Preview this article 1 min
A community north of Durham could become a whole lot bigger.
THIS ARTICLE IS FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY
Continue Reading For $1 Per Week
Access 4 weeks of award-winning news and insights
Never Hit Another Paywall
Already have a paid subscription? Sign in
STORY HIGHLIGHTS
- Oxford approves rezoning for 1,870-unit development on 409 acres.
- Another project proposes 1,244 housing units on 527 acres.
- Oxford's population could nearly double if both projects proceed.
GET TO KNOW YOUR CITY
Find Local Events Near You
Connect with a community of local professionals.
A small municipality north of Durham could become a whole lot bigger as two massive housing projects call for thousands of new homes.
The Board of Commissioners for the City of Oxford in Granville County this month approved a conditional rezoning for roughly 409 acres off Landis, Salem and Tabbs Creek roads. This action paves the way for developer David Chapman of Southbury Development in Pinehurst to create a community with 1,300 single-family lots, 450 townhomes and 120 assisted living units.
The project also calls for 75,000 square feet of commercial space and a nine-hole golf course.
The approval last week came after Oxford residents said they were worried about the magnitude and density of the project, which has a maximum of 4.56 units per acre.
"I think 4.56 is the absolute maximum it can be built on this property," said Preston Royster, an engineer with firm Thomas & Hutton representing the developer, during a commissioners meeting. "The developer is committed to not go all the way to the maximum allowed ... so there will be some concessions in areas where there will be be less housing than what's ultimately proposed here."
Chapman and Royster did not respond to requests seeking comment about a construction timeline and estimated home prices.
Additionally, next month, the Oxford Board of Commissioners plans to hold a public hearing for a conditional rezoning application for Perry Farm, a project that calls for 1,244 housing units on more than 527 acres off Perry Road.
The developer behind the proposal is South Carolina-based BRD Land & Investment. Representatives of the company did not respond to requests seeking comment about a construction timeline and home prices. The application calls for 208 townhomes and 1,036 single-family lots, with 30 acres reserved for a future commercial development.
"The goal of the community is to provide a new residential neighborhood that offers a variety of housing choices and complementary commercial uses while at the same time embracing the existing environmental landscape by maintaining Coon Creek and limiting crossings of other tributaries," the rezoning application says.
If both these communities move forward, the city of Oxford, which sits under 10,000 residents, according to estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau, could inch closer to doubling in size.
Oxford isn't alone in Granville County in terms of large developments as developers seek land and cheaper costs outside Durham and Wake counties. About 17 miles down Interstate 85, in the Town of Butner, Arizona-based Meritage Homes Corp. (NYSE: MTH) is planning a community with around 800 single-family homes. The Butner Town Council cleared the way for the project with a conditional rezoning approval of roughly 334 acres in January 2024.
Ben Tobin covers real estate and economic development in the Greater Triangle, focusing on the counties outside Wake, Durham and Orange. Have a tip? Reach him at btobin@bizjournals.com or (919) 327-1012
