Habitat for Humanity Breaks Ground on Greenville Villas
The new project on Jenkins Street will provide seven affordable townhomes for local families.
Updated on Oct. 16, 2026 in Home Renovation
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Habitat for Humanity of Greenville County has officially begun construction on the Baxter-Norris Villas, a seven-unit townhome development. Located in the historic Sterling community, the project offers affordable homeownership opportunities in an area seeing rapid redevelopment.
Why it matters
The development aims to combat rising housing costs in Greenville by providing stable, affordable mortgages to families. By turning long-vacant city land into productive housing, the initiative fosters long-term equity for new homeowners.
The Baxter-Norris Villas project features seven townhomes ranging from two to three bedrooms. Potential homeowners must fulfill specific requirements, including completing homebuyer education and contributing sweat equity hours.
The players
Habitat for Humanity of Greenville County
This nonprofit organization works to build and renovate simple, decent homes for low-income families in the local area.
Urban Design Review Board
This municipal body oversees the architectural and design standards for development projects within the City of Greenville.
The details
The City of Greenville previously prepared the site by removing two vacant houses in 2021 before deeding the land to the organization. Designed by Arcisan Design and approved by the Urban Design Review Board, the project honors community figures Peggy Baxter and Xanthene Norris.
Timeline
The city removed two vacant houses from the property in 2021.
The groundbreaking ceremony for Baxter-Norris Villas occurred on October 15, 2026.
Culture Shift
This development represents a strategic push against the displacement often triggered by rising housing costs in the Sterling community. It signals a shift toward prioritizing affordable, community-led housing options within historically significant neighborhoods.
Local residents looking for affordable housing can explore homeownership programs through Habitat for Humanity to understand eligibility for these units. The conversion of vacant land into housing improves neighborhood density and utilizes formerly abandoned city property.
The takeaway
This initiative demonstrates how repurposing vacant city land can create long-term stability for families in competitive housing markets. Interested residents should track local housing authority announcements to learn about upcoming homebuyer education requirements.
Further reading
Find more local housing updates on the Greenville Home Renovation page.
More information
For more information on the development, visit the Habitat Greenville project donation page.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Greenville Business Magazine.
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