By Morgan Cartier Weston | Photography by John Micheal Simpson
One of Pittsboro’s newest neighborhoods offers a unique and friendly environment with homes that are fit for growing families and down-sizers alike. Right around the corner from the charismatic streets of downtown Pittsboro, Vineyards at Chatham Park provides walking-distance accessibility to surrounding restaurants, playgrounds, and even a space for outdoor concerts.
The homes at Vineyards are among the first to be completed in the Chatham Park development. The master plan for the community calls for over 7,100 acres, thousands of homes and 22 million square feet of retail, office and medical space. Below, three families share what they love about the Vineyards at Chatham Park.
Investing in Chatham’s Future
Hayley Alvarez and Bernardo Alvarez bought their home in Pittsboro more than four years ago and have since purchased two homes in Chatham Park as investment properties. “Our lifestyle requires a little more space, with a workshop, boat storage and access to nature,” Hayley says, but they saw potential in Chatham Park right away. “We only live about eight minutes away, and we’re always here,” Hayley says.
“The neighborhood and amenities are so thoughtfully laid out, and the park for all the kids to hang out and play and relax is so nice.”
Though their son, Remy Alvarez, 14 months, is not quite old enough for school, his parents are eagerly awaiting the opening of Amazing Explorers Academy, a STEAM-focused day care and preschool. “We’re really looking forward to Thales Academy and the YMCA they are planning on building, too,” says Hayley, a real estate agent with Society Real Estate in Raleigh. “I think it’ll be a great addition for all of the community, and with all the people coming here, it will make a big difference.”
Hayley is quick to recommend Pittsboro to her clients. “Anyone I meet who is looking for something outside Raleigh, I always say, ‘Hey, come and be my neighbor.’” With multiple price points in the development and the connection to Mosaic, where outdoor concerts, health care and dining are all within reach, she believes the future of Chatham Park is bright. “It’s just far enough from downtown that it feels like its own thing, and downtown gets to maintain its quirkiness and charm while still being close enough for residents to enjoy.”
Room to Grow
Norma Enciso and Corbin Lynch purchased their Vineyards home in August 2022. “What drew us to the neighborhood was the live work- play element,” Norma says. “We work remotely, so the on-site amenities, like the dog park for our dogs, Riley and Liam, are so nice to have just steps away.”
A sense of community was also important to the couple. “We were living in the Brier Creek area in Raleigh, but life really felt like it slowed down after COVID-19, so we wanted a more community-focused feel for our next home,” Norma says. She and Corbin are North Carolina natives and have enjoyed meeting their Vineyards neighbors. “It’s been cool to meet all different kinds of people, of differing ages and backgrounds, who all moved here for a variety of reasons,” Norma says. “We interact more with our neighbors than we have in any other place we’ve lived.”
The couple also appreciates living a quick drive or bike ride from restaurants and shopping, both downtown and at Mosaic. “One of our favorite spots is Cafe Root Cellar [at Mosaic] – it’s great for dinner or brunch,” Norma says. “Everything is so fresh and you can really tell.” Downtown, she and Corbin like to grab sweet treats at Carolina Cravings bakery or pop into Vino!! Wine Shop for one of their weekend tasting events. “We also love going out to The Plant to spend the day,” Norma says. “They have different events throughout the month, like craft markets and live music to enjoy with their great food and drinks.”
Their home is at the heart of their appreciation of the neighborhood. “We love our open floor plan,” Norma says. “We love to host, so we have a lot of friends and family that come to visit, and they all fall in love with the neighborhood, too.” In addition to its sustainable, natural surroundings, many Vineyards homes are equipped with electric vehicle charging stations and smart appliances that conserve energy. And, when they are ready to expand their family, Norma feels confident it will be an ideal place for children to grow up. “We feel so safe here, and everyone’s really friendly,” she says. “Once you’re here and walk around, it’s just beautiful. We’re so happy with our decision to move here.”
The Next Phase
Tracy Carbone and Gregory Carbone couldn’t be happier with their decision to transition to a smaller home in the neighborhood. “We’ve been in Chatham for 16 years, and with our oldest son, [Nicholas Carbone, 19,] out of the house and our other son, [Colin Carbone, 16,] finishing high school soon, we were ready to downsize,” Tracy says. The family enjoyed growing together in their last home at The Preserve at Jordan Lake, but Tracy and Gregory knew they wouldn’t need such a large house for this next phase of life. “We have fallen in love with this beautiful county and the people here and are glad to be part of the excitement coming with the Mosaic development,” she adds.
In fact, Tracy loves talking about the incredible energy in Pittsboro with anyone she meets. “I feel like an unofficial spokesperson for Chatham Park, but it’s because I really do love it here. We have a beautiful public park and greenways, but I can also ride my bike to Food Lion [on East Street],” Tracy says. “I feel like the developers truly paid attention to how naturally beautiful this area is, keeping lots of trees and planning very intentionally. Small businesses and the landscape are clearly at the forefront of the long-term plans for the community.”
Tracy and her family take full advantage of the many restaurants within walking or biking distance of their home. “We utilize everything from Jersey Mike’s right around the corner to Thirsty Skull Brewery,” Tracy says. They are also big fans of 580 Craft Beer, The Mod, Virlie’s Grill and The City Tap. “And we are at Phoenix Bakery every weekend,” she says. “I think Pittsboro – and what Mosaic is becoming – is maintaining this balance between growth and the feeling of history in the town itself. It just keeps evolving into these little pockets, and that makes it such an exciting time for us to be here.”
