What is McNair Heights?

BACKGROUND

McNair Heights is Habitat for Humanity of Goldsboro-Wayne's new subdivision development project. This new neighborhood is being built in Goldsboro, along Dr. H.E. McNair Street off Harris Street, within the historic African-American community known as Webbtown. Other surrounding community landmarks are New Stoney Hill Church, First African Baptist Church and St. Andrew's Episcopal Church.

But for the origins of the name, Dr. H.E. McNair Street and our name, McNair Heights, we turn to New Stoney Hill Church. Originally founded in 1903 near what is now the intersection of Stoney Hill Road and US 117 N., New Stoney Hill United Holy Church was moved to its current location in 1963. Then in 1965, the Rev. Dr. H.E. McNair was named assistant pastor and in 1974 was appointed senior pastor, serving the congregation and the community for nearly 57 years until his passing in 2021.

“He loved Stoney Hill. His whole life was his mission to do the work of God,” said his widow and longtime Habitat Goldsboro-Wayne Board member and supporter, Veda McNair.

And for him that extended beyond just preaching the Gospel inside the church to embracing folks and trying to provide for their needs.

“His dream was that we would build some type of housing for low-income people, and even more specifically, the elderly. We never got to do that, but that’s what he wanted,” Veda said.

But while the Rev. Dr. H.E. McNair and New Stoney Hill Church may not have been able to build homes themselves, the church does have a long history with Habitat for Humanity, beginning in 1995 when Ms. Jessie McNeil, a long-time church member, was Habitat for Humanity of Greater Goldsboro’s second homeowner.

“I can see her with people – children and adults – following her to the church,” Veda said. “And I remember my husband going through the house, praying and anointing very room. That was our first experience with Habitat and that was a joyous occasion.”

And now Habitat Goldsboro-Wayne is preparing continue the example set with Ms. McNeal to fulfill at least part of Dr. McNair’s vision – naming this new neighborhood for him and building a mixed-income neighborhood, focused on providing homeownership opportunities to families in our community.

“The dream didn’t die. The vision lives on and it lives on through what Habitat is doing. It’s not ours, but the mission is being fulfilled and we’re happy about that,” Veda said.

TIMELINE:

• Fall 2022: Offer made on property & environmental / feasibility studies begins
• Winter 2023: Property purchased & environmental / feasibility studies completed
• Fall 2023: Engineering & Phase 1 planning work begins
• Spring 2024: Community forums (informational meetings & listening sessions) held
• Fall 2024: McNair Heights Advisory Team created & begins meeting
• Spring 2025: Phase 1 submitted for permitting & lot clearing and site prep for Phase 1 begins
• Summer 2025: McNair Heights Advisory Team completes Webbtown Community Engagement Guide
• Fall 2025: Infrastructure work on Dr. H.E. McNair Street & Berry Street extension begins
• Winter 2026: Home building on Phase 1A along Dr. H.E. McNair Street begins
• Summer 2026: First McNair Heights home closes
• Fall 2026: Infrastructure work projected to be complete
• Winter 2027: First homes on Berry Street extension expected to begin

PHASE 1

Plans for the infrastructure construction of Phase 1 (rendering & layout above) features 31 single-family lots - at least 25 of which will be Habitat homes, with the remainder to be sold to private builders for market-rate development to create a mixed-income neighborhood.

The land acquisition, environmental and feasibility work, and infrastructure construciton for this project, which have totaled about $2.5 million, have been paid for with the help of the City of Goldsboro's federal Community Development Block Grant allotment, the Golden LEAF Foundation, state funds through Habitat for Humanity of North Carolina, and Habitat Goldsboro-Wayne's own reserve funds. This infrastructure work has included new water lines and sewer lines, the installment of a new road, sidewalk and curb/gutter and storm water system along Berry Street extension, as well as sewer and road rehab work along Dr. H.E. McNair Street. 

The construction of these 25 Habitat homes is projected to cost approximately $4 million, with a completion goal of the end of calendar year 2029. To make this possible, Habitat is undertaking its most ambitious major gifts fundraising campaign ever with a goal of $2 million by the end of CY29. If interested in helping us meet this goal, please contact Marketing and Resource Development Director Stephanie Lack at slack@habitatgoldsboro.org.

PHASES 2 & 3

But even with Phase 1 still newly underway, we will soon begin to turn our attention to Phases 2 & 3. But what really has us excited is the blank space on the map. That space is currently mostly wooded and is something of a blank slate. We know it can hold between 50-60 additional single-family units. We know we want to some of those units to be designed for seniors as they age in place. And we know we want to be responsive to the needs of the community and the voices of our McNair Heights Advisory Team. If you have a direct connection to the community in and immediately surrounding McNair Heights and would like to be part of the McNair Heights Advisory Team, please contact Volunteer and Community Engagement Coordinator Javier Murillo at jmurillo@habitatgoldsboro.org.

More Information

If you are interested in applying for homeownership in this community, you can learn more about our application process here. If you are living in this community and are interested in our homeowner home repairs, you can learn more about our critical home roof repair program here.

If you are a developer or a home builder and would like to discuss partnering on this project, we are interested in potentially selling parts of this property and we'd love to talk to you, too. Please email mwhittle@habitatgoldsboro.org.

If you'd like to make a donation to support this effort, you can do so here and we thank you for your interest and support!

First wall raised by a dedicated group of volunteers from West Pharmaceuticals in January 2026

Equal Housing Opportunity Statement: We are pledged to the letter and spirit of U.S. Policy for the achievement of equal housing opportunity throughout the Nation. We encourage and support an affirmative advertising and marketing program in which there are no barriers to obtaining housing because of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, handicap, familial status or national origin.