CTroyMathis
20 February 2004, 04:18 AM
Planning for luxury
Southern-style Savannah development newest along U.S. Highway 380 corridor
07:44 AM CST on Thursday, February 19, 2004
By Dawn Cobb / Business Editor
http://www.dentonrc.com/sharedcontent/dws/drc/localnews/stories/DRC_Planning_for_luxury.91a123f.html
Palm trees line the entry to Savannah, the first sign that the newest massive housing development off U.S. Highway 380 east of Denton is trying to distinguish itself among new subdivisions in North Texas.
Brothers Donald and Phillip Huffines of Huffines Communities invited real-estate people from around the Dallas-Fort Worth area to take a look at the 1,000-acre Southern-style complex Thursday.
DRC/Hiroyuki Komae
Savannah is a major new housing development on East U.S. Highway 380 near the Collin County line.
Beyond the Southern theme, a three-story double slide twists into a water park as large as Denton’s new public swimming facility. Waterfalls, ponds and a stocked lake surround a three-story clubhouse complete with ballroom, three-screen movie room and juice bar.
When finished, the development will include about 3,800 homes ranging in price from $120,000 to $230,000. Along the U.S. 380 frontage, several restaurant sites have been set aside along with space for a shopping center with a design similar to old-style centers in Flower Mound and Southlake, the brothers said.
The theme-styled developments are attracting the attention of residents seeking resort-style living instead of settling into old-style neighborhoods, said Felicia Flippin, division sales manager for D.R. Horton, one of three companies building homes in the development.
"People really want a lifestyle now," she said.
Jim McBeth, a real estate agent from Plano, toured the model homes on display during Thursday’s grand opening.
"It has its own style," he said. "It’s unique."
Locating Savannah along a major growth corridor between Plano and Denton was a smart idea, McBeth said.
"Plano is built out, and the movement [of people] is heading west," he said.
Savannah’s proximity to the Dallas North Tollway, FM720, U.S. 380 and shops in Frisco, McKinney and Denton will be a draw, McBeth said.
"If you can be within an hour of your work, that’s good," he said. "That’s nothing now."
Savannah is one of two themed housing developments opened by Huffines Communities in the past year. Providence, several miles west of Savannah on U.S. 380, has sold about 560 homes since first opening its Cape Cod-style development last spring, said Donald Huffines.
"We positioned the communities differently," he said, noting that Savannah homes are about 20 percent more expensive than Providence. Providence has more timber and lakes while Savannah has more of a country-club feel, Huffines said.
Both built on unincorporated Denton County land, the two developments are part of the Denton County Fresh Water Supply District No. 10, a governing body with five directors elected by residents living in the district. The district assesses a property tax and has the authority to sell up to $237 million in bonds to pay for roads, water, sewer, storm drains, treat plants, and other services.
Savannah and Providence are two of at least four developments proposed for the 25-mile stretch along U.S. 380 between Denton and McKinney.
But the Huffines’ theme-styled developments could prove more appealing to people moving into North Texas from other states, said Elaine Preacher, a real estate agent in Frisco.
"It probably will take just the right buyer," she said. "So many young people living in apartments are looking for something just like this in this price range.
"You watch this little place," Preacher said. "They’ll snap it up like hotcakes."
Southern-style Savannah development newest along U.S. Highway 380 corridor
07:44 AM CST on Thursday, February 19, 2004
By Dawn Cobb / Business Editor
http://www.dentonrc.com/sharedcontent/dws/drc/localnews/stories/DRC_Planning_for_luxury.91a123f.html
Palm trees line the entry to Savannah, the first sign that the newest massive housing development off U.S. Highway 380 east of Denton is trying to distinguish itself among new subdivisions in North Texas.
Brothers Donald and Phillip Huffines of Huffines Communities invited real-estate people from around the Dallas-Fort Worth area to take a look at the 1,000-acre Southern-style complex Thursday.
DRC/Hiroyuki Komae
Savannah is a major new housing development on East U.S. Highway 380 near the Collin County line.
Beyond the Southern theme, a three-story double slide twists into a water park as large as Denton’s new public swimming facility. Waterfalls, ponds and a stocked lake surround a three-story clubhouse complete with ballroom, three-screen movie room and juice bar.
When finished, the development will include about 3,800 homes ranging in price from $120,000 to $230,000. Along the U.S. 380 frontage, several restaurant sites have been set aside along with space for a shopping center with a design similar to old-style centers in Flower Mound and Southlake, the brothers said.
The theme-styled developments are attracting the attention of residents seeking resort-style living instead of settling into old-style neighborhoods, said Felicia Flippin, division sales manager for D.R. Horton, one of three companies building homes in the development.
"People really want a lifestyle now," she said.
Jim McBeth, a real estate agent from Plano, toured the model homes on display during Thursday’s grand opening.
"It has its own style," he said. "It’s unique."
Locating Savannah along a major growth corridor between Plano and Denton was a smart idea, McBeth said.
"Plano is built out, and the movement [of people] is heading west," he said.
Savannah’s proximity to the Dallas North Tollway, FM720, U.S. 380 and shops in Frisco, McKinney and Denton will be a draw, McBeth said.
"If you can be within an hour of your work, that’s good," he said. "That’s nothing now."
Savannah is one of two themed housing developments opened by Huffines Communities in the past year. Providence, several miles west of Savannah on U.S. 380, has sold about 560 homes since first opening its Cape Cod-style development last spring, said Donald Huffines.
"We positioned the communities differently," he said, noting that Savannah homes are about 20 percent more expensive than Providence. Providence has more timber and lakes while Savannah has more of a country-club feel, Huffines said.
Both built on unincorporated Denton County land, the two developments are part of the Denton County Fresh Water Supply District No. 10, a governing body with five directors elected by residents living in the district. The district assesses a property tax and has the authority to sell up to $237 million in bonds to pay for roads, water, sewer, storm drains, treat plants, and other services.
Savannah and Providence are two of at least four developments proposed for the 25-mile stretch along U.S. 380 between Denton and McKinney.
But the Huffines’ theme-styled developments could prove more appealing to people moving into North Texas from other states, said Elaine Preacher, a real estate agent in Frisco.
"It probably will take just the right buyer," she said. "So many young people living in apartments are looking for something just like this in this price range.
"You watch this little place," Preacher said. "They’ll snap it up like hotcakes."