Neighborhood options abound

Bob and Pattie Accordino, active retirees, sought community and quality of life in their coming years. They found it at Riverlights, a 1,400-acre master-planned community off River Road.

“After living in Southport for 17 years, we were ready for a change,” Bob Accordino said. “We were finding ourselves in Wilmington more frequently for shopping, entertainment, restaurants and health care.”

Situated along the Cape Fear River, Riverlights features a commercial village, eight public parks and a 38-acre freshwater lake. It also includes two clubhouses: Riverhouse, which will be completed later this year, and Lakehouse, which is equipped with pools and workout facilities for community gatherings. 

“For buyers seeking a relaxed lifestyle, there’s just nothing else like Riverlights,” said Margee Herring, spokeswoman for Riverlights. “It’s very welcoming with shops and restaurants and club-like amenities delivering a day-to-day that doesn’t require you to run all around the city.”

With several pockets of housing communities spread over 1,400 acres, each neighborhood has its own personality. The project includes 3,182 residential homes, including the sold-out Del Webb age-qualified community, single-family homes, duplexes, townhomes, apartments and single-family homes for rent.

“Our Marina Village community is a tight-knit group of 44 townhomes and 10 riverfront homes,” Bob Accordino said. “We have made friends in all sections of the community, adding to an active social life. This, coupled with proximity to all that downtown (10-minute drive) has to offer, as well as the beaches, theater, shopping and health care, makes it an ideal location and community.”

The Accordinos live in a 3,100-square-foot home situated on the Cape Fear River. They appreciate the neighborhood for its ability to foster connections among people of all ages, providing a small-town feel while still being part of a larger community with ample amenities. Before moving to Riverlights in 2017, they lived in a leisure community in Brunswick County, primarily comprised of retirees.

“We realized aging around people who are all the same age is not a positive thing,” Pattie Accordino said. “We know every single person in the neighborhood. We like that part of it very much.” 

Originally from New York, the couple has lived in various areas of Riverlights for the past seven years and has enjoyed the community’s many amenities. 

They first moved into a brand-new rental single-family home in 2017 while their townhome in Marina Village was being constructed. A year later, they transitioned to that townhome. After living there for five years, they purchased a lot on one of the ten available riverfront homesites and had a custom home built on it.

“Living in the Marina Village, we have the ability to walk to stores and restaurants, which is one of the things that made it so attractive to us,” Bob Accordino said. “We use the pool for regular exercise as well as relaxing and cooling off on the warm summer days. Pattie walks both the lake path and the neighborhoods. I enjoy riding my bike on the miles of streets that are safe and lightly trafficked.”

Residents can also enjoy pickleball courts, a dog park and a playground for grandchildren. Additionally, there are miles of nature paths and a dock for crabbing, fishing or launching kayaks to watch the sunset over the Cape Fear River. There are also planned social events and activities throughout the year.

“We have regular gatherings in our Live Oak Commons that feature live music, food trucks and an open-air market,” Herring said. “And our HOA welcomes residents with a tremendous variety of clubs and activities. It’s a vibrant place!”

The final phase of the master-planned community, to be completed in 2026 or early 2027, features 7Bridge, a 121-acre mixed-use village. This development will include a second pedestrian-friendly commercial hub in addition to the existing Marina Village retail area. Future plans include Luminance, a 180-unit senior living facility, as well as a Refuel gas station and convenience store. Construction is also underway for the Riverhouse, an approximately 3,000-square-foot amenity and recreation center, which is expected to be completed sometime next year.

“We welcome buyers from all over the country and many who relocate from within the Cape Fear area,” Herring said. “We are on track to complete residential sales by the end of 2026 or early 2027.”

In recent years, several senior living communities have expanded or opened. 

The 4,500-acre master-planned community of Brunswick Forest has a collection of neighborhoods spanning all age groups, with over 3,000 homes and several phases still underway. 

In 2021, Liberty Senior Living, a division of Wilmington-based Liberty Healthcare, unveiled plans to build rental apartments and townhomes for active seniors on land the company purchased at Brunswick Forest going back to 2016. 

There, Inspire Brunswick Forest opened in 2023 in the Villages at Brunswick Forest as a 55+ luxury apartment rental community with one- and two-bedroom units.

Brunswick Forest is situated on the edge of Town Creek, a tributary of the Cape Fear River. Just 10 minutes from historic downtown Wilmington and 30 minutes from the beaches, the master-planned community is nestled on heavily wooded acres, including parks, nature trails, and creeks. It offers a wide range of amenities, offering residents an active lifestyle close to nature. There’s a connected, town center that offers convenient shopping, dining and access to medical and other important services.

Last summer, Oak Grove at Blake Farm, located at 49 N. Assembly Drive, began renting its apartments for residents aged 55 and over. 

The community highlights a vibrant lifestyle with various social activities and fitness classes. Residents can enjoy maintenance-free living along with amenities such as a saltwater pool, fitness studio, rooftop lounge, golf simulator, library, dog park and storage facilities. The new apartments feature luxurious finishes, including quartz countertops and spa-inspired bathrooms.

For older adults on a budget, this May, the city zoning commission approved an innovative new project – Onyx Place. Nestled at 710 N. Kerr Ave. Onyx Place is a proposed development with a 48-unit affordable housing complex. Spearheaded by Wallick Communities, the developers are searching for funding from city and federal sources, aiming to create a vibrant living space.

With income-based housing for those earning between 30% and 80% of the area median income, this project hopes to pave the way for a supportive and inclusive community. 

The Wilmington City Council was slated to consider the rezoning and annexation applications for Onyx Place in June.

According to a report from the N.C. Office of State Budget and Management in 2023, the population of older adults (ages 65 and older) in the state is projected to double by 2040, increasing from 1.8 million to an estimated 2.7 million.