Habitat Greenville Breaks Ground on Homes in Sterling Community

Habitat for Humanity of Greenville County broke ground Thursday, Oct. 15, 2026, on Baxter-Norris Villas, seven two- and three-bedroom townhomes on Jenkins Street in Greenville’s historic Sterling community. Elected officials, neighborhood leaders, donors, and volunteers joined Habitat for the ceremonial groundbreaking. When complete, the townhomes will give seven local families an affordable mortgage, equity that grows over time, and the stability to plan for their future. 

As Greenville grows and housing costs climb, families in longtime neighborhoods like Sterling face a harder path to put down roots. For more than a century, Sterling has served as a center of homeownership, education, and faith in Greenville. Baxter-Norris Villas keeps that tradition going by placing affordable homeownership within reach for working families who want to stay or move into the neighborhood to build their futures in the community.

 “As housing prices continue to rise in our growing community, many people think homeownership is out of reach. In historic neighborhoods like Sterling that are seeing a lot of re-development, it is becoming increasingly more difficult for families to stay or move here to build their futures,” said LaTonya Phillips, president and CEO of Habitat for Humanity of Greenville County. “Thanks to the City of Greenville and donors, Habitat for Humanity of Greenville County will be able to help seven families buy their own homes at Baxter-Norris Villas. By doing so, they can build stability, opportunity, and hope through homeownership with an affordable mortgage, equity that grows over time and the ability to plan ahead.”

The project grew from a partnership with the City of Greenville. In 2021, after the city removed two vacant, run-down houses from the property, it requested proposals to bring affordable housing to the site. Working with Arcisan Design, Habitat studied duplexes, townhomes, and several other layouts to make the most of two long, narrow lots, and the city awarded Habitat the project that summer. Following a year of design work and approval from the Urban Design Review Board, the city deeded the land to Habitat. 

The development’s name honors two leaders who grew up in Sterling, graduated from Sterling High School, and spent their lives giving back to the community. Peggy Baxter, Habitat’s director emeritus, led the organization for years, and many families who own Habitat homes in Greenville County today trace their path back to her leadership. Xanthene Norris served on Greenville County Council for many years as a steady voice for her neighbors. Habitat staff developed several naming options, and the Sterling Neighborhood Association chose and blessed the name Baxter-Norris Villas.

 Like all Habitat homeowners, Baxter-Norris Villas families will complete sweat equity and homebuyer education hours and purchase their homes with an affordable mortgage. Before construction on the townhomes can begin, the site requires shared infrastructure, including grading, water and sewer connections, sidewalks, lighting, and green space. Community members can help bring Baxter-Norris Villas to life by donating to the project at www.habitatgreenville.org.