North Carolina Construction News staff writer
Hines has broken ground on a 270-unit apartment development at Friendly Center in Greensboro, North Carolina, with completion scheduled for the second quarter of 2028.
Pembroke at Friendly Center will occupy about seven acres at the site of a former Sears store, which was demolished in 2024. The property is part of Friendly Center, a 1.4-million-square-foot open-air retail centre.
Friendly Center owner CBL Properties sold the land to Hines for the development in September. Greensboro’s Technical Review Committee approved the project’s site plan in July 2026.
Developed on behalf of Hines U.S. Property Partners, the real estate firm’s flagship U.S. core-plus fund, the project will comprise two five-storey residential buildings offering market-rate apartments.
The development will include studio, one-, two- and three-bedroom units, with select residences featuring dens and townhome-style layouts.
Planned amenities include a swimming pool with a lap lane, sauna, cold plunge, fitness centre, yoga studio, coworking space and golf and multi-sport simulators. Outdoor amenities will include social and grilling areas, a dog park and pet spa.
Electric vehicle charging stations are also planned. Apartment interiors will feature quartz countertops, modern cabinetry and full-size washers and dryers, with private patios or balconies in select units.
The project is designed to provide residents with walkable access to Friendly Center’s retail, dining and service businesses, including Whole Foods, Apple, North Italia and Cooper’s Hawk.
The site is near a major employment hub in North Carolina’s Triad region and about 12 minutes from Piedmont Triad International Airport.
Construction is expected to be completed in the second quarter of 2028.