Creekside at The Grounds breaks ground as first major student housing project in Winston-Salem

Creekside at The Grounds, a purpose-built student housing community and the first vertical development in Winston-Salem’s ambitious 100-acre mixed-use project known as The Grounds, officially broke ground this week. Developed by Atlanta-based Carter and Winston-Salem’s Front Street Capital, the 229-unit, 521-bed residential complex will offer Wake Forest University students premium off-campus living with direct pedestrian access to the university and the future retail village within The Grounds.

The project marks a critical milestone for Phase One, which alone represents more than $215 million in planned investment. Creekside is designed to anchor this first phase of the multi-year redevelopment that is expected to transform the city’s sports and entertainment corridor into a year-round residential, commercial, and community hub. Initial sitework and grading have commenced, and the project is targeting delivery by Fall 2027.

How does Creekside at The Grounds set the tone for Winston-Salem’s larger mixed-use redevelopment?

Positioned adjacent to the newly restored Silas Creek and minutes from Wake Forest University, Creekside at The Grounds is designed to be a flagship for the broader redevelopment of Winston-Salem’s sports and entertainment district. The Grounds master plan, first announced last year, envisions a vibrant blend of residential living, retail, office space, hospitality, and public amenities.

Carter’s senior vice president Adam Parker said the Creekside project was conceived as a high-quality residential experience that also strengthens the larger community fabric. Parker noted that the project will directly connect students to Wake Forest University, the forthcoming retail village, and existing recreational trails through a newly constructed multi-use path.

Front Street Capital president and managing partner Coleman Team described Creekside as a “bold first step” for The Grounds’ residential component, explaining that the community will deliver walkable access to campus, football games, concerts, and retail amenities while reinforcing Winston-Salem’s positioning as a destination for students, visitors, and residents.

What amenities and design features distinguish Creekside from traditional student housing projects?

Creekside at The Grounds will provide fully furnished apartments tailored for upperclassmen and graduate students. Each bedroom will feature a private bathroom, and the project will offer multiple floor plan options with high-end finishes. A central clubhouse will house dedicated study rooms, a fitness center, and other collaborative spaces, while the outdoor amenities will include a swimming pool, an outdoor kitchen, and entertainment areas.

The residential complex will also leverage its prime frontage along Silas Creek to create direct pedestrian and cycling connections to The Grounds’ broader trail network and retail village. Developers believe these connections, combined with the project’s proximity to Wake Forest University, will set a new benchmark for lifestyle-driven student housing in the Triad region.

How does Creekside’s financing and development team reflect investor confidence in the project’s long-term potential?

The Creekside development has been capitalized with financial backing from Kayne Anderson Real Estate, a national alternative investment manager with significant experience in student housing, and Truist Financial Corporation, a top-ten commercial bank. Market observers view the inclusion of these institutional partners as evidence of strong underlying fundamentals for both the project and the Winston-Salem market.

Construction is being led by Brasfield & Gorrie, one of the nation’s largest general contractors, with architectural design by The Preston Partnership and engineering by Stimmel Associates.

Institutional sentiment around mixed-use redevelopment in Winston-Salem has been positive, with analysts noting that The Grounds’ location adjacent to key event venues such as LJVM Coliseum, Allegacy Stadium, and David F. Couch Ballpark gives it a unique ability to attract year-round foot traffic and generate incremental economic activity for the city.

How will Creekside and The Grounds impact Winston-Salem’s broader economy and real estate market?

The broader 100-acre Grounds redevelopment, which includes Creekside as its flagship residential anchor, is positioned to play a major role in Winston-Salem’s future economic trajectory. Local officials have projected that the district will help attract tourism, sports, and entertainment-related spending while providing additional housing options in a market where demand for purpose-built student housing remains high.

Additional Phase One projects, including a Class-A office building and a pedestrian-friendly retail village, are currently in design and expected to break ground in early 2026. The retail and office components are seen as critical to creating a self-sustaining community that can support full-time residents as well as students.

What are the next milestones for The Grounds, and how does Creekside’s delivery timeline fit in?

With site preparation now underway, Carter and Front Street Capital aim to complete Creekside by the Fall 2027 academic year, ensuring that Wake Forest students have access to the new housing in time for the start of classes. In parallel, the developers plan to move forward with the retail village and office building that will form the core of The Grounds’ Phase One investment plan.

Observers believe that the success of Creekside will be pivotal in shaping investor sentiment for subsequent phases of The Grounds. Analysts have suggested that if Creekside achieves strong pre-leasing and delivers on schedule, it could accelerate financing and approvals for future residential and hospitality components.

What is the broader vision for The Grounds beyond Phase One?

The Grounds’ master plan calls for a pedestrian-friendly retail village, modern residential units, Class-A office space, and robust infrastructure improvements designed to enhance connectivity across Winston-Salem’s sports and entertainment district. By integrating residential and commercial uses with green space and public amenities, the developers aim to create a sustainable, mixed-use ecosystem that attracts both students and permanent residents.

The project’s strategic location near Wake Forest University and major event venues is expected to drive steady demand and help Winston-Salem compete with larger peer cities in North Carolina for tourism, business relocations, and talent recruitment.

How will Creekside influence student housing and mixed-use development trends in the Triad region?

Institutional investors and local real estate professionals are closely watching Creekside’s progress, viewing it as a potential catalyst for additional student housing and mixed-use projects in the Triad region. The community’s lifestyle-focused design and proximity to campus may set new expectations for student housing, while its integration into a larger mixed-use district could inform future redevelopment strategies across North Carolina.

If successful, Creekside and The Grounds could serve as a blueprint for leveraging university adjacency and entertainment districts to drive comprehensive urban revitalization.