270-Unit Apartment Complex Breaks Ground in Greensboro
The new community at Friendly Center will add 270 units to the area when construction finishes in 2028.
Updated on Oct. 16, 2026 in Commercial
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Developers have officially broken ground on Pembroke at Friendly Center, a new 270-unit apartment community in Greensboro. The project transforms the site of a former Sears store into two five-story residential buildings located near the existing Whole Foods.
Why it matters
This development represents a significant shift in Greensboro's urban density by repurposing a large retail footprint into multi-family housing. The addition of 270 units introduces new housing options directly adjacent to established commercial amenities at Friendly Center.
The 270-unit project consists of two five-story residential buildings featuring a mix of studio, one-, two-, and three-bedroom floor plans. Completion of the site is currently slated for the second quarter of 2028.
The players
Hines
A global real estate investment, development, and management firm known for its large-scale residential and commercial projects.
Friendly Center
A prominent Greensboro shopping destination currently undergoing a transition toward mixed-use commercial and residential integration.
The details
The development replaces the former Sears retail space at Friendly Center with high-density, multi-family housing. The construction process involves the complete demolition of the prior retail structure to accommodate two five-story residential buildings. These buildings are designed to integrate with the existing walkable infrastructure of the Friendly Center area, providing residents direct access to nearby retail and dining options like the Whole Foods store.
Timeline
Groundbreaking for the project was held on October 9, 2026.
Construction is expected to be completed in the second quarter of 2028.
The Home Front
This development is part of a broader shift in urban planning that moves away from strictly commercial big-box retail and toward mixed-use community hubs. The project demonstrates how former retail sites are being increasingly utilized to increase housing inventory in established commercial districts.
If you are looking to relocate to the Greensboro area by 2028, keep an eye on the leasing availability for these new units near Friendly Center. Interested residents should monitor the developer's official site for future pre-leasing announcements and floor plan details as the project progresses.
The takeaway
The transformation of the former Sears site into a residential hub is a landmark shift for the Friendly Center area. Potential renters can track the construction progress toward the 2028 completion date to determine how this inventory impacts the local Greensboro rental market.
Further reading
For more updates on local area growth, visit the Commercial section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Myfox8.
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