If you’ve driven Eastwood Road toward Wrightsville Beach lately, you’ve watched it happen: the long-quiet corner at Military Cutoff Road is finally filling in. According to the StarNews (October 30, 2026), the Center Point mixed-use development is nearing the end of its first phase more than eight years after the City of Wilmington approved its zoning, with apartments leasing and the first retail buildings handed over to tenants. For homeowners in the Mayfaire area, Landfall, Wrightsville Beach, and nearby neighborhoods, and for buyers weighing this part of New Hanover County, here’s what’s going on and what it could mean.
What Center Point Is
Center Point sits on about 18 acres near Eastwood and Military Cutoff roads, at what developers describe as the gateway to Wrightsville Beach. It’s a partnership between The Beach Company, based in Charleston, South Carolina, and Wilmington-based Swain & Associates. The StarNews reports that more than 1 million square feet of retail, office, and multifamily space is planned for the pedestrian- and bike-friendly project, which it describes as a $500 million development.
The project has been a long time coming. Port City Daily covered Wilmington City Council’s unanimous approval back in July 2018, along with a special use permit allowing two structures up to 75 feet tall. At the time, the plan included apartments, a hotel, office, retail, and restaurant space. The final mix will depend on how later phases come together.
What’s Open and What’s Coming
The Sterling apartments
The first residents moved into The Sterling, the project’s apartment community at 1130 Center Point Drive, in September, according to the StarNews. It has 265 homes ranging from studios to three-bedrooms with private balconies, and final touches on the building were expected in early November.
Phase 1 retail
Four retail shell buildings totaling more than 32,000 square feet have been completed and delivered to tenants for interior buildout. WilmingtonBiz reported on October 6, 2026 that leases had been signed for about 65% of the Phase 1 retail space, and nearly 90% was accounted for when letters of intent were included. Named tenants include Burtons Grill & Bar, Jeff’s Bagel Run, Thompson’s of Wilmington, Blended Shoes + Apparel, and a handful of others. The first businesses are expected to open in the first half of 2027.
Phase 2
The next step is a two-story building along Drysdale Drive with roughly 15,000 square feet of ground-floor retail and 15,000 square feet of office above. It’s still in design. The StarNews says the developer hopes to start construction sometime in 2027, and WilmingtonBiz put expected completion in 2028. The rest of Phase 2 will be shaped by market demand, the developer said.
What It Means for Nearby Homeowners
For people who already live around Mayfaire, Landfall, Lumina, and the Eastwood Road corridor, Center Point adds more of what this part of Wilmington is known for: restaurants, shopping, and errands close to home. Being able to walk or bike to a bagel shop or dinner is a feature many buyers specifically ask about, and having one more walkable node nearby can help an area’s appeal over time. We can’t promise any effect on an individual home’s value, but convenience and amenities are part of how buyers compare neighborhoods.
The trade-off is traffic. The Beach Company told the StarNews that the corridor carries about 65,000 vehicles per day, and Port City Daily noted back in 2018 that Military Cutoff Road was already busy with several mixed-use projects along a two-mile stretch. Construction staging and new destinations can add trips at peak times, especially in summer beach season. If you’re near the intersection, it’s worth paying attention to future phases and any city traffic or site plan reviews.
What It Means for Buyers and Renters
- More rental options near the beach. The Sterling adds 265 new apartments in a part of town where rentals near Wrightsville Beach are often limited. If you’re relocating and want to rent first while you learn the area, it’s another choice to compare.
- A live-work-play pocket. The developer told WilmingtonBiz that adding office space is meant to create a place where people can walk across the street for coffee or lunch. If a short commute matters to you, keep an eye on who leases that office space.
- Timing matters. Much of what’s planned won’t be open until 2027 or later. When you tour homes nearby, think about what the area will feel like in two or three years, not just today.
- Investors, look closely. New apartment supply can affect what long-term rentals nearby compete with. Before buying a rental in the area, compare current rents and vacancy with a local agent and property manager rather than relying on older numbers.
How to Size Up a Home Near a Big Development
Whether it’s Center Point or another project around Wilmington, a few simple checks go a long way. Drive the route to the home at rush hour and on a summer weekend. Look up the property on the City of Wilmington’s development and zoning maps to see what’s approved nearby. Ask whether any road changes are planned. And talk to neighbors; they’ll tell you what the area is really like.
FAQ
Where exactly is Center Point?
It’s on about 18 acres near the intersection of Eastwood Road and Military Cutoff Road in Wilmington, on the way to Wrightsville Beach and close to Mayfaire.
When will the stores and restaurants open?
According to the StarNews and WilmingtonBiz, the first Phase 1 tenants are expected to open in the first half of 2027.
Is Center Point part of Wrightsville Beach?
No. It’s within the City of Wilmington in New Hanover County, though it sits along the main route to the beach.
Will there be more construction?
Yes. Phase 2 starts with a retail and office building along Drysdale Drive, with construction hoped for in 2027. Later pieces depend on demand.
Thinking About a Move Near Mayfaire or Wrightsville Beach?
Big projects like Center Point change how a neighborhood lives day to day, and we’re happy to help you figure out what that means for your plans, whether you’re buying near the beach, selling a home in the Eastwood corridor, or comparing Wilmington neighborhoods. Reach out to Aspyre Collective and let’s talk it through.
