Riverlights Housing Expands to Over 3,000 Residents, Brookfield Says

Riverlights has grown into a community of more than 3,000 residents, according to developer Brookfield Properties, as the 1,400-acre master-planned development on River Road continues to expand its housing footprint.

The community, which first welcomed residents in 2016, is currently transitioning through several new phases of construction. This growth includes a mix of single-family ranch homes, townhomes, and upcoming multi-family apartment complexes, WilmingtonBiz reported.

For retirees like Paula and Jake Vandergrift, the appeal lies in a specific type of lifestyle integration. The couple recently moved into The Haven at Riverlights, a single-family phase built by Pulte that features low-maintenance ranch homes priced between $400,000 and $500,000.

“It was a nice house, and it wasn’t the steps because we never had to go upstairs. … But something was missing, and we just decided for the second part, last third of our life, or whatever it is … that we really wanted to enjoy every single thing about where we were living,” Paula Vandergrift said.

The development is not slowing down. A new apartment complex named Drift is scheduled to break ground this month. Located next to Marina Village, the commercial and residential hub of the community, Drift will bring nearly 300 new apartment units to the area.

Planned amenities for the Drift complex include a swimming pool, a pet spa, pickleball courts, and a social lounge for residents. This push into multi-family housing complements a broader strategy to capture different segments of the real estate market.

Brookfield Properties is also managing the rollout of various townhome communities to cater to both younger buyers and retirees looking for low-maintenance living. HOA dues for these properties cover exterior maintenance and insurance, while providing access to all community amenities.

While the townhome sector is expanding, approximately 200 residential lots remain available within the Riverlights footprint, according to Brookfield Properties officials.

The expansion reflects a broader trend in coastal North Carolina where residential developments are increasingly designed as self-contained ecosystems. Rather than just providing shelter, these communities focus on “social networks” and proximity to recreational assets.

Riverlights Housing Expands to Over 3,000 Residents, Brookfield Says

Jake Vandergrift, who retired from a home inspection business in 2016, noted the architectural advantages of their new home, highlighting the integration of glass and natural light. He also pointed to the immediate social integration provided by the community.

“One of the best parts of Riverlights, Jake Vandergrift said, is that ‘it has a great social network,’” he said, noting that neighbors engaged them with a community luau almost immediately upon their arrival.

The location serves as a central pivot point for the region. The Vandergrifts cited the ability to access both downtown Wilmington and Carolina Beach via River Road as an “unbeatable” logistical advantage.

As the community nears its full build-out, the focus remains on balancing the high-density apartment needs of the Drift project with the more secluded, wooded environments sought by single-family homeowners.