Habitat for Humanity building first subdivision in Brunswick County

LELAND, NC (WWAY) — A new neighborhood is coming soon to Leland.

Habitat for Humanity is building its first subdivision in Brunswick County on Highland Hills Drive.

The subdivision is called Fuller Court. It will include 10 homes as well as a park, a half court basketball court that can be turned into a pickleball court, and potential access to walking trails.

In addition to being the first Habitat subdivision in Brunswick County, the neighborhood will feature Habitat’s first “apostle build” which is an event where 12 or more churches volunteer to sponsor and build a Habitat home.

The neighborhood is in the infrastructure phase right now, with a goal of beginning to build the homes this summer.

Carlo Montagano, executive director for Brunswick County Habitat for Humanity, says increasing land prices and decreasing availability is pushing the non-profit to build subdivisions rather than singular homes.

“The number of homes that are available in the price point that we build is shrinking dramatically,” said Montagano. “People that want what we call a starter home, a place where they can raise a family, or a home where they can retire and age in place, are the types of homes that we build and they just don’t exist in this county.”

Only three of the 10 homes have been spoken for so far. One of the people that will call Fuller Court home is Karen Pearson.

“I’ve actually been displaced for the past eight years, maybe a little more,” said Pearson. “There have been times where I’ve had no home and good friends have taken me in.”

After living in New Hampshire for more than 30 years, Pearson followed her daughter’s family to North Carolina in 2020. She living with them now in what used to be her son-in-law’s office.

“If you’ve been in your own home for five, 10, 20 and beyond years, you don’t realize…how incredible it is to have an organization tell you that they’re going to build you a home,” said Pearson.

As an avid gardener, Pearson says she looks forward to growing her own vegetables and flowers. Most of all, she looks forward to having her own space that she’s hoped for for a decade.

“It’s an answer to a ten year prayer and a lifelong dream for me. I am just beside myself with excitement. I just can’t really even believe it,” said Pearson.

For more information on how to apply for a Habitat home, click here.