A new development on a long vacant piece of property in North Bellmore is almost half sold, with the 79 single-family homes now commanding prices north of $700,000.

About 40 percent of Country Pointe North Bellmore, which the Beechwood Organization has been building on a 17-acre former Army base that closed in 1996, has sold through pre-sales, says the developer’s spokeswoman Kathy Sheck.

“It really reflects that there’s a pent-up demand for these types of new homes in Nassau County,” Sheck says. “We’re just coming out of a much lower market. It shows people have been waiting.”

Since the former Bellmore Logistics Activity Facility closed 17 years ago, nearby residents have complained about the dusty, overgrown property. Beechwood, which has built several developments under the Country Pointe brand, took ownership of the property in June.

The four- to five-bedroom, 2½-bathroom homes were priced around $550,000 for buyers who only saw the floor plans, Sheck says. Prices now start at $699,000 and can go up depending on the type of options buyers choose. Each home features a gourmet kitchen, designer wood cabinetry, granite countertops and stainless steel appliances.

Most of the sales have come from word-of-mouth, and most of the buyers are young families. There is a home geared toward empty-nesters, with a first-floor master suite and mostly single-level living, with guest bedrooms upstairs, but that hasn’t been the strongest seller, Sheck says.