Asteria: a deep dive on the new Disney neighborhood
+ The Grab Bag
There’s a new neighborhood in town and for some reason I find it to be a little spooky. Less Mickey’s Halloween spooky, more AUTO in WALL-E spooky. The Pittsboro Board of Commissioners recently approved the first phase of the new Disney residential and entertainment community that’s been in the works for a few years. Since I first heard of this concept, I’ve been both intrigued and concerned. I’m not a Disney adult, and going once a year would be too much for me, so take my opinions with a grain of salt! To me, a Disney neighborhood makes sense if it’s near one of the parks. If you love Disney, I assume the benefit of this kind of property is living near, or on, the property of Disneyland or Walt Disney World. Easy access to the parks, quick trips to Disney Springs, tons of restaurants to choose from, events, and fireworks are the obvious selling points. So, what’s going on with the new Disney property in Pittsboro, North Carolina?
The neighborhood, dubbed Asteria,1 will cover 1,550 acres between Chatham Park’s North Village and the Haw River. This is only the second “Storyliving by Disney” community. The first is in California near Palm Springs. Purely coincidental, but we drove right by the California community, named Cotino,2 when we were in the Coachella Valley for Stagecoach earlier this year. Some of the property is still in development, but it looks like it’s nearly done. Most of the amenities are scheduled to open up this year. For what it’s worth our Lyft driver informed us that the locals are not happy about this neighborhood, but we didn’t get many details.
If you head to the “Storyliving by Disney” page, you can check out both developments. Here’s a quote from the senior vice president and general manager of Disney Signature Experiences Emerging Businesses.
“The announcement of the Asteria community builds upon strong initial interest for our first Storyliving by Disney community in California and will expand Disney-branded communities to the East Coast,” Claire Bilby said in a statement. “Our team has been working closely with Disney Imagineers to develop a unique vision for this project inspired by Walt Disney’s innate curiosity and North Carolina’s spirit of discovery.”
The Asteria homes are expected to go up for sale in 2027, so we’re still a ways out. So far, the website lists amenities, but they all sound like standard suburban living: clubhouse, wellness center, community garden, and trail system. The most unique amenity among that list is probably the trail system, but we’re lucky enough to be surrounded by greenways in North Carolina, so I don’t think it packs the punch it could elsewhere. The photos on the Asteria page are pretty typical: grandfather doing tai chi, wine night on the patio, blonde Cast Member3 handing a young boy a Goofy doll. Another day in Asteria. I did notice Tinker Bell isn’t photoshopped into any of these photos distributing pixie dust, so there’s already a distinct lack of magic in my opinion. Not as much “When You Wish Upon a Star” energy as a standard Disney website.
Cotino is much further along in development, so their site has an in-depth overview of amenities. I’m guessing we can expect some similar offerings for Asteria.4 As an initial matter, Cotino has its own Bay, which admittedly looks appealing. The renderings of Asteria show a large water feature also, so Asteria Bay seems like a give-in. Cotino Bay is described as the “jewel” of the Cotino community. It utilizes Crystal Lagoons® technology, and has swim zones, watercraft access, private beaches, a beach bar, and cabanas (all possibly subject to an additional fee). Crystal Lagoons® technology uses evaporation control for reduced water consumption, has less chemicals, can capture direct rainwater, and has low construction costs. Whatever you say Bob Iger! Other amenities include an equestrian themed dog park (picture rustic play structures), dining, shopping, and a 55+ community.
You can also become an Artisan Club Member. It’s voluntary, so don’t freak out, but, based on the description, you are a loser if you don’t become an Artisan Club Member. In all seriousness, I don’t think you would want to live in this community without being a member of this Club. The definition of “what would the neighbors think?”
The Artisan Club gives you access to additional restaurants, wellness center and sport courts, and a creative studio for special programming. You also get access to the Parr House, which is a replica of the Incredibles 2 house where you can host events. Absolutely hate that I’m desperate for an invite to a rager at the Parr House. The membership also gives you access to programs, classes, Disney entertainment and events, activities like culinary demonstrations and specially planned adventures, all while being served by Disney Cast Members. Will there be character experiences? I’m trying to speculative as to what “Disney entertainment and events” are outside of film screenings. This additional membership (it’s not part of your Association dues) will run you $20,000 + tax for your one-time initiation fee, and $11,000 + tax annually. There’s also a $1,000 food and beverage minimum, but I won’t scoff at that based on how much I eat out. That amount actually seems a bit low for a food and beverage minimum in the grand scheme of the neighborhood. Did I mention the membership includes periodic volunteer opportunities? How generous.
The Asteria—the more I write this word the more I’m torn on whether it reminds me more of listeria, or Wisteria Lane from Desperate Housewives—neighborhood promises a similar “club membership level.” I’m expecting similar amenities, but I’m interested to follow along while the website adds more information. The houses will range from $1-2 million. Based on the housing market in Raleigh and the surrounding areas, and the size of these homes, this is not an outrageous price. I couldn’t find any concrete information on monthly association dues.
When you boil it down, this is a waterfront, walkable community with enriching programming and opportunities for the whole family. So why do I immediately dislike this? I guess I feel weird about it because it’s so blatantly corporate and specifically branded as Disney. It’s so obviously dystopian. Stepford Wives-esque. It feels like a Black Mirror episode. Oddly enough I feel like I can’t even mention Black Mirror since even it has become Black Mirror. The show about nearly accurate dystopian futures is distributed by streaming conglomerate Netflix, which also puts out Tony Hinchcliffe, wildly unfunny MAGA comedian, specials. Everything leads back to the weird and dystopian these days. Dystopinception.
If a less obvious development company created this type of neighborhood I think I would probably be happy about it (as a concept to say nothing of the environmental impact and cost of living). A walkable neighborhood with green spaces? A built-in community that encourages people to get out of their homes and eat at restaurants, play pickleball, and watch lectures on animation? Sounds like something I would support.
Despite the above, I’m still freaked out about the concept. I hope someone I know (well, but not that well ya know?) moves there so I can at least go see it. I’m sure it will be pristine. I’m interested to hear more about how they staff the property. I think people love Disney because the service is known for being second to none. I have to think the homeowner’s association rules at this property will be unlike anything we’ve ever seen. How do you balance “the guest is always right” Disney magic with very specific guidelines that tell you what you can or cannot do with your own property? How do you maintain a Disney standard of living while also keeping one child in the group out of the Parr House because their parents aren’t Artisan Club Members? I’m sure everyone who lives here will be extremely reasonable and more than understanding!
I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention the environmental concerns associated with this development, specifically concerning the loss of existing forestland and Haw River pollution. The Haw River Assembly has been keeping up with the development and writing to Disney and the developers, DMB Development, about environmental preservation. The Haw River Basin has some of the highest levels of unregulated industrial chemicals like PFAS, so the concerns are real. You can read more about the potential environmental impact here.
I don’t really know how to feel about all of this outside of to say it all seems inevitable. Chatham Park, where the neighborhood is going, was already approved for 8,500 acres of mixed-use development. The Asteria community will be one of the many developments in this area. I guess it’s better than another strip mall Dollar Tree. What are your thoughts?
It’s The Grab Bag
I’m dying to see a Shoebill stork in person. They’re so freaky. Apparently there are a few at ZooTampa in Florida. My parents live outside of Tampa, so I’ll be making a pilgrimage down there to see one of these dinosaurs in person at some point.
Jose Andres has a new tinned fish line. Will be purchasing for our next tinned fish night!
When we were in the jewelry section of Victoria & Albert in London I fell in love with modern designer Solange. I just discovered she has a more inexpensive (though still a splurge) line of rings called Hotlips. I’m dying to buy one, so adding it to my wish list.
I really want to have a house party. It won’t be at the Parr House, but I hope my 950 square foot condo suffices. Cottie, Tino, and Asteria will all be there!
The Iceland 4-Day workweek is still going strong. When will it be our turn??
Cheers!
How many little girls will have this name by the year 2035?
Less solid as a name option, but I can still see it! “Hi I’m Tino, short for Cotino.”
The employees at Disney resorts are called Cast Members, and this is the same term they use on the Storyliving site.
I’ll be referring to them by their government names, Cotino and Asteria, rather than location.