles of land area, it is the second smallest county in North Carolina. Development efforts are underway on several large tracts, including the largest singular parcel in the county at Sledge Forest.
While Castle Hayne has been in the spotlight for its rapid growth over the past few years, developers and property owners are now setting their sights on a rural area behind the Walmart in Porters Neck.
Located along Plantation Road, dozens of privately owned parcels are zoned for R-15 residential development,
which would allow for up to 2.5 dwellings per acre.
What's been proposed?
In July, Carillon Assisted Living proposed a 49,640-square-foot assisted living facility, courtyard and amenity space at the corner of Plantation and Military Cutoff roads. The facility is known as Calyx Senior Living of Wilmington.
Carillon Assisted Living has submitted an application to fill 4.32 acres of wetlands to develop a new senior living community on the 10.67-acre site, known as Greenview Ranches. Construction costs are estimated between $500,000 and $1 million. Carillon estimates that 913 assisted living beds in the northern part of the county will be needed by 2029.
What's for sale?
At least 14 vacant lots are for sale in the rural area along Plantation Road, according to listings from Realtor.com. A majority of the available properties are roughly 5 acres. The parcels range in price, topping out at $1.9 million for a 17.84-acre lot in the 7500 block of Plantation Road.
Environmental risks, however, could give developers pause on investing in the property. The listing notes that the land has a severe flood factor risk, as well as a major fire and extreme heat risk. Roads in the area are currently unpaved. Much of the land is outside of the Cape Fear Public Utility Authority’s current service area.
On the low end, a 5.5-acre lot just south of Interstate 140 is on the market for $199,000. The listing notes agricultural, recreational and residential uses among the potential functions of the property.
Daniel Sheehan covers New Hanover County for the StarNews. Reach him at dsheehan@usatodayco.com.
This article originally appeared on Wilmington StarNews: Why this rural New Hanover area could be the next development hotspot
