Slowly but surely, Tartan Ridge in northwest Dublin is transforming from a housing development into a neighborhood.
With 80 homes completed of the 270 that will be built, the 189-acre development across Hyland-Croy Road from Glacier Ridge Metro Park in Union County is a big draw for buyers.
When it’s finished, homes of various design and sizes priced from $400,000 to $900,000 will fill the rolling landscape among 2,000 native trees. The development plan, formulated by Edwards Land Company, suggests the homes will offer a style reminiscent of finer American and European homes built from the late 1700s through the early 1900s. There are curved boulevards, brick sidewalks to homes, a small village look for some homes and lots of access to open areas for pastime and recreation. Edwards also developed the Ballantrae neighborhood on open, flat farm fields.
Homes at Tartan Ridge, site of the 2009 Parade of Homes, feature unique architectural designs. Scott Shively, president of Truberry Custom Homes, says design requirements are such that he’s created eight new designs.
“They’re totally new,” Shively says. “We have never done them before.”
Two are built and two more have been sold. He describes the houses as “very unique, very classy. They’re pretty awesome.”
The homes have carefully designed exteriors as well as wide-open interiors with 10-foot ceilings and many amenities built in without being overly large, Shively says. They range from 3,200 to 4,000 square feet.
Buyers now “are less concerned about the price per square foot,” Shively says. “Instead, they want to know what they can get in their home without making it really large.”
The Tartan Ridge exterior design concept to him “is akin to New Albany – but different and very authentic.”
The housing lots encompass 60 percent of the land and are almost all sold. The remaining 40 percent is dedicated to open space for ponds, bike and walking paths. There will be a commercial area nearby for convenient shopping.
Charlie Driscoll, project manager for Edwards, says streets and utilities are in for 80 percent of the development. The housing market is getting hot, he says, and he expects the project to be built out within four to five years.
Tartan Ridge was conceived and started several years ago, but progressed little because of the housing slump. Now, interest is growing.
“It’s almost like 2005,” says Driscoll. “There’s hope for the housing market.”
Development homes are in a homeowners’ association run by Driscoll and the company, but the association eventually will be in the hands of owners, probably when about 75 percent of the homes are sold.
“We’ll turn it over whenever they want it,” Driscoll says, knowing that interest usually comes later rather than sooner.
Twice, the company has sponsored family outings with catered food and refreshments in one of the neighborhood open spaces.
“It’s a nice chance for neighbors to get to meet each other,” says Driscoll.
While much of the development is under construction, Driscoll describes the completed part as “pretty nice right now.”
Neil Rogers, vice president of Bob Webb Group, notes that “there’s not much left that’s a big draw in Dublin” in the way of new home sites and adds that the schools are an attraction for Tartan Ridge. Glacier Ridge Elementary School is located adjacent to the neighborhood, a point mentioned by all who discuss the community.
The proximity to Glacier Ridge Metro Park, which is right across Hyland-Croy Road from the main entrance to Tartan Ridge, is another big selling point.
All homes must have architectural features on all sides and only natural materials – such as stone, bricks and concrete siding – may be used on exteriors, both important points for prospective residents.
Of course, the development is near several golf courses, both public and private, as well. And the planned reopening of the Corazón fitness center and club just to the south would be an added amenity to the neighborhood, Shively says.
In addition, the development is only a few minutes from U.S. Rt. 33 and I-270, without the speed restrictions that would be imposed by the need to drive through other developments.
“If you work in parts of Dublin or Downtown, it’s easy,” Shively says.
The commercial area will benefit Tartan Ridge and nearby developments because it will be a place to buy “the stuff you need every day,” Shively says. Eventually, he says, Jerome Village, a huge development coming on line to the north, will have a much larger commercial and shopping area.
Stavroff Land & Development Inc. controls the 17-acre commercial tract that will be developed as soon as residential tracts in the area fill in.
Matt Stavroff, company president, says there’s no timeline to build the neighborhood center or to determine what kinds of stores will be in it. He adds that the center – expected to be between 30,000 and 40,000 square feet – will be accompanied by an office building of 10,000 to 15,000 square feet, probably for medical offices. And, he happily notes, “There will be gasoline” and likely a convenience store in two to three years.
Eventually, Stavroff says, Hyland-Croy will be a major connection between routes 42 and 33.
Duane St. Clair is a contributing editor. Feedback welcome at gbishop@cityscenemediagroup.com.
