Housing BOOM
Small-town charm, planning and the Southwest Bypass position town for growth By Donna Williams
T
he real estate market is booming, and Ayden is well positioned to take advantage of the expected growth, local experts said. “It is phenomenal,” said Realtor Pat Chappell, a veteran Pitt County agent who lives in Ayden and focuses much of her work on the market here. “Houses are selling and we are getting multiple bids. Prices are up 17 percent higher than what they were a year ago.” A major factor in the town’s growth is the Southwest Bypass. Completed in November 2019, the highway cuts the commute to Greenville’s Medical District
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and Industrial District by 10 minutes and allows easy access to U.S. 264 and points west. The interchange at the Bypass and N.C. 102 is expected to see significant commercial growth, which translates into jobs and a boost to the tax base. Residential growth will push development there and elsewhere in town, Chappell said. In the last year, she has seen first hand the need for housing in Pitt County as the real estate market has soared. “It’s a seller’s market,” she said. “People are putting houses on the market and making money. Then they have to buy something. It’s an interesting time.”
Growth in the region and a dearth of homes on the market has town leaders working with developers to plan out several new subdivisions to ensure future and current residents can make their home in Ayden. Ayden’s future land-use plan was written to provide a range of housing options that build on the diversity the community has to offer, Planning and Zoning Director Stephen Smith said. In the last 18 months, the town has approved more than 700 residential lots in five new subdivisions with more to come, Smith said. “We do envision at least another 200
SUMMER/FALL 2021
lots on top of what we already got. We will likely see even more than that.” Allen Park on Ayden Golf Club Road is already underway. Homes will occupy 65 lots in two phases. Buyers can choose from five floor plans ranging in size from 1,700 to 2,800 square feet. All 43 lots in Phase 1 have been sold, Smith said. Also coming to Ayden Golf Club Road is Monetvello subdivision, which will consists of 197 lots. Its Phase 1, which consists of 18 patio home lots, is underway, Smith said. East Ridge subdivision, a 323-lot development, will be built on Ayden Golf Club Road near N.C. 102, while
AYDEN MAGAZINE
