Henredon housing project leads strong August construction activity

Three large projects pushed Morganton’s building-permit activity to its highest level of 2026 in August.

The city recorded $13.95 million in building-permit value during the month, led by an $8.7 million apartment development on Henredon Road, a $2.79 million replacement maintenance building at Catawba Meadows, and a $1.17 million expansion at Veka East.

Together, the three projects accounted for about $12.66 million, or more than 90% of August’s building-permit value.

August’s total was nearly twice the previous 2026 monthly high of $7.36 million in May and represented 39% of the $35.73 million in building-permit value recorded by the city through the first eight months of the year.

The largest project was Wallick Development’s 51-unit apartment development at 105 Henredon Road.

The city’s August report lists 51 individual permit entries associated with the project, each showing the development’s $8.7 million value. Because the entries are part of a single apartment development, The Paper counted the $8.7 million project value only once in calculating the monthly total.

The second-largest project was a $2.79 million replacement maintenance building for the City of Morganton Recreation Department at Catawba Meadows.

The building is part of the city’s continuing recovery from Tropical Storm Helene.

Industrial construction also contributed to the strong month. Veka East received a $1.17 million permit for a 4,000-square-foot addition to its existing facility at 90 Ceramic Tile Drive.

Housing adds to August activity

Beyond the Henredon Road apartments, several new homes and residential projects were permitted during August.

A new single-family home on Stephens Road was valued at $239,455. Endeavour Homes received a $200,000 permit for a modular home on Riverhills Lane, while Habitat for Humanity received a $150,000 permit for a new home on Lost Corner Road.

The city also issued permits for residential additions, decks, pools, and renovations.

Grace Ridge continued its apartment renovation program with an $80,000 upfit at 500 Lenoir Road.

The combination gave August an unusually broad mix of construction, including apartments, single-family homes, industrial expansion, and public infrastructure.

Biggest month of 2026

Morganton began the year with $1.13 million in building-permit value in January, followed by $2.03 million in February, $5.50 million in March, and $1.56 million in April.

The total rose to $7.36 million in May, largely because of the nearly $6 million Ingles renovation on Carbon City Road.

Activity then fell to $2.29 million in June and $1.91 million in July before jumping to $13.95 million in August.

Through August, Morganton has recorded $35,732,947 in building-permit value for 2026.

The figures represent construction values associated with building permits. They do not include electrical, mechanical, and plumbing permits in the total because those permits often involve work on the same projects and adding them together could count the same investment more than once.

In August, the city issued 73 building permits, 39 electrical permits, 36 mechanical permits, 13 plumbing permits, and three demolition permits.

Large projects have played an outsized role in Morganton’s monthly construction numbers this year. May’s total was driven largely by the Ingles renovation, while August was dominated by the Henredon Road apartments, Catawba Meadows building, and Veka expansion.

August stands out, however, because the largest investment was in new housing.

Wallick’s 51-unit development will add to Morganton’s multifamily housing supply while other major August projects represent investments in industry and public facilities.

With four months remaining in the year, August pushed Morganton’s permitted construction value above $35 million and made housing a major part of the city’s 2026 development activity.