As vacant land dwindles across New Hanover County, several large tracts are primed for development.
With 192 square miles of land area,New Hanover is the second smallest county in North Carolina. What it lacks in size, it certainly makes up in population. The county ranks third in the state for population density, with roughly 1,279 residents per square mile.
Being on the low end of space and the upper edge of residents has fueled the ongoing debate surrounding development. Conservation advocates keep a watchful eye on untouched land at risk of development, such as the biggest single parcel in the county at Sledge Forest.
Here are three large vacant properties that could see development in the coming years.
Gordon Road site
Two contiguous parcels on Gordon Road
make up the largest remaining undeveloped property on the busy street. The land, located at 4812 Gordon Road, encompasses just over 163 acres.
Developer Trask Land Company issued a community notice for a potential rezoning of the site in November 2025 but has yet to submit a formal rezoning application. The proposal outlined in the notice would rezone the property for mixed-use development to allow for retail, general office and residential uses with custom standards tailored to the site.
Representatives for the company did not respond to inquiries regarding the status of the project. No building permits had been issued for the property by late August.
The property has been owned by the Venters family for decades but has a combined tax value of $9,906,600. Under its current R-15 zoning designation, developers could build over 400 homes on the property without seeking a rezoning.
Carolina Beach industrial land
Located just south of Carolina Beach State Park, a 70-acre parcel is another likely target for development in the near future. The land at 700 Dow Road has been on the market for over two years with a steep price tag of $26.25 million. Representatives for the seller Tucker Bros Realty Co. declined to discuss the property.
Developers looking to add to New Hanover’s housing boom would face additional hurdles if they wanted to bring a new neighborhood to the site. The property is zoned for industrial development. The land is partially located in the unincorporated area of New Hanover, with a small portion of the property in Carolina Beach town limits.
Rezoning the entire property could require annexation or approval by both the Board of Commissioners and Town Council.
Proposed Tarin Woods expansion
The proposed expansion of Tarin Woods, which is currently the subject of a lawsuit following commissioner denial, is one of the most heavily contested developments in the county.
The site encompasses 43 acres across multiple parcels in the 5600 block of Carolina Beach Road.
In September 2025, developer Hoosier Daddy submitted a special use permit application to build 291 units. The proposal was one third less than the previous submittal of 444 units, which was also denied.
The land’s future is on hold while the developer seeks to reverse the county’s decision. A jury trial is scheduled for Jan. 11, 2027. A handful of neighboring residents have formally intervened in the lawsuit, fighting to uphold the denial.
Daniel Sheehan covers New Hanover County for the StarNews. Reach him at dsheehan@usatodayco.com.
This article originally appeared on Wilmington StarNews: Here are three large New Hanover properties poised for development
