Article from Charlottesville Business Journal, Monday, June 24, 2013
NATE DELESLINE III/THE DAILY PROGRESS – Charlie Armstrong is vice president of land development for Southern Development, which is building the Dunlora Forest neighborhood.
NATE DELESLINE III/THE DAILY PROGRESS
Developers and local real estate agents said a prime location close to downtown and appealing design elements are driving strong sales and interest in Dunlora Forest.
Work is ongoing to finish the first homes in the community, which is just outside the city line on East Rio Road. Site work on the project began in late November and construction on homes began in April. The first homes should be ready for occupancy in about three weeks.
When completed, Dunlora Forest will have 99 residential units.
Charlie Armstrong, vice president of land development for Albemarle County-based Southern Development, said about 20 units have been sold. Homes will start around $369,000.
Various styles are available and all of the homes will employ elements of universal design. That design style has few or no steps to enter the home’s main living area, which is usually all on one floor. Wide doors, hallways and good lighting round out the functionality, according to the National Association of Home Builders.
Although the features are targeted toward older adults, Armstrong said the design elements appeal to all. There won’t be a community clubhouse, but Armstrong said that’s OK, because existing amenities will serve residents’ needs.
“The people who are living here are people who go out, who are going to their own gym, they’re going downtown. They’re walking to play golf or tennis at Pen Park.”
Last week, the site was a flurry of activity, with heavy machinery, stone masons, electricians, drywall installers and painters at work. The overall site is 22 acres. And true to its name, seven acres of the property will be preserved as forest.
Armstrong said the interest in the project is a sign that the housing market continues to move in a positive direction.
“I don’t think we’ll ever go back to the 2005-2006 … levels of sales in new homes and existing homes, and, frankly, I don’t think many of us in our industry want to go back to that,” said Armstrong, who has been in the industry for nearly 20 years.
“What we’re seeing now is a much more sustainable, steady demand. It’s not completely comfortable yet, but it is enough to give everybody a sense of optimism about the future, and it’s at a level that, frankly, I think our market could sustain for a long, long time,” Armstrong said.
“That neighborhood is certainly going strong,” said Anita Dunbar, with Montague Miller and treasurer of the Charlottesville Area Association of Realtors. “I think the close proximity to the city is going to be a big deal.” Dunbar has been a Realtor for nearly 30 years.
Dunbar said any new developments that hit the mark on location, amenities and price will be successful in the current market.
“I’m finding that people who have lived in larger, more expensive homes are saying, ‘we don’t need that anymore.’”
Linda Broadbent, an agent with Real Estate III, has not only sold homes in the development, but plans to move there herself.
“I am in town and I wanted to stay in town,” said Broadbent, who has been a Realtor for more than 20 years. “My office is five minutes away, my church is five minutes away, so I wanted to keep that kind of convenience that I have.”
“I work with a lot of seniors and people for years have been asking for this kind of development,” said Broadbent.
Exterior landscaping and lawn care are included in Dunlora Forest’s maintenance package. Broadbent said not having to maintain a yard was a major factor in her decision to move.
“On Saturday, think of all the things that go on in Charlottesville. Who wants to be sitting on a riding lawnmower for two hours? I’ve been there and done that.”
“You still can have a garden in the front or back yard,” Armstrong said. “There’s a community flower garden that’ll be up in the front, and a community vegetable garden that’ll be in the back, so for those folks who really want to dig in the dirt, there will be opportunities.”
