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Set on a former golf course and country club in the Cape Fear region near Wilmington, North Carolina, Woodlands Landing at Echo Farms (Phase I) is a 17-building, 176 townhome multi-family development with a mix of one, two and three-bedroom, market-rate units. Near some of North Carolina’s most sought-after waterfronts, this community was prime for above market rate rents.
The area, surrounded by established single-family housing, was ripe for a slightly denser living opportunity, evidenced by the fact that the property, once opened, has been “leasing like hotcakes” according to the owner. The location is pastoral – green, coastal and temperate, prompting us to define a building layout that meanders around a central pond and flows around a creek that runs through the property. A community building including leasing office, lounge, pool, exercise area, pet wash and outdoor fireplace and fire pit also anchor the development.
Outside, the vibe at Woodlands Landing is all modern farmhouse – monochromatic fiber cement shake, horizontal and panel siding mixed and matched to create texture that varies from one unit to the next. Black accents help the buildings pop. Inside, the units are well-appointed: clean, efficient, and with smart use of spaces throughout. The clubhouse, however, cuts a different profile. Coastal in feel, breezy, and designed in a U-shape around a communal pool, it’s relaxing and welcoming, tying the property together into a cohesive community designed for connection and enjoyment of the ample North Carolina sun. We initially developed five site plans for this development, exploring a mix of garden and townhome buildings, but eventually settled on an all-townhome format, which played well in the area.
As this parcel of land was previously a golf course, there were few structures to clear and little challenging topography to overcome. The soft soil in the area was great for golfing, but not fantastic for building, so we did have a bit of mitigation to do. Overall, our biggest challenge was navigating North Carolina’s civil approval process, which is lengthier than most.
