Wilkes Leaders Prepare for Increasing Residential Growth
In 2006‚ a property developer pur chased 6‚000 acres between Wilkes and Watauga counties‚ and will construct 1‚500 high-end homes on lots selling for $500‚000 apiece.
Another developer bought 1‚400 acres to build homes in Wilkes County‚ and yet another developer has acquired 1‚300 acres for a large-scale residential project.
“In the last year or so‚ huge devel opments have begun to crop up in Wilkes County – and that’s all new for us‚” says Linda Cheek‚ president of the 700-member Wilkes Chamber of Commerce. “Many people from Florida are purchasing second homes so they can live in our mountain setting during the summer‚ plus several other people are discovering Wilkes as a retirement destination for year-round living.”
Cheek says neighboring Watauga County has always been a popular place for retirees and second-home owners‚ and now Wilkes County is being discovered 30 miles down the road.
“The prices of property in Watauga are high‚ so homebuyers are suddenly coming down the mountain to discover what we have to offer‚” she says. “Wilkes is part of the Blue Ridge Parkway‚ so property owners here can see the mountains as well as actually live in the mountains in some cases.”
Cheek says increased residential growth will bring positive change to the county’s overall quality of life.
“New people arriving will need services provided to them‚ including increased health care for retirees‚ more retail choices and additional restau rants‚” Cheek says. “The chamber is already doing what we can to help get the word out that several jobs will need to be filled – and pretty quickly.”
Cheek says the education system is preparing for the upcoming influx of residents by offering a variety of academic programs at the four county high schools and Wilkes Community College to train students in specific fields.
“There are going to be good‚ high-paying jobs in the construction industry with a need for electricians‚ plumbers‚ carpenters and so forth‚” she says. “Our high schools and college are offering these kinds of career-oriented classes to help keep technically oriented students interested in school‚ plus meet the future needs of our workforce.”
While Wilkes County used to be known for its textile industry‚ Cheek says the future job market will feature plenty of new opportunities in the aforementioned areas of construction‚ health care‚ retail‚ restaurants‚ and computer technology.
“Wilkes County is also becoming more and more of a tourism destina tion‚ with our annual Merlefest music celebration along with the growing list of wineries‚ museums and summer festivals‚” Cheek says. “The chamber is preparing itself for when things start happening in Wilkes on a really big scale – which will be soon.”
