New townhomes have eclipsed single-family homes in Mecklenburg
As Charlotte grows, denser housing is on the way; 'Mecklenburg doesn’t have that many frontiers left'
The following article appeared in the June 14, 2024, edition of The Charlotte Ledger, an e-newsletter with smart and original local news for Charlotte. We offer free and paid subscription plans. More info here.
REAL ESTATE
New single-family homes are in decline as townhomes pop up all over town; Few frontiers remain for big new subdivisions
Townhomes are springing up all over Charlotte — like these in the Steele Creek area. Last year, new townhomes surpassed the number of new single-family houses in Mecklenburg.
by Tony Mecia
There’s a big shift underway in the type of housing being built in Charlotte.
Construction of single-family homes, which for years have been a key component of Charlotte’s housing supply, is waning. Taking their place: townhomes.
In 2023, for the first time, the number of building permits for townhomes surpassed the number for single-family detached homes in Mecklenburg County. Since 2020, the number of permits for townhomes has nearly doubled, while single-family permits have fallen by 1/3.
The numbers point to a monumental shift in the types of housing available for purchase in Charlotte, with implications for housing affordability, development patterns and infrastructure needs.
Local builders and land brokers say there’s still high demand for single-family housing. But they describe Mecklenburg as nearly fully built out, with fewer and fewer large sites suitable for building traditional subdivisions.