WILMINGTON (N.C.) — This seaside town is growing rapidly and some of its driving ranges, golf courses and open spaces are being used for new subdivisions or apartment complexes.
This trend isn’t just for Wilmington. Open spaces such as golf courses are becoming a focal point for developers in the United States who see them as prime spots for infill construction. This is often opposed by neighboring property owners, who fight for the preservation of open spaces.
However, land is becoming increasingly scarce in Wilmington and New Hanover County. Local leaders and developers continue to emphasize the importance of infill development. They believe that building on land in development could be a key part of keeping pace with population growth.
These often-competing interests clash as infill development plans move forward, from Florida and Cape Cod to New Hanover County.
These are the local debates in Wilmington.
Echo Farms
One of the biggest examples of a golf-course-turned-subdivision in New Hanover County is in the neighborhood of Echo Farms. The area was home to a golf course, country club, and residential community in the 1970s.
The golf course is no more. Matrix Development Group announced in 2016 that it would close the golf course and construct new homes. Echo Farms residents organized to oppose development plans. Many of them had moved there specifically to play the golf course.
John Hirchak, Echo Farms homeowner, holds a “Save Echo Farms” sign in his front yard, Wilmington, N.C. on Monday, September 12, 2016. Partly, the residents saw success in negotiating the reduction of the planned number of townhomes to the site’s 92 acres to 62. The land was then transformed into Echo Farms Park & Gardens by New Hanover County and Wilmington.
The Oleander Golf Center was closed Friday, October 8, 2021, at the property at 5026 Oleander Drive. (Photo by Matt Born/Star-News).
Transform your driving ranges
New development has also been seen at two former driving ranges in Wilmington.
East West Partners proposes nearly 400 new apartments to be built on the former Oleander Drive driving range in Wilmington. The site borders Wilmington Municipal Golf Course. In January 2022, the Wilmington City Council rezoned it for multifamily residential development.
5026 Oleander Drive was the site of the Oleander Golf Center, Wilmington, N.C. on Friday, October 8, 2021. East West Partners submitted plans to Wilmington for a new apartment building to be built on this site. The complex would include nearly 340 units, as well as commercial space.
The construction of the Military Cutoff Road Extension is underway in the town. It will create new infrastructure on the former site of a private driving range.
The Cape
The potential development of The Cape’s golf course led to lawsuits from neighbors and homeowners association in southern New Hanover County.
According to the lawsuit, the course was closed due to damage caused by Hurricane Florence. The former course was being considered as a site for new townhome developments. However, neighbors wanted to have a say in the development of the course.
The case reached the North Carolina Court of Appeals, where a ruling ruled that a New Hanover County judge had wrongly granted summary judgment to the owner of the golf course. This summer, the ruling was made and sent back to New Hanover County.
An illustration of Starway Village’s pool and clubhouse, a 278-unit workforce housing project located off Carolina Beach Road.
Starway Village
The proposed development of Carolina Beach Road’s former drive-in theatre and flea market illustrates the space crunch in New Hanover County.
Starway Village will bring 278 apartments with a 60% median income to 2346 Carolina Beach Road. Developers hope to start construction next spring after the project secured gap financing of $9 million.
Reporter Emma Dill may be reached at [email protected]
