A lot of people are looking for a simpler lifestyle.” Ashlyn Hines principal in Bristol Development Group Danny and Lindsey Pippin wanted a newly built house in the heart of the city. It needed to have a small green space that would leave their weekends free from yard work, and high-end finishes like granite countertops, stainless appliances, and tile and hardwood floors. One more thing: They wanted all this at a price that first-time homebuyers could afford. They found what they were looking for at Salemtown Cottages, a planned subdivision of 24 houses near downtown Nashville that is part of a wave of cottage developments in the city and near downtown Franklin. “We wanted to be in the hustle and bustle of things, ride our bikes downtown,” said Danny Pippin. “People can come and visit and see the attractions of downtown.” Best of both worlds Homebuilders are responding to a surge in interest in cottage developments from first-time buyers like the Pippins, downsizers moving from homes with more square footage and larger yards, and young professionals moving from a condominium. Cottage developments typically combine the privacy of living in a detached single-family home with the convenience of common green spaces.
“The benefits of living in a condominium and the benefits of living in a singlefamily home,” said Ashlyn Hines, a principal in Bristol Development Group, which is bringing the cottage home concept to Franklin. Several cottage developments are underway or planned in Nashville and Franklin. They include: Salemtown Cottages, planned by Aerial Development Group, MiKen Development and H.R. Properties along Rosa Parks Boulevard, several blocks north of the proposed site of the new Nashville Sounds ballpark. Acklen Park Cottages are under construction on a site adjacent to Sylvan Park. The development will include eight homes, each with three bedrooms, three full baths, hardwood floors and an attached garage. The projected price is $399,993. Village Real Estate Services is marketing the homes. Richland Station, a 40-home cottage development, is being planned by Core Development Services. It will be near Charlotte Pike on 54th Avenue in Sylvan Park. It will be Core’s fifth cottage development in the past seven years. Vandalia Cottages will be built by Bristol in downtown Franklin. The neighborhood will feature 17 homes built around a shared courtyard garden a short walk from Franklin’s Main Street. The homes are priced in the $300,000 to $400,000 range. “You can’t find that price point in downtown Franklin,” said Hines. Vandalia hasn’t broken ground yet, but buyers have already snapped up five of the cottages. “A lot of people are looking for a simpler lifestyle,” said Hines. At Acklen Park Cottages, construction only recently began, and three of the eight homes have already been sold, said Barbara Browning, a broker with Village Real Estate Services. “I’m buying one myself and planning to live there,” she said. The homes will feature second-floor balconies, three bedrooms with three full baths and two-car garages for just under $400,000. “This is filling a void in terms of price point,” said Browning. Outgrowth of urban movement Construction at Richland Station is expected to begin after the first of the year, said Andrew Beaird, Core’s vice president of development. The company expects to attract homebuyers who enjoy city living and want a low-maintenance home.
“They’re looking for a lifestyle and access to certain amenities,” said Beaird. “It’s a manifestation of the re-urbanization of Nashville.” Demand has been strong for Salemtown Cottages, said Britnie Turner, founder and president of Aerial Development Group. “We presold two in the first week” after announcing the project, she said. “And we haven’t even broken ground.” She believes homeowners are attracted by the prices — starting at $269,900 — and the sense of community in cottage developments. “You build around the idea of people interacting with each other. They feel they’re part of something,” said Turner. The Pippins, who are moving from the suburbs, are looking forward to living in a close-knit neighborhood. “It almost initiates a sense of community,” said Danny Pippin, “not so much like a subdivision.” ” A lot of people are looking for a simpler lifestyle.” Ashlyn Hines principal in Bristol Development Group Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction or distribution is prohibited without permission.
Abstract (Document Summary) Best of both worlds Homebuilders are responding to a surge in interest in cottage developments from first-time buyers like the Pippins, downsizers moving from homes with more square footage and larger yards, and young professionals moving from a condominium. The development will include eight homes, each with three bedrooms, three full baths, hardwood floors and an attached garage.
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