One of southern Brunswick County's largest residential developments is entering a new phase of growth and partnership after sitting vacant and deteriorated for years.
The master-planned community, which sat largely dormant following the 2008 housing crash, has rebounded since its 2024 relaunch and is now moving forward with new homes, amenities and transportation improvements.
Ocean Isle Palms has become one of the county's most active residential projects, attracting multiple homebuilders and sustaining sales despite elevated mortgage rates and other market headwinds, according to Drapac Capital Partners representative Katie Fidler.
"The project sat blighted and remained an eyesore for nearly two decades but has been completely reborn and is now
thriving," Fidler said.
Ocean Isle Palms was approved in 2017. Its full build out will bring about 2,750 residential units, as well as commercial and retail uses to the area.
The community recently opened The Commons, a pocket park featuring pickleball courts, gathering spaces and a dog park.
Work is also underway on The Club, an estimated $8 million amenity center that includes a clubhouse, pool and other resort-style features. Target completion of the facility is the first quarter of 2027, ahead of the spring selling season, Fidler said.
Dan Ryan Builders has joined the project and is working towards closing on remaining finished lots in Phase 1 with plans to build alongside Toll Brothers. Fidler said Toll Brothers has sold nearly all of its available inventory during the past year, helping drive plans for the project's next phase.
“Ocean Isle Palms offers an exceptional opportunity for luxury coastal living, and we're excited to be part of the community's continued growth,” Dan Ryan Builders said in a statement. “With its desirable location just minutes from Ocean Isle Beach, thoughtfully planned resort-style amenities and beautiful coastal setting, the community offers a unique lifestyle for homeowners.”
In addition to a new builder, a new major improvement project is on the way.
Developers recently received state approval to begin construction on a third roundabout along Ocean Isle Beach Road. The project is intended to improve traffic flow while creating a “sense of arrival” for the entrance to the development, Fidler said.
Workers will break ground for the roundabout this month in hopes of an early 2027 completion, Fidler said.
The demand for housing has been strong enough that engineers are already working on plans for Phase 2 and the project’s future phases, said Fidler, noting builders are asking for more inventory, prompting efforts to bring the next phase online as quickly as possible.
For the development team, the project's progress marks a dramatic turnaround from its earlier history.
“Resuscitating master-planned communities left behind by the housing crash has become something of a specialty for us, and doing it well requires equal parts creativity, conviction, and thoughtful planning," Drapac CEO Sebastian Drapac said. "Ocean Isle Palms was never a blank canvas. The challenge was to build upon what was already there, reimagine what it could become and unlock its full potential."
The project has been rewarding and they are "delighted" to welcome Dan Ryan Builders to the team as they continue to shape the next chapter of Ocean Isle Palms, Drapac said.
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Savanna Tenenoff covers Brunswick County for the StarNews. Reach her at stenenoff@usatodayco.com.
This article originally appeared on Wilmington StarNews: Former deteriorated Brunswick development pushes to next phase
