If you spend time in Pender County, then it's likely you drive past ongoing construction projects every day, whether it's swaths of land being cleared and graded or new framing taking up the skyline.
Pender County has experienced rapid growth in recent years, and plenty more is on the way. Over the next decade, dozens of new residential, commercial and government projects will transform the county. But here are 12 you can keep your eye on right now.
Blake Farm
The entrance to this massive development sits on U.S. 17 right over the New Hanover-Pender county line, but the community itself stretches miles farther. The master-planned community includes thousands of homes that have already been built, and more are on the way.
construction in Wilmington
Hampstead Branch Library
Construction on what will ultimately become Pender County's largest library began in May 2026. With an expected completion date of summer 2027, the Hampstead Branch Library has already undergone lots of visible progress. The framing stands out on U.S. 17, where passersby can get a glimpse of what the future library will look like.
Hampstead Bypass
Hampstead commuters have long awaited the opening of the new bypass, which is expected to relieve traffic congestion through the busy U.S. 17 corridor. However, they'll have to wait a little longer. The first segment of the bypass isn't expected to open until late 2027 and the second segment isn't expected to be complete until 2030.
Hampton Inn and Suites
The framing on this four-story hotel has already gone up and is visible as you drive into Surf City on N.C. 210. Approved back in November 2025, the Hampton Inn and Suites will have 110 rooms and a pool.
Renovation Church
A 25-acre vacant site at the intersection of U.S. 17 and Sloop Point Loop Road will soon be home to a 40,000-square-foot church campus. Renovation Church broke ground on its new facility in June 2026. According to site plans submitted to Pender County, the church campus will include a worship area, a daycare, outdoor recreation areas and parking lots.
Wawa
Wawa convenience stores are popping up all over the Wilmington area, and Pender County could soon join the list of locations. A proposed Wawa location is tied to Renovation Church, and site work on the property is already underway.
Hawksbill Cove
One of the largest residential projects in Pender County is Hawksbill Cove, which spans 376 acres and will ultimately bring over 1,100 new homes to the Hampstead area. Site work on the project is currently underway.
Pender County Law Enforcement Center
Pender County's new Law Enforcement Center will replace multiple decades-old public safety buildings. The 100,000-square-foot facility includes a 232-bed jail, a 911 center, storage, offices and more. It's expected to come online Jan. 1, 2027.
King Tide Marketplace
Another Hampstead development, King Tide Marketplace will include three buildings: a coffee shop, retail and a specialty contractor building.
Surf City Station 2
Surf City's expansion to its public utilities station will double the facility's size. Alongside new offices and increased storage, the expansion will increase the town's emergency response capability by adding overnight staffing capacity with a new bunkroom and kitchen.
Amazon
Not one, but two Amazon facilities are coming to the Pender Commerce Park, an industrial park located on U.S. 421. The two facilities -- a robotics fulfillment center and a delivery station -- will create over 1,000 jobs for the area. Amazon has already started hiring for the roles.
J.H. Lea Schools
The Pelican and Marlin will soon join the ranks of Pender County Schools mascots, as the J.H. Lea Elementary and Middle Schools are expected to open in August 2027. With a max capacity of 2,312 students for the K-8 facility, the new schools should provide some relief to the overcrowding experienced at other Hampstead-area schools.
Charlie Kingree is the Pender County reporter for the StarNews. He can be reached at ckingree@usatodayco.com.
This article originally appeared on Wilmington StarNews: 12 major projects we're watching right now in Pender County
