Sudden Construction Activity at 1408 St. Mark’s Church Road Explained

Observant residents noticed renewed work on the parcel behind Dick’s Sporting Goods and near BJ’s at Alamance Crossing after contractors began permitted plumbing and electrical work this fall. The site, at the intersection with Rural Retreat Road, remained largely idle after an initial tree-clearing in 2021 but has moved forward under a new developer since 2024.

The property was cleared in 2021 after developer Trey Riddle won Burlington city approval to build 205 apartments under a planned development zoning designation created by the city’s 2019 unified development ordinance. That zoning category allows more flexibility on development rules in exchange for developer-provided concessions. In Riddle’s approved plan, the concessions included enhanced landscaping, on-site traffic improvements, and a walking path connecting the project to Burlington’s Joe Davidson Park. Burlington’s city council unanimously approved the plan in spring 2021, but Riddle later abandoned the project, leaving the parcel in transition.

Charlotte-based developer David Ransenberg revived the site in 2024, seeking a modest increase in unit count to improve the project’s economic viability. The city approved the modification, and the proposal progressed through technical review beginning in September. Subsequent permits authorized interior trades work, and the visible burst of activity reflects that permitting milestone rather than full exterior construction or new grading.

The development’s movement carries practical consequences for the surrounding area. Adding a mid-density apartment complex could expand housing supply and broaden the city’s property tax base, but it also raises questions about traffic on St. Mark’s Church Road and Rural Retreat Road, given the site’s immediate proximity to a major retail hub. The promised traffic improvements and pedestrian connection to Joe Davidson Park are material parts of the trade that allowed the original density relief; ensuring those elements are delivered will be central to assessing the project’s net benefit to neighbors.

The parcel’s stop-start history underscores institutional issues with planned developments that receive early approvals but stall. For local leaders, the key tasks will be monitoring construction milestones, enforcing agreed-upon concessions, and coordinating infrastructure responses if the project proceeds to full build-out. Residents and nearby businesses can expect continued activity as interior work progresses and as the project moves toward exterior construction phases, subject to future permitting and inspections.