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A Place Where Everyone Finds Common Ground

A Bold New Chapter in Winston-Salem’s Story

Introducing The Grounds: a transformative 100-acre mixed use development in the Deacon Boulevard area, surrounding some of North Carolina’s most iconic event venues. Spearheaded by a visionary partnership of Carter, Front Street Capital, Wake Forest University, and the City of Winston-Salem, The Grounds will be a year-round gathering place blending vibrant and unique retail, food and beverage options, entertainment, office, activities, walking trails, and new styles of residential living all in one community hub. 

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A pie chart showing the percentage of different causes of car accidents, with the largest section labeled 'Distracted Driving' and smaller sections for 'Speeding,' 'Driving Under Influence,' and 'Weather Conditions.'

We’re Under Construction

Crews are busy bringing The Grounds from vision to reality. Infrastructure has been overhauled, Silas Creek has been restored, multi-family and office buildings are topped out, and retail is set to break ground in summer 2026. Check out photo galleries below, and follow @visitthegrounds on Instagram for all the latest news and updates.

Photo Galleries
Map of North Carolina with neighboring states Tennessee, Virginia, South Carolina, Georgia, and others, highlighting cities Winston-Salem, Greensboro, Charlotte, Fayetteville, Spartanburg, and a scale indicating 20 miles.
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What’s Happening at The Grounds

Retail leasing is exceeding expectations, with more than half of the village square footage committed. Announcements will come soon, and we’ll break ground on the Retail Village this summer.

The five-story office building at the corner of Deacon Blvd. and Piccolo Ln. topped out with its final steel beam in mid-May, one major milestone closer to being the home for non-academic Wake Forest University offices. 

The University Pkwy and N. Cherry St. intersection is starting to flow with traffic in its new form, with the old N. Cherry St. single lane to the East being filled in for green space and safer crossings connected to the trails at The Grounds and the new Wake Forest gate. That work will be complete by the end of summer 2026.

Landscaping is going in along Silas Creek, and the 13-foot multi-use trail on both sides of the stream is being finished – including access points to the Retail Village. Wildlife is coming back too – if you’re lucky, you can see families of ducks taking a swim.

Creekside at The Grounds is going up fast, with drywall in progress inside and brickwork happening outside. You can check out the floor plans, renderings, and rates at CreeksideattheGrounds.com, and applications are now open for enrolled juniors, seniors, and graduate students here.

Phase I at The Grounds

Stream & Trails

  • Over 200 new trees planted

  • Removal of invasive species and hazards

  • Rebuilding degraded and eroded stream banks

  • Multi-purpose path and bridge threaded into nature

  • Boulder cascades and in-stream structures to manage stormwater

Retail Village

We’ve broken ground on 42,000 SF of experiential retail, exciting restaurants, and community gathering places.

Space is still available, contact leasing@visitthegrounds.com with inquiries.

Delivering 2027

Creekside at The Grounds Student Housing Logo

229 units // 521 bed modern, highly amenitized furnished apartments

Delivering 2027

22 luxury loft-style condos uniquely situated in the heart of the retail village

Delivering 2027

Office

Class-A, 5-story office building

130,500 square feet

Single-tenant: leased by WFU for non-academic staff offices

Delivering 2027

Infrastructure

Revamping of Deacon Blvd. to change shape, path, lane, and parking structure

Reorienting University Pkwy and N. Cherry St. intersection, adding single signaled crosswalk

Laying utility and infrastructure groundwork for 100 acres of multi-use development

Project Updates

University Parkway & Cherry Street Intersection Improvements Underway

Construction is now underway on a major connectivity improvement at the intersection of University Parkway and North Cherry Street — a key step in how The Grounds will be safer, more accessible, and more seamlessly connected to Wake Forest University and surrounding neighborhoods.

In partnership with the North Carolina Department of Transportation, the project reconfigures what has historically been a complex and fast-moving roadway into a simplified, signalized intersection designed with pedestrians in mind. The redesign will eliminate the existing un-signaled Cherry Street fork and create a single, clearly marked crossing with a dedicated pedestrian signal phase, allowing walkers to temporarily stop traffic in all directions for safer passage. 

The improvements also expand space for the multi-use trail and greenway network, creating a more intuitive connection between campus, The Grounds, and the broader community. By slowing vehicle speeds, enhancing visibility, and improving traffic flow predictability, the project prioritizes safety while supporting the long-term vision for a walkable, welcoming district.

Construction began in early March and will continue through summer, with intermittent lane closures but no full intersection shutdown. Read more about the project and view maps and additional visuals here.

(Link to full press release)

Since breaking ground in late 2024, a lot has taken shape at The Grounds— @creeksideatthegrounds has officially topped out, Upper Silas Creek is being restored, planting continues, the office building is underway, and major connectivity improve
Before The Grounds… there were lemonade stands. Before $200M budgets… there were allowance negotiations. Before organizing construction teams… there were kickball captains. Turns out, leadership has always come naturally to th
A safer, more connected future is taking shape at University Parkway. A new phase of connectivity improvements is happening at The Grounds — with the reimagining of the University Parkway and North Cherry Street intersection. In partnership w
⚾️ It’s Opening Day for Wake Forest Baseball! With ongoing construction and roadway improvements related to The Grounds — including updates along the new Deacon Boulevard — Wake Forest Athletics has realigned 2026 gameday parking t
A woman with a red bandana and curly hair serving herself baked goods in a bakery, with various cakes and pastries displayed on shelves behind her.
Aerial view of a lively outdoor shopping and entertainment district at sunset with people walking, dining, and gathering, surrounded by green trees and modern buildings.
A man with tattoos, glasses, and a baseball cap wearing a white shirt and red apron, tossing pizza dough in a commercial kitchen.
Exterior view of a modern building with white walls, black-framed windows, and outdoor lighting fixtures, with a sidewalk and flower planters in the foreground, and brick and industrial-style buildings in the background under a blue sky.
Assorted baked goods including blueberry muffins, vegetable quiches, lemon tarts, fruit-flavored cakes, and decorated bundt cakes on display at a table.
Two women smiling and holding ice cream cones in an ice cream shop, with one wearing a red floral shirt and the other in a white shirt.
Pouring amber-colored liquid from a glass teapot into a highball glass with a lemon twist and ice cube, on a wooden surface.
Two men sitting on stairs in an industrial brewery setting, surrounded by stainless steel brewing tanks and pipes. One man is wearing glasses and a navy cap, and the other has a mustache and is wearing a blue cap. They are smiling at the camera.
An outdoor concert with a large stage set up on a grassy area, with many people seated on chairs and blankets, enjoying live music on a sunny day with a clear blue sky, trees, and modern building structures in the background.
Group of runners participating in a race on city street, with buildings and trees in the background.
Two young men with a dog, standing on a sidewalk outside on a sunny day, smiling and posing for the photo. The man on the left is wearing a cap and dark athletic clothing, holding a leash attached to a brown and white dog. The man on the right has lo
A cityscape featuring multiple high-rise buildings, including two prominent smokestacks with signs reading 'R.J.R. TOB. CO.', and a mix of modern and older architecture. Streets are lined with parked cars, trees with autumn foliage, and various comme