Sanford weighs $4M incentive for Riverbirch TARGET vs. investing in local needs

The Sanford City Council will hold a public hearing on whether to provide a $4 million economic development incentive for the proposed redevelopment of the Riverbirch Shopping Center with a Target store.

Casto-CCM Sanford Owner, LLC, proposed a $64 million investment to transform Riverbirch with a Target store with 62,000 square feet of additional retail space, and a new-to-market regional grocery store.

Sanford’s participation could total $4 million spread over five years. The incentive’s purpose would be to help stimulate the local economy, expand consumer choices, attract new business activity, create jobs, add to the tax base and increase sales tax revenue.

Alternatively, within a 30-to-45-minute drive, Southern Pines, Fayetteville and Holly Springs have Target stores, and Sanford has a wide range of needs that could be addressed with a $4 million investment.

The city needs sewer expansion and stormwater improvements, road repairs, enhancements to public spaces, and there is the ongoing housing challenge.

The East Sanford Initiative is working to reinvest in underserved neighborhoods, but additional funding could support affordable housing, infrastructure improvements, and rehabilitation of existing homes.

Sanford issued nearly $22 million in bonds to expand its water treatment capacity and address PFAS “forever chemicals” in its drinking water. While that giant project is underway, a targeted $4 million investment could supplement improvements, particularly in communities that are most vulnerable to water quality and public health challenges.

The Police Department wants to add an officer wellness program to improve mental health support, and the fire department is interested in a Community Paramedic Program that would assist seniors, homebound residents, and unhoused individuals whose needs often strain the 911 system. Even a fraction of $4 million could expand these services and deliver long-term benefits to the community.

SCHOOLS. Sanford’s projected growth shows an incoming 1,500 to 1,800 school-age children into the district by 2035.

For Lee County to accommodate 1,800 additional students, the district would need the equivalent of one elementary and one middle school over the next ten years. At current market rates, an elementary school costs $25 million to $45 million and a middle school costs $30 million to $60 million, putting Lee’s total new-school cost in the range of about $55 million to $105 million.

Sanford has multiple avenues where a $4 million investment could directly serve residents, through infrastructure, parks, housing, water quality, and public safety. Each of these options represents a chance to strengthen the city’s foundation while making it more resilient and welcoming for the future.

The public hearing will take place on Sept. 16, 2025, at 6 p.m. in the Council Chambers of the Sanford Municipal Center, located at 225 E. Weatherspoon Street, Sanford, North Carolina.

All interested residents are invited to attend and share their views.

Proposed Riverbirch Redevelopment Project PDF here

Sept. 4, 2025

Stephanie M. Sellers

https://sanfordnc.net/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=863