Stone Gables at Forest Oaks

 

April 19, 2007

Rhino Real Estate
By Zoe Murphy

Mid-Atlantic Development Group is bringing its twin homes to Forest Oaks. These one-story units have plenty of privacy, as they share only a garage wall with their neighbors.

Like most good ideas, the inspiration for brothers Mark and Todd Schwarz’s Stone Gables home designs came from a personal need: Their mother was looking for a place to live in Asheboro and couldn’t find exactly what she wanted. “In talking with our mother, we decided to design a home based on what she and her friends needed,” said Mark Schwarz, president of Mid Atlantic Development Group. “The rest as they say, is history.”

What the brothers did, in addition to assisting their mother, was uncover a good business. “It made us aware of a need,” said Schwarz. Mid-Atlantic Development Group’s first community was Lexington Commons in Asheboro. From there, the company has gone on to develop communities around the triad, including Stone Gables at Elon University, Stone Gables at Pisgah Church, Stone Gables at Jamesford and Smothers Place (on Elm Street across from Natty Greene’s). The company’s newest development is Stone Gables at Forest Oaks.

“We are excited about Stone Gables at Forest Oaks,” said Schwarz. “With the opening of the new loop around Greensboro, people will be amazed at how convenient Forest Oaks is to Greensboro and Burlington.”

The Standard Stone Gables design is a one-story twin home with three bedrooms and two bathrooms. The plan is 2,000 square feet. An optional second-story bonus room is available that can be made into a fourth bedroom with another bathroom. The bonus room adds 480 square feet to the home and buyers can also add a 240 square-foot sunroom. The homes start at $235,000.

“Lots of people add the bonus room as a hobby room,” said Schwarz. “Or they use the extra space as a place for the grandkids or guests to stay.” The master bedroom features a garden tub, separate shower and dual sinks. There is also a large walk-in closet. The kitchen offers a full appliance package, including a microwave and refrigerator.

“We try to specialize in niche products,” explained Schwarz. Stone Gables at Forest Oaks is the company’s fifth twin home community. The development will offer 46 homes. In addition, a 25,000-square-foot retail center is being built nearby.

The homes are designed with empty nesters in mind, but Schwarz has found the designs appeal to single female buyers as well. “The Stone Gable Communities offer a nice, safe, maintenance-free neighborhood,” he explained. The development is not restricted however, and several homes have been sold to families with children.

One of the things Schwarz feels makes their plans different is that Mid-Atlantic’s twin homes share only on common wall and that is the garage wall. “Most people try and use a narrow footprint, so they use less land than we do,” said Schwarz. “But that causes there to be more common walls. Our designs are unique in that means.” This aspect of the design allows for a quieter, more private living space than most twin homes offer.

The community gives buyers a great value for their money, according to Schwarz. “We develop the land, build the homes ourselves and sell the product ourselves,” he said.

Mid-Atlantic Development Group’s design center is located downtown Greensboro in the old Blumenthal’s building. The company has two full-time designers to help buyers customize their homes with everything from lighting to plumbing fixtures.

“We’ve done a lot of custom things that people dream of,” Schwarz said. Schwarz said everything about Stone Gables at Forest Oaks is done like a custom home, from the cabinetry to the moldings used. Adding to the appeal of the homes, Schwarz describes the greatroom has having 12-foot ceilings with crown moldings and big oversized windows that let a lot of light into the homes. The exteriors are all brick and the community is maintenance free, with all exterior care provided through the homeowners association. The monthly fees for the homeowners association average $165 and include digital cable and HBO service.

The brothers recently updated the floor plans for the Stone Gables designs. They revised the elevations as well, and steered the designs toward a French country look away from the earlier, more contemporary style they had used. Owned by both Mark and Todd Schwarz, Mid-Atlantic Development Group

has been in business for six years. Mark Schwarz explained, “We started the business as a side line and when we realized what a good product we had, we turned the business into a full-time venture.” He added, “We have had other developers copy our product, right down to the brick we use on the exterior, which is flattering.” Stone Gables at Forest Oaks will have a model open in early August. Until that time, interested buyers can visit the model at Stone Gables at Jamesford. It is located at 3 Gable Stone Lane and is open from 11 a.m. until 6 p.m. Thursday through Monday.

For more information, contact Zach Schwartz at 336-681-2582.

To get to Stone Gables at Jamesford, take I-40 to Guilford College Road exit and make a left at the top of the ramp. Next turn left on Stone Ridge Court into Stone Gables at Forest Oaks. Gable Stone Lane will be on the left.

To visit Stone Gables at Forest Oaks, take US 421 South toward forest oaks. Turn left onto Hagan-Stone Park Road. Next, turn left onto Liberty Road. The development is on the right, just past the Forest Oaks Country Club entrance.