Huge clouds of reddish orange dust billow and move through the air, engulfing the nearby parked cars and businesses that border the busy construction site at Riverbirch Corner in west Sanford. The regular dusting is a sign of progress at the once-forgotten shopping center that appeared to be on life support until commercial developers deemed it the right spot for a new Target and several other retailers.
Riverbirch Corner is a symbol of the unprecedented growth happening right now in Sanford, North Carolina. The idea of a Target — and similar large-scale retail chains — was once so ridiculous, it was the subject of a 2015 April Fools prank from this very newspaper.
No one is laughing anymore.
Consider the following: Lee County is now among the Top 10 fastest-growing counties in North Carolina, surpassing its neighbor to the north, Chatham, and even Mecklenburg in percentage growth. The population grew from just over 62,000 in 2020 to more than 70,000 in 2025 (a 13 percent climb), and is projected to far exceed 75,000 in the next three years.
And those are conservative figures. The City of Sanford — current population of nearly 35,000 — could double (according to some estimates) by 2050.
With growth comes change, and Sanford and Lee County are full of “under construction” sites at the moment; everything from new restaurants to new large neighborhoods and major road expansions. The following is the start of an ongoing list — one that we will update throughout 2026 — of projects underway or recently completed in Lee County. And this list does not include all of the infrastructure projects needed to handle this growth (that’s for another edition).
RESIDENTIAL
The City of Sanford alone — not counting rural areas in Lee County — has approved more than 12,000 new residential units over the last five years. Estimates that the city will double in population are born from this number.
There isn’t enough room in these pages to detail every residential project currently in progress locally, but here are the projects making the biggest impact on the area’s population growth:
Adams Village: Adams Village has been associated with news surrounding Sanford’s residential and business growth since it was first announced in March 2022. Located on the southern end of Sanford (next to WalMart), it will feature 250 single family lots and 231 townhome lots in its residential area. The commercial portion (highway facing) will sit on 30-plus acres of land.
Ashby Village: Not to be confused with Adams Village, Ashby Village was also first announced in March 2022 and will feature 250 single-family homes, 200 townhomes and 350 apartments, according to the initial plans provided to the city. The community’s main entrance will be along South Horner Boulevard (next to Lowes Home Improvement), but will ultimately connect to Lee County Athletic Park.
Estates at Oakton: The Estates at Oakton, a major housing subdivision proposal at the intersection of U.S. 1 and Colon Road three miles north of Sanford, will include 173 single-family homes (three different sizes) and 300 apartments. Current plans call for retail space, at least one restaurant with a drive-thru option and even a hotel. Other amenities would include a park, a clubhouse, a dog park, a playground, a pickleball court, a pool, a trail and a linear park.
Galvin’s Ridge: One of the largest and most ambitious plans is Galvin’s Ridge, a 1,000-unit community along U.S. 1 and Colon Road that will feature a mix of single-family homes, townhomes and apartments. Amenities will include a clubhouse, public and private greenways, a community pool, a playground, a dog park, a multi-sport court and a picnic area. The project is slated to be built in four phases, with a latter phase expanding the development to the east side of US 1. More than 13 acres of the 427-acre site will eventually be developed into commercial space. Early plans also called for a 46,000-plus square foot grocery store, another 12,600 square foot retailer, a sit down restaurant and two fast food restaurants, a convenience store, office space and four more outparcels.
Vermillion: Even larger than Galvin’s Ridge is the 480-acre Vermillion subdivision that will straddle the north and south sides of Riddle Road north of the 421 bypass. Vermillion, if developed, would consist of 406 townhomes, 436 detached single family homes on small lots, and 377 detached single family homes on medium lots — 1,219 homes total. Plans also include a community clubhouse and swimming pool, walking trails, multiple neighborhood parks and community garden spaces.
Juniper Creek: Greenhawk Development Corp. has purchased more than 192 acres on Blacks Chapel Road near Cameron, and the land has been zoned for residential use. A subdivision with 148 single-family homes is expected to be built.
Campbell Creek: First introduced in 2023, Campbell Creek Subdivision will add 98 new homes on 52 acres at the end of Sandy Creek Church Road (off of Cool Springs Road parallel to U.S. 421).
Sycamore Ridge: Sycamore Ridge is a new 45-lot residential development located off Sugar Maple Road and U.S. 1, south of Tramway. The subdivision will feature single-family homes on roughly one-acre wooded lots.
Pendergrass Village: Located at the intersection of Pendergrass and Steel Bridge Roads, Pendergrass Village will contain 548 homes on 166 acres, ranging in size
Petty Road Subdivision: Introduced in 2025, the currently unnamed subdivision would consist of 133 homes over two phases and be situated on 58.21 acres along Petty Road in west Sanford. The first phase would have 102 units, and the second phase would have 31.
Lemon Springs Meadows: Announced this year, Lemon Springs Meadows will consist of 46 single family lots on 52 acres at the intersection of Lemon Springs and Deerfield.
Thomas Grove: Also announced recently, Thomas Grove will feature 93 single family lots on 37.7 acres at Lee Avenue and Cedarhurst Drive.
Sky Ridge Estates: A smaller subdivision located on Eddy Drive (near Commerce Drive and N.C. 87), Sky Ridge will feature 28 homes on just over 16 acres.
L&S Drive Subdivision: Located on the north side of Tramway Road between Firetower Road and Courtland Drive, this subdivision would contain 140 homes, including 51 townhomes and 89 single family homes on 6,000-square-foot lots.
Pines at Buckhorn: At Buckhorn Road and Pottery Lane, the Pines will have 113 units with a minimum lot size of 40,000 square feet on 210 acres.
See even more projects currently underway at sanfordnc.net/906/2025-Project-List
RETAIL
If Sanford truly does “double” in size over the next 14 years, it will need more places to shop. Already, several new retail spots are under construction or rumored to be on the way.
Target: The big one in Sanford. Work has begun to clear the land at Riverbirch Corner in west Sanford to make room for Target, which according to the Sanford Area Growth Alliance, is expected to have its grand opening in fall of 2027. Simultaneously, new buildings will go up to house a new-to-market grocery store and a host of other new businesses and retailers.
New-to-market grocery store: The term “new-to-market” means Sanford doesn’t currently have whatever is coming to Riverbirch Corner in fall 2027. So it won’t be a Lowe’s, Food Lion, Aldi, Lidl or Piggly Wiggly. Speculation is that Harris Teeter will be the likely choice, but don’t count out Trader Joe’s or something entirely different.
BJ’s Wholesale: It was announced this year that BJ’s was joining Olive Garden, Whataburger and Ulta Beauty for the commercial spots in the Adams Village subdivision along N.C. 87 near Walmart. BJ’s is a popular big box wholesale store (much like Costco and Sam’s Club) that plans to open 25 to 30 new stores in the U.S. over the next two years.
Ulta Beauty: Joining BJ’s in Adams Village, Ulta is the largest specialty beauty retailer in the United States, offering a wide range of cosmetics, skincare, fragrances and haircare products. The company has more than 1,500 locations and saw a nearly 12-percent increase in sales in the fourth quarter in 2025.
Provision Ace Hardware: The hardware store — with a location south of the city in Southern Pines — is expanding into Sanford with a new two-story building under construction near the intersection of U.S. 1 and Tramway Road.
Firestone Complete: A permit was issued on March 20 to allow the construction of a Firestone Complete Auto Care store on N.C. 87, just south of the Wilkinson Auto dealership and across from the Adams Village project.
Unnamed grocery store: The City of Sanford has a zoning request for a large project along Kelly Drive (between U.S. 421 bypass and Central Carolina Community College) for a site that will include a new 45,000-square-foot grocery store, hotel and retail space.
RESTAURANTS
Sanford’s first Chipotle opened this summer along N.C. 87 near Lidl, across from Chick-Fil-A. It’s one of many large chain restaurants coming the Sanford in the coming months.
Olive Garden: Expected to be built at the entrance of the future Adams Village subdivision along N.C. 87 next to WalMart, Olive Garden — known for its “never ending pasta bowl” and its breadsticks — is expected to open in Sanford in 2027. There are approximately 956 Olive Gardens in the United States, and the restaurant has announced plans for 60 new locations in 2026 and even more in 2027.
Dairi-O: The giant inflatable milkshake cup can already be spotted in front of the going-up-fast Dairi-O restaurant in Tramway along U.S. 1. The restaurant was founded in King, North Carolina in 1947 and began expanding in 2006 with its first sit-down location in Rural Hall. Today, the company has 12 locations in places like Winston-Salem, Clemmons, Kernersville and Asheboro.
Culver’s: A fast casual chain of burger restaurants based in Wisconsin, Culver’s has proposed a 4,500-square-foot location on Tramway Road opposite the site’s existing Bojangles, next to the recently-opened Waffle House. Culver’s has about 1,000 locations in 26 states.
Starbucks: The city/county’s planning committee is considering a proposal for a third Starbucks in Sanford, this one in Tramway in a spot that will include a dental office and two other tenants. The building would sit at the intersection of Tramway Road and U.S. 1, between the existing CVS and Bojangles locations.
Wedgies:The popular Southern Pines-based sandwich shop will open a second location in downtown Sanford soon. Wedgies has operated a location on Morganton Road in Southern Pines since 1999, specializing in “hot deli sandwiches on a parbaked pizza crust” that are cut into the shape of a wedge. The Sanford location will be housed in the former Java Express next to Sanford Antique Mall.
Whataburger: Joining Olive Garden at the Adams Village commercial area, Whataburger continues to expand in North Carolina after developing a cult following in Texas and other southern states. A fast food burger joint with great taquitos for breakfast, the chain added a new location roughly every four days in 2024.
Del Taco: Del Taco is coming to 3116 South Horner Boulevard — between Jersey Mike’s and Sanford Honda. A California-based fast food chain which has existed since the 1960s, it has locations in Durham and Kernersville.
Chipotle: Unlike the other restaurants listed here, Chipotle has already opened its first Sanford location, next to Lidle along N.C. 87.
CiCi’s Pizza: Not long after the Target news came out, CiCi’s Pizza — a national pizza chain known for its all-you-can-eat buffet — announced plans to build its 14th N.C. location at 814 Spring Lane, near Lowe’s Foods.
SCHOOLS
A big debate with the population growth in Sanford is how the area will educate all the new children coming in. A few projects are in the works, and more is expected in the coming years.
New public elementary school: Work on what will become Lee County’s ninth elementary school is moving forward — quietly, slowly and mostly out of public view. A new school serving about 800 students is projected to cost $56 million, or roughly $66,000 per student. The last new school built in Lee County was W.B. Wicker Elementary, which opened in 2019 as Sanford’s economic development efforts began to accelerate.
Grace Christian School: Lee County’s largest K-12 private school announced plans in 2025 for a two-phase $98 million expansion that will add a new 59,000-square-foot facility for high school and middle school students; a new football/soccer stadium with a turf field, field house, press box and bleachers for 2,000 spectators; a new elementary and pre-school building with space for administration and other staff; six additional athletic fields for soccer, softball and baseball; new basketball and volleyball courts and an expanded strength and conditioning area for athletes.
COMMUNITY ASSETS
Big pojects are already completed (a new library and athletic park) and currently in the works in Lee County.
Lee County Library: The new $24 million Lee County Library — a 34,000-square-foot state-of-the-art structure located along Bragg Street (next to O.T. Sloan Park and across from Lee County High School) — more than doubles the space of its predecessor. The library celebrated its grand opening in the spring and is already a popular desination for book lovers old and young.
Lee County Athletic Park: Opened last fall, Lee County Athletic Park is already the county’s premier destination for sports, recreation and community events. With two large turf soccer and multi-sport fields, several large grass fields and four baseball stadiums, the park also features walking trails and a million-dollar playground. Work is already underway on a new gas station and hotel near the park’s entrance.
Pilgrim’s Sanford Agricultural Marketplace: In April, Sanford’s new farmer’s market (and more) opened to the public at 157 Charlotte Avenue in downtown. The open-air facility (with indoor meeting rooms and classrooms) is already drawing big crowds every Saturday and Wednesday for the county’s regular market events.
Depot Park: Sanford celebrated the renovation of the historic Sanford Depot Building in May. A cornerstone of Sanford’s roots as a railroad town, the Depot has undergone a comprehensive renovation.
Broadway Road expansion: The North Carolina Department of Transportation is widening a five-mile stretch of Broadway Road from Horner Boulevard in Sanford to East Harrington Avenue in Broadway. The $55.2 million project will transform the connector into a multi-lane roadway featuring turn-lane enhancements and raised medians. It also eliminates select left turns at non-signalized intersections and adds designated U-turn areas alongside new pedestrian sidewalks.
More lodging: In addition to an unnamed hotel planned along U.S. 421 bypass near Kelly Drive, plans are in place for a Tru by Hilton hotel — if built, it would go at the entrance to the Lee County Athletic Park along Broadway Road. According to documents on file with the Planning Department, the hotel would be 46,000-plus square feet and contain 98 rooms.
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
‘Mystery’ economic development project: Sanford and Lee County are to land another major economic development project that could bring as many as 335 new full-time jobs and a tax base investment of more than $600 million to the county over a seven-year period. The Lee County Board of Commissioners approved a performance-based cash incentives grant in July that will consist of annual payments based on a net new taxable value for the unnamed company’s new facility that would be built in Lee County. The amount of each year’s grant will be 70 percent of the property taxes paid by the company during the previous year.
Kyowa Kirin: The Japanese pharmaceutical manufacture has invested more than $500 million for a new plant in Sanford.
North Carolina Core: When completed, the 120-mile stretch of what is now U.S. 421 from west of Winston-Salem to Dunn will bear the designation as one of the state’s newest and most important interstates, I-685. The highway will connect the cities of Greensboro, High Point, Siler City, Sanford, Lillington and Fayetteville, and most importantly, will provide the vital connection between I-85 and I-95. How the project will look when it connects to the current U.S. 421 Bypass west and south of Sanford is still unknown.
Data center proposal: A developer has applied for a permit to build a large capacity data center in northern Lee County, according to paperwork on file with the local planning department. Virginia-based PointOne, in conjunction with local developer Helix Ventures, has proposed a 300,000 square foot data center facility on 56 acres off Lower Moncure Road. The project comes with a significant tax base investment. The building itself will be valued at $900 million, containing technology worth as much as two to three times that value.
I have heard Belk is not leaving, just being remodeled to get all depts under one roof , hope this is true, what is a growing town without a Belks ! ?