Print
Real Estate - Commercial

Riverlights To Grow With New Apartments, Commercial Space

By Emma Dill, posted Sep 13, 2023
A new commercial and residential project proposed near Riverlights would include close to 24,000 square feet of commercial space and 274 new residential units. (Image courtesy of Capstone Communities)
Riverlights is slated to grow again with an extension of Marina Village, the existing mixed-use hub that’s home to apartments along with a range of shops and restaurants.

Developers submitted plans for the new, 24-building project earlier this month to the city of Wilmington for technical review. It's the latest in a series of expansions for the 1,400-acre, master-planned community that's situated along River Road near the Cape Fear River.

The development, which has a working name of Riverlights Town Center, will extend the existing retail, dining and multifamily area within Riverlights, according to Nick Cassala, vice president of operations for Riverlights owner Brookfield Properties.

“Always a part of the master plan, this project will extend from River Road to the riverfront, and will enhance the variety of Riverlights’ commercial businesses and serve as a destination for our residents and the broader Wilmington community,” Cassala wrote in an emailed statement to the Greater Wilmington Business Journal.

Site plans submitted to Wilmington leaders show a mix of three- and four-story buildings spread across a 10.8-acre site. The buildings will have a combined footprint of 78,881 square feet and will feature 274 apartments and close to 24,000 square feet of commercial space, according to site plans. The development is located just south of Marina Village on land that’s bordered by roadways Watercraft Ferry and Sandalwood Way.

The planned apartments are set to include 120 two-bedroom units, 114 one-bedroom units, 22 three-bedroom units and 18 studios, according to site plans. The development will also include a pool and clubhouse along with 519 parking spaces and eight garages.

Birmingham-based development firm Capstone Communities will serve as the project’s developer. 

Although several proposals were evaluated for the site, Capstone Communities was selected because of its “thoughtful land plan which most aligned with our vision to provide a cohesive transition from nearby Marina Village,” according to Cassala.

Marina Village, which is located near the northern edge of the Riverlights community, was the community’s first commercial hub. It’s home to an array of businesses, including an indoor golf venue, a pizza parlor and a bike shop.

Capstone Communities also developed The Cottages at Riverlights, the area’s first single-family, for-rent neighborhood, which is located in 7Bridge.

Last year, Riverlights leaders announced plans for 7Bridge, the community’s second commercial hub. The 37-acre hub will be part of a larger 120-acre mixed-use village that will anchor the southern entrance of Riverlights. That village will include The Cottages, along with Argento, a luxury apartment complex.
Ico insights

INSIGHTS

SPONSORS' CONTENT
Untitleddesign13

The Benefits of Choosing Local Partners in Construction

Jim Hundley - Thomas Construction Group
Chris coudriet

New Hanover County’s Fellows Program Aims to Help Those Who Help Others

Chris Coudriet - New Hanover County Government
Untitleddesign12 11724100328

The Endowment’s Rainbow of Possibilities

Daniel B Winslow - New Hanover Community Endowment

Trending News

Brokers Mark Signs Of Housing Market Slowdown

Emma Dill - Jun 18, 2025

Wilhelm Named UNCW Chief Of Staff

Staff Reports - Jun 17, 2025

Developers, Local Leaders Talk Ongoing Downtown Projects

Emma Dill - Jun 17, 2025

Miller Sworn In To CFPUA Board

Staff Reports - Jun 17, 2025

Dorn Named Managing Broker Of Real Estate Firm's Hampstead Office

Staff Reports - Jun 17, 2025

In The Current Issue

Small Business Spotlight: Company Sinks Teeth Into Diving

The company’s primary focus has shifted from salvage, recovery and inspection to recovery and sales of fossils....


Legal Issues Remain For Ferry System Sale

In 2022, Raleigh-based private equity firm SharpVue Capital entered into a contract with Bald Head Island Limited and Bald Head Island Trans...


Wilmington Startup Scene Evolves

Wilmington is landing on national and global lists of rising tech ecosystems because of strides made to foster that ecosystem, officials say...

Book On Business

The 2024 WilmingtonBiz: Book on Business is an annual publication showcasing the Wilmington region as a center of business.

Order Your Copy Today!


Galleries

Videos

2024 Power Breakfast: The Next Season