Your Future Neighbor: A Conversation with Kevin Dougherty, Developer of Eastfield

At Local70, we believe that every great place begins with people — the ones who live here, the ones who invest here, and the ones who imagine what’s possible long before a single foundation is poured. Eastfield in Selma is one of those places. It’s not just a development project; it’s a regional catalyst — bringing new jobs, new retailers, new dining options, and a new sense of destination to Johnston County.

We sat down with Kevin Dougherty of AdVenture Development — the developer behind Eastfield — to learn what brought him here, what he sees coming next, and why he believes Selma and Smithfield are positioned for long-term growth.

Kevin's Journey to Johnston

Kevin didn’t arrive here as a developer — he arrived as a visitor, then a resident, and eventually an investor who believed the area was ready for something bigger.

“I came chasing a girl… and I’ve been coming back for 38 years.”

That “girl” became his wife, Hope — and Selma became home. In 2004, after selling a portfolio of properties in Pittsburgh, Kevin and his family moved south to launch a new company. And when it came to the name, Kevin’s family said:

"You always like taking us on adventures” so that's where he landed — AdVenture Development

Why Eastfield? Why Selma?

If you ask Kevin why he chose Selma for a project of this scale, he won’t start with sentiment — he’ll start with data.

Selma sits in the middle of the Eastern Seaboard, directly off I-95, where 96 million people travel every year. For Kevin, the opportunity wasn’t just population growth — it was destination potential.

“Everybody’s coming through here at one point or another. We’ve got to create something that pulls them off the highway — gives them a place to stay, gives them a taste of North Carolina.”

Add to that Johnston County’s growth — from 60,000 residents in the late 1980s to well over 225,000 today — and the timing was right.

What's Coming to Eastfield

What began as a vision has now become one of the region’s most ambitious mixed-use developments.

“We’re already entitled for over 3 million square feet of business park, retail, medical, senior living, multifamily, single-family, hotels, restaurants — even our own utilities.”

Eastfield is not a single-phase project — it’s a long-range community anchor designed to bring jobs, services, and new tax base to Selma and the surrounding region.

Living Local: Why People Choose Johnston County

Growth is only part of the story — quality of life is the rest. For Kevin and his family, Johnston County offered something they couldn’t find elsewhere: access to everything, without giving up what matters.

“I don’t think people realize how good we have it here. Every once in a while my wife will say, ‘you look like you need a beach day’ — and we’ll be in Emerald Isle by 9 AM and home for dinner.”

The schools, the churches, the restaurants, the small-town feel — it all adds up to a lifestyle that feels both connected and grounded.

Building with Community in Mind

Kevin is clear about what development shouldn’t be — transactional, isolated, or imposed.

“You can’t do anything in a vacuum — you’ve got to invite everybody to the table. We have a responsibility to the community to deliver more than concrete and asphalt.”

From early meetings with town staff and residents, to designing a project that builds tax base rather than just rooftops, the goal has always been to make Eastfield a regional asset, not just a real estate deal.

A Message to Future Residents & Businesses

If you ask Kevin why someone should move, build or launch a business here, he keeps it simple:

“Give it a try. I can’t think of a better place to launch something from than here. If you’re willing to invest in this community, this community will invest in you.”

What's Open - and What's Coming Next

Business	Status	Open / Projected Date
Academy Sports + Outdoors	Open	Oct 2024
Burlington	Open	Oct 2024
Five Below	Open	Oct 2024
Hobby Lobby	Open	Oct 11, 2024
Marshalls	Open	Oct 17, 2024
Old Navy	Open	Oct 2024
Ross Dress for Less	Open	Oct 2024
Ulta Beauty	Open	Oct 2024
Panda Express	Opening	Fall 2025
BJ’s Wholesale Club	Under Construction	Opening 2026
Target	Under Construction	Spring 2026
Chick-fil-A	Announced	Spring 2026
Starbucks	Under Construction	Late Summer 2026
Longhorn	Under Construction	Spring 2026
Olive Garden	Under Construction	Spring 2026
Sheetz	Under Construction	2026
Men’s Warehouse	Under Construction	2026
Aspen Dental	Under Construction	2026
Whataburger	Under Construction	Fall 2026

We’re grateful to Kevin for sharing his story — and even more grateful for the work he’s doing to help shape the next chapter of Johnston County’s growth.

Eastfield is more than a destination; it’s a preview of the growth, energy, and economic opportunity ahead for the Selma–Smithfield corridor. And like every great project, it starts with people willing to imagine what comes next.

Stay tuned for more “Future Neighbor” conversations as we continue meeting the people shaping the places we’ll soon call home