Stone Gables model opens. Luxury unit smartly designed.

 

Stone Gables Luxury Villas start at $235,000. The model is open Thursday-Monday, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. For more information, call sales representative Zach Schwarz at 681-2582.

By Kim Cable Brafford
Forest Oaks Community Association

The model of Stone Gables Luxury Villas is now open, and it reveals a smart floor plan that’s sure to satisfy not only the older population that the developer is targeting, but homeowners of any age who want a low-maintenance space with flair.

Inside the front door, hardwood floors, 12-foot ceilings and two-piece crown molding accent a space worthy of the “luxury” moniker.

The living room, dining room and kitchen are open, making the space appear large and airy. And just as impressive as what you see when you walk in is what you don’t see that’s behind closed doors: loads of storage space.

“Most people are downsizing, so they have a lot of stuff,” explains Zach Schwarz, onsite sales representative for Mid Atlantic Development Group, which is building 46 units next to the main entrance to Forest Oaks. The company has built 100 similar units elsewhere in Greensboro and Jamestown, and it has listened to buyers’ comments, making adjustments to better meet the needs of its aging clientele.

The result is a spacious one-level villa with an intuitive floor plan that any hip twenty-something would be proud to call home. Yet each unit is equipped with the retiree in mind. Subtle features include wider doors for wheelchair access, lower light switches for the wheelchair bound, higher outlets so homeowners don’t have to bend as much, and a built-in seat in the master bathroom’s shower. Storage space in the 3-bedroom, 2 full-bath units is abundant for the downsizing family.

The master bedroom closet is “as big as my first apartment,” Zach jokes. One spare bedroom closet runs the length of an entire wall while the other bedroom features a walk-in. The kitchen pantry, linen and coat closets have double doors and are roomier than is typical. In addition to the storage space on the main level, each unit features a walk-up attic. An extended two-car garage is about five feet deeper than standard two-car garages, allowing room for a workbench or shelving unit.

And buyers have the option of adding more space to the base floor plan of 2,000 square feet.

“I’ve been using the word ‘downsizing’ for the past year, but a lot of people say, ‘I’m not downsizing, I’m rightsizing,’” Zach says.

Stone Gables is targeted, but not restricted, to older adults. The first day the model opened, on July 29, 10 couples dropped by to see inside. “It’s been through word of mouth,” Zach says, as Mid Atlantic had not begun to advertise Stone Gables when the unit opened.

Part of the appeal of Stone Gables is the level of customization homeowners have. Families can add a bonus room with full bath, sun room or screened in porch to the base unit. Kitchen cabinetry and countertops, paint colors, floors, light fixtures and floor plans are all flexible.

“We’d either love to try it or we’ve already done it,” says Zach.

So many options could overwhelm some homebuyers, but Mid Atlantic has that covered, too. Buyers receive 25 hours with an in-house designer. “There are so many choices, that most people like a little help from a pro,” Zach says.