24 October . 2017
Building a Community Lifestyle
New Homes and Ideas Magazine is acclaimed as the “Triangle’s ultimate guide to new homes, home builders and new home ideas.” On October 5, Briar Chapel took the spotlight in the magazine’s Community Showcase editorial, “Building a Community Lifestyle,” as one of the leading master-planned communities in the Triangle.
The feature highlighted Briar Chapel’s master-planned design, its innovative home offerings, the robust residential and commercial lifestyle options, and of course, our beloved parks, trails and green spaces! Below are a few excerpts from the article; we were honored to be a part of this wonderful feature!
What is a Master Planned Community?
Master-planned communities got their start nationwide in the 1960s, clustering homes together on often smaller lots with shared public green spaces in large developments. Sidewalks and walking trails connect the communities’ amenities. Dues are paid to homeowners associations to help maintain common areas. And covenants guide and help maintain the overall character and architecture of the area. While the basic concepts have remained the same through the decades, today’s master-planned communities have evolved into resorts all their own. Open green spaces and wooded areas are abundant while homes are clustered in numerous neighborhoods anchored by clubhouses, schools and commercial growth.
… Briar Chapel is located between Chapel Hill and Pittsboro in Chatham County. The developer is Newland Communities, the largest private developer of planned residential and urban mixed-use communities in the country. Opening in 2008, Briar Chapel now has 1,300 homes with a projected total of 2,500. Homes offer flexible floor plans from 1,400- to 5,000+ square feet at prices from $200,000 to more than $900,000. Nine** builders offer single-family detached homes, homes for ages 55-plus and custom homes. It is designed to appeal to first-time homebuyers, move-up buyers and empty-nesters as well as buyers.
“We offer an appealing lifestyle that is easy, relaxing and convenient all in one community,” says Shannon McSwiney, Newland’s director of marketing for the Carolinas region. “It is a unique area that reflects the vibrant arts and nature of the region.”
The Importance of Green Space
Focusing on “green” living, Briar Chapel helps set the tone with a mile-plus long, winding, tree-lined road into the development. Twenty-five miles of hiking and biking trails and 12 community parks are available as well as a community garden. The Briar Club is LEED Silver certified and homebuilders are required to comply with stringent National Association of Home Builders Green program standards, McSwiney says. ... Various art installations highlight the community, including the new Constellation Park with boulders shaping the various planets.
The five-acre Great Meadow Park links to many neighborhoods by trails. Community-wide activities in the park include outdoor movies, concerts, youth and adult triathlons and the 10th annual Pepper Festival this fall. Other outdoor activities include tennis courts, pickleball courts, basketball courts, horseshoe pits, and even a dog park.
Clustered at the entrance to Briar Chapel at US 15-501 is Veranda, a retail and commercial area with restaurants, professional offices and a private pre-school. More development is planned along the roadway. … Briar Chapel has been named one of the top 50 best master-planned communities in the country.
But, the real kudos come from the residents who decide to call these master-planned communities “home” each and every day. From pools to hiking trails to parks, communities all over the Triangle offer residents a resort lifestyle without ever having to pack their bags.
Go on. Dive in. Get a taste of what it’s like to live at Briar Chapel with our Resident for a Day program!
**Briar Chapel partners with a team of seven award-winning builders, including Homes By Dickerson, Garman Homes, Fresh Paint by Garman Homes, Terramor Homes, Saussy Burbank, David Weekley and Encore by David Weekley Homes.