Disney is sprinkling some pixie dust on central North Carolina! The company’s real estate arm, Storyliving by Disney, is teaming up with DMB Development to build its second-ever Disney-themed community — this time, in Pittsboro’s sprawling Chatham Park. The developers just dropped over $23 million to secure 242 acres of land along the Haw River, which is just a slice of the massive 1,500-acre “Asteria” community in the works. While much of the project is still under wraps, here’s what we do know: Asteria will feature more than 4,000 homes, signature Disney-inspired amenities, and a price tag that’s a bit more Main Street than Magic Kingdom, with homes expected to start in the six-figure range. The first wave of homes is set to hit the market in 2027. With this many moving parts, it’s clear Disney’s latest Storyliving venture is shaping up to be more than just fantasy — it’s big business.

Key Points:

• Disney’s second-ever Storyliving community will be called Asteria and is located in Pittsboro, North Carolina, within the master-planned community of Chatham Park.
• DMB Development and a Disney-affiliated LLC purchased 242 acres for over $23.3 million — that's about $107,000 per acre.
• The full Asteria project will span 1,500 acres and include over 4,000 residences, both multifamily and single-family homes.
• A 25-acre parcel will house the community’s amenities, though details remain secret. Another 143 acres will be used for open space and infrastructure.
• Homes are expected to sell starting in the six-figures — a big difference from Cotino, Disney’s first Storyliving community in Rancho Mirage, CA, where homes start around $2 million.
• Groundbreaking is expected to occur this year, with the first homes available by 2027.
• Chatham Park itself is a massive development project, with plans for over 20,000 homes, a new YMCA already open, and future expansions by organizations such as UNC Health.

Quote to Note:
Mary Alexander, EVP and general counsel for DMB Development, confirmed that part of the purchase includes a 25-acre site “for future amenity use,” signaling big things yet to come.

Additional Insight:
Disney’s foray into master-planned communities through Storyliving reflects a growing trend of lifestyle-branded housing developments. While their first community, Cotino, caters to luxury buyers in California, Asteria’s more affordable pricing could make Disney-themed living more accessible for a wider audience in the Southeast.
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