As the Triangle continues to grow, the arc of fringe cities surrounding the region will start to evolve. Goldsboro provides an ample amount infill possibilities.
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Continuing our Triangle Fringe City series with a look at the future of Goldsboro. Be sure to check out the introduction, Henderson, Rocky Mount, and Wilson features if you missed them.
Goldsboro is a city of roughly 35,000 about 55 miles Southeast of Raleigh and 80 miles Southeast of Durham. The population has been slowly declining from it’s high of 40,000 in the past few decades. Goldsboro is located at the interchange of I-795 and Future I-42 giving it direct access to I-95, the Coast and Raleigh. The city – like many in this area really owes it’s early growth and development to the railroad industry. More recently, the city is known for it’s military prescience with Seymour Air Force Base being just outside of Downtown.
The Downtown features a typical tree-lined wide main street with early 20th century brick buildings, many of which have fallen victim to surface lots and blight.
Like other cities of this size in North Carolina, the Downtown has seen a decline since the uprising of the automobile industry uphanded most commercial activity to strip centers on the edge of town.
This feels even more apparent in Goldsboro unfortunately with dozens of centers on the outskirts of the city but not much going on in the historic core.
Within the walkshed of Downtown you’ll find dozens of three bedroom properties for under $300,000, including this absolute classic for $70,000(!). It needs work but hard to even find land for that price these days.
Looking toward the future
Goldsboro being an hour from Raleigh puts it out of normal commute range. With the increased housing pressure in the Triangle and increased in hybrid work, it may become an attractive destination in the coming years. Despite being further than most Triangle sprawl based subdivisions, we’ll face a better future producing dense infill in the fringe cities.
Goldsboro’s mix underused parcels and grid system supports mixed-use growth within the walkshed of Downtown. There are dozens of acres of possibility for infill development providing residents the opportunity for a car-lite lifestyle.
Stay tuned next time as we explore the future of Selma and Smithfield.
Cover photo via GoogleEarth
Phil Veasley is a registered Professional Engineer in NC and GA. Opinions and insights are my own and are not representative of my employer or any organization. Any ideas displayed on this site are purely that – just ideas to help improve the future of the built environment and begin discussions.
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Phil Veasley 
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