Friday, June 26, 2009

The Draw of Architectural Heritage at Homestead Preserve


Homestead Preserve “historic” residences range in value from $1 million to over $4 million^

Despite the slowdown in real estate sales and home construction nationwide, the mountain resort community of Hot Springs continues to draw well-to-do vacation home seekers, many of who have recently completed or are building second or third homes at the resort residential community of Homestead Preserve.

Located adjacent to the landmark resort, Homestead Preserve has earned much attention in recent years for its unusual commitment not just to environmental stewardship but to preserving the architectural legacy of the famed Springs Valley, a centuries-old healing and health escape centered on natural mineral springs.

After more than two years of intensive architectural research, the developers of Homestead Preserve, all of whom were involved in the creation of the award-winning community of Celebration, Fla., began work on a 450-home community in Bath County, designed to reflect the native historic architecture and landscaping of the surrounding mountains.

Situated on 2,300 scenic acres surrounding the villages of Hot Springs and Warm Springs, the development’s homes feature four distinct styles of historic architecture, which include Highland Classical, Highlands Farmhouse, English Romantic, and Highlands Arts and Crafts.

“I believe we have risen to the occasion of a challenging opportunity to create neighborhoods that blend seamlessly into the already existing community of Bath County,” says Homestead Preserve Co-General Manager Don Killoren. “The homes we are building today reflect the architecture that is already here and which has developed naturally over the course of the last two centuries. Not many developers take that kind of care when creating communities to blend the new right in with the old.”

To date, there are more than two dozen completed homes at Homestead Preserve, and seven more are under construction. All Homestead Preserve residences have met strict historic architecture guidelines that ensure they blend into or complement the natural landscape.

Working closely with Pittsburgh-based Urban Design Associates, Homestead Preserve has developed a Pattern Book that details the area’s rich architectural history, settlement patterns, and even native plants and trees appropriate for landscaping.

Architectural firms who contributed to the Pattern Book included Versaci Neumann + Partners, Middleburg; Robert Adam Architects, London; John Reagan Architects, Columbus, Ohio; Frazier Associates, Staunton; Jim Samsel Architects, Asheville; and Commonwealth Associates, Norfolk.

Homestead Preserve has won numerous accolades for its commitment to both historic preservation and environmental and cultural heritage stewardship.

Situated on sites ranging in size from half acre to 13 acres, Homestead Preserve “historic” residences range in value from $1 million to over $4 million. They have been constructed of natural materials including wood siding, stone, brick, timber, and stucco. All homes have been served by underground utilities to maintain the historic character of the landscape yet still feature state-of-the-art advances, including new “fiber-to-the-home” technology.

Homestead Preserve developers and Celebration Associates partners Charles Adams and Don Killoren were instrumental in the design and development of Celebration, Fla., which was hailed as the “Most Advanced Community in the Country from 1996-1998” by The Guinness Book of World Records.

For more information on Homestead Preserve sales, call 877-213-6491.

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