The Timbers at Whiskey Branch: First Homes Ready for Residents
So far, eight homes in the neighborhood have been put on the market, with four already under contract. The remaining four include two townhomes, one listed at $529,000 and another listed at $539,000. Two carriage homes are also on the marker ranging from $604,000 to $676,000. Each of the initial eight homes on the market has a completion date and is scheduled to be ready for residents by the end of this month.
Angels Trace: A 1,500 Home Community is Coming to Sunset Beach
Exciting news for southern Brunswick County: a new neighborhood, “Angels Trace,” is on the horizon! This ambitious 1,500-home mixed-use community has just received conditional rezoning approval. Nestled in Sunset Beach on a sprawling 400-acre site between N.C. 179 and Old Georgetown Road, Angels Trace promises a vibrant blend of single-family homes, townhomes, apartments, senior apartments, and build-to-rent homes.
Developed by Logan Homes, this multi-year, multi-phase project will also dedicate several acres to commercial use, creating a dynamic, self-sustaining community. Although currently outside Sunset Beach’s town limits, an agreement ensures that the area will be annexed by the town.
While the council’s recent approval is a significant milestone, it’s just the beginning. The project still requires various federal, state, and county approvals and permits before construction can begin.
Biden Administration Awards $242 Million Grant for Cape Fear Memorial Bridge Replacement
The Biden administration announced last week that a $242 million grant has been awarded to replace the Cape Fear Memorial Bridge. This amount is the maximum allowed under federal law for any one project, but it falls short of the total cost for a new bridge. The replacement is estimated to cost around $485 million for a 135-foot fixed overpass along the Cape Fear River. The North Carolina Department of Transportation has previously allocated $85 million, leaving another $150 million that still needs to be raised. Around 70,000 travelers cross the bridge every day, and that number is expected to increase to 100,000 by 2050. The bridge was built in 1969, and its maintenance costs the state roughly $500,000 a year.
Pickleball Boom: New Recreational Center Proposed in Brunswick County
Pickleball is currently the fastest-growing sport in America. Since 2020, the number of people who identify as pickleball players has shot up nationwide by 223%. Here in the Cape Fear region, the sport is already very popular, typically played on municipal and neighborhood tennis courts that have been converted. Soon, though, pickleballer may have another location to play in Brunswick County . The Carolina Pickleball Company hopes to build a recreational center and courts at 5183 Washington Road in Shallotte, North Carolina. The 2.78-acre site will include six outdoor pickleball courts and an indoor recreational center. Earlier this month, the company requested a rezoning from a rural, low-density residential zone to a low-density commercial zone, moving the proposal to the next step, which is submitting blueprints to the planning board.
First Sheets Opens in the Cape Fear Region
Fans of the Sheetz convenience store chain have been eagerly awaiting this day. Earlier this month, the Pennsylvania-based chain opened its first store in the Cape Fear region, with a second location set to open by the start of August. Sheetz is more than just a gas station; it also offers made-to-order food. The company’s first Cape Fear location opened on July 9th at 17000 US Highway 17 in Hampstead. The photograph on the right shows the soon-to-be-opened second location in Wilmington’s midtown area, at the intersection of Shipyard and Independence. Sheetz currently operates more than 730 stores across Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia, Ohio, and Maryland.