Attainable Housing | 06/29/2026

Building Northpoint on Jarvis Creek

Across the nation, many communities are struggling to provide quality housing options that are affordable to their essential workforce. Teachers, nurses, first responders, and public safety professionals can no longer afford to live in the place they serve, driving high commute times and disconnecting workers from their communities. In some cases, businesses and local governments find it nearly impossible to attract qualified individuals to fill key jobs.

The Town of Hilton Head Island recognized the challenges their essential workforce was facing. The island’s long-term economic and cultural sustainability was being threatened, and they sought a partner who shared their vision: an interconnected Hilton Head Island community where all residents live where they work, thrive with a high quality of life, remain connected to the island they sustain, and belong to a neighborhood they’re proud to call home.

Unveiling Northpoint on Jarvis Creek

Through a public-private partnership between the town and OneStreet Residential, Northpoint on Jarvis Creek was born: an interconnected, mixed-income neighborhood built to support these essential workforce housing needs while reflecting the values and character of the town.

At least 50% of the units will cater for households earning between 60 to 80% of the Area Median Income (AMI); the remaining homes will be slated for between 80 to 150% AMI.

As the architect, landscape architect, and site planner behind the design, we’re proud to collaborate with the leadership team to help support the island’s long-term vitality.

Behind the Design

The homes are thoughtfully designed to reflect the island’s standards of quality and environmental stewardship, creating a welcoming community of diverse residents who keep the island running.

These 3-story walkup buildings are viewed from The Preserve, a portion of the site set aside as open space that includes a playground and dog park nestled among mature trees.

The long and narrow 11-acre site and limited access points influence the site design to create street-oriented architecture along parking streets, providing a safe and social atmosphere, with open space features framed by the buildings in the plan. A series of community gathering nodes are spaced at regular intervals, connected by open space and trails, and amenities throughout the neighborhood that include a community pool, event lawn, community gardens, nature-play playground, and dog run area.

In this view of the primary vehicular arrival to the community, the 3-story walkup buildings frame the street entering the site. The building to the left houses the community center that includes the leasing office, community gathering spaces, fitness spaces, and access to the courtyard pool.

The community includes a mix of housing types, comprised of 1, 2, to 3-bedroom homes within three building types. The architectural style is inspired by the Lowcountry vernacular typical of Hilton Head Island and the surrounding region, with roofs that include pitched hips, Dutch gables, and shed roof forms supported by character-appropriate brackets, while Bahama shutters and louvers add texture and color to the buildings.

A community green is framed by 2-story townhomes as the primary community gathering space. Across the street are the community gardens, pool house, and a passive open space for gathering and play, punctuated by specimen live oak trees.

The landscape design concept utilizes symmetrical and formal planting arrangements at the core of the site. Native and adaptive specifics create a refined, welcoming atmosphere, and as the planting moves outward, it gradually shifts to a more organic composition of coastal beauty that blends seamlessly with the existing natural ecology. This gradient in the design enhances the aesthetic appeal while supporting local wildlife, stormwater absorption, and coastal resilience, offering residents a lush environment that works harmoniously with the natural beauty of the site.

A New Standard For Workforce Housing

As the first dedicated workforce housing neighborhood on Hilton Head Island, Northpoint on Jarvis Creek will set a new standard in workforce housing development that will serve as a model for communities nationwide, showing what’s possible when a municipality invests in the people who sustain it.

Northpoint on Jarvis Creek has officially broken ground and is slated to welcome its first residents in 2027.