PulteGroup quietly turned up the heat on Charlotte's suburban housing boom in early May, breaking ground on Carolina Ridge, a roughly 670-acre development in Midland that is slated to bring about 1,110 homes to the fast-growing suburbs east of the city. The master-planned project will feature two distinct neighborhoods, a traditional single-family section called The Retreat and a Del Webb community for residents 55 and older, with a mix of multi-story family homes and single-story active-adult designs. Prices are expected to range from the mid-$400,000s to around $1 million, with floorplans running from roughly 1,200 to 4,400 square feet.
PulteGroup's plan splits the site into The Retreat, with about 613 single-family homes, and Del Webb Carolina Ridge, with roughly 497 active-adult homes, for a total of about 1,110 units, according to the Charlotte Observer. The Observer reports that the homes will vary widely in size and price as the community is built out.
What buyers will find
Del Webb's community page outlines a roughly 12,000-square-foot clubhouse, walking trails, pickleball courts and a resort-style outdoor pool among the amenities planned for the active-adult side of Carolina Ridge. The site also highlights multiple single-story floorplans and notes that the Del Webb portion is expected to open in late 2026, with a VIP interest list already open for early sales, according to Del Webb.
Where it sits and the timeline
The development is located in Midland, about 25 miles east of uptown Charlotte, putting Carolina Ridge inside the Cabarrus County growth corridor and within reach of the region's retail and commuting routes, according to the Charlotte Observer. PulteGroup has already held a ceremonial groundbreaking and will now move into site work and homebuilding as infrastructure and lot plats are completed.
Infrastructure already in motion
Municipal filings show that significant off-site utility work is already approved. A City of Concord agenda lists plans for about 13,115 linear feet of 12-inch water mains, two inline valves and more than 20 hydrants to serve homes tied to the Carolina Ridge project near Pioneer Mill and Morrison roads. The agenda identifies Pulte Home Company as the developer and links the off-site construction to existing Carolina Ridge water permits, according to a City of Concord agenda.
Why this matters
For homebuyers and local officials, Carolina Ridge means more housing options across several price ranges along with added pressure on water systems, roads and school planning as the area continues to fill in. Early marketing and the community interest list for the 55-plus neighborhood point to strong demand for active-adult housing in the region, and PulteGroup's move highlights how national builders are leaning into growth on Charlotte's suburban edges, according to Del Webb.
