Standard Pacific Homes to build in Brightwalk at Historic Double Oaks

Standard Pacific Homes to build in Brightwalk at Historic Double Oaks

Charlotte, N.C.  December 9, 2011- The Housing Partnership, master developer of Brightwalk at Historic Double Oaks, a mixed-use neighborhood one mile north of Center City, has named Standard Pacific Homes to build the community’s first single-family homes and townhomes.

Standard Pacific Homes, an accomplished national builder will initially build three series of homes and townhomes with prices expected to range from $120,000 to more than $300,000.   “We had incredible interest from the builder community,” said Pat Garrett, president of the Housing Partnership.  “Standard Pacific Homes was appealing for many reasons including their commitment to creating a sense of community by starting 20 homes, homes of various price points and styles that we believe will be a precedent for Brightwalk and an evolving north end,” added Garrett.

Brightwalk is part of an evolving master plan for re-development of Double Oaks, a 98 acre community specifically addressed as part of the “applied innovation corridor” in the 2020 Vision Plan for Center City.  The re-development plan for the site includes more than 1,000 homes and apartments, parks and greenways, in addition to property that could accommodate shops, restaurants, and offices as Charlotte’s Center City expands and market conditions evolve.

Location and Amenities

The vision for Brightwalk is to create an active, healthy, and connected neighborhood with a rich mix of homes and amenities.  The Brightwalk site is lined by impressive willow oak trees, park and recreational amenities including Anita Stroud Park, Double Oaks Park, and Double Oaks Pool.  Extensive walking, running, and cycling trails, pocket parks, an onsite child development center and public art displays are a few of the amenities planned in addition to the county pool complex which is slated for re-development.

“With close proximity to Center City, Brightwalk will provide an unparalleled opportunity for homeowners to enjoy the benefits of a newly designed home and an amenity-rich environment all just a short drive from the many conveniences of Uptown,” said Elliot Mann, president of the Carolinas Division of Standard Pacific Homes.

Brightwalk will be defined by its extensive parks and trail system that in time will be linked to the Irwin Creek Greenway and Carolina Thread Trail.   Residents will enjoy the easy access to Center City and amenities like the NC Music Factory and a neighborhood bike loop being developed in conjunction with the Charlotte cycling community.

“Homebuyers and renters are looking for more options and value in their communities than ever before,” says Emma Littlejohn, a marketing consultant working on Brightwalk.   “The interest we saw from builders was incredible once they toured the property and reviewed the plan developed by The Housing Partnership and its design team,” added Littlejohn. 

Revitalization and History

Double Oaks was purchased in 2007 by The Housing Partnership, a private not-for-profit developer with a record of revitalizing inner city neighborhoods and creating high-quality workforce housing.   Purchase of the property was financed by a combination of sources, private and public, including funding by the City of Charlotte. Prior to purchasing the property, The Housing Partnership had worked in neighborhoods surrounding Double Oaks including Genesis Park, Greenville, Druid Hills, and the Park at Oaklawn.

Double Oaks was originally developed by the C.D. Spangler Construction Company in 1950 and managed by Fred D. Alexander, the first African-American to be elected to city council in Charlotte since 1890.  The Double Oaks neighborhood, school, and nursery were integral parts of the north Charlotte community. Across the street from Double Oaks is the site of a former Ford Motor Company plant built and operated in the 1920’s and a site that later housed a United States military depot and missile development plant.

Re-Development and Transformation

Re-development of Double Oaks began in 2007 when the Housing Partnership engaged Terry Shook of Shook Kelley to develop the community’s master plan.  The plan considered transit, proximity to the Center City, and the vision of The Housing Partnership to create a truly diverse and enduring community of homes, apartments, shops and businesses.  Shook assisted the developer with the design of The McNeel, The Gables at Druid Hills, and The Alexander, three apartment communities completed prior to Brightwalk.

In 2009, The Housing Partnership hired The Littlejohn Group to assist with review of the entire plan including commercial uses for the property, product, pricing, builder, and branding issues. Rental and for-sale residential options were vetted versus market conditions for Brightwalk which makes up almost half of the property acquired by the Housing Partnership.  Apartments, offices, shops, and restaurants are envisioned for ensuing phases of the community.

The design team collaborated in development of plans to make Brightwalk at Historic Double Oaks, a healthy, active, enduring, and sustainable community.  Audubon Lifestyles is assisting the team in these endeavors which include certification of Brightwalk as a sustainable community and assistance with plans for construction that are environmentally sensitive and sustainable.  Sustainable practices include grinding and utilization of former foundations, concrete sidewalks, and asphalt as materials for roadbeds and site preparation. More than 50,000 tons of materials will be re-deployed rather than taken to landfills.  Additionally, much of the Brightwalk at Historic Double Oaks site qualifies as a brownfield. Consequently most of Brightwalk’s homebuyers will receive local property tax credits over a period of as much as five years.

Schedule and Area Improvements

Construction of homes is expected to start within 60 days with models expected to be complete by early spring.   Home construction will coincide with road improvements that will transform Statesville Avenue into a three-lane boulevard with turn and bike lanes.  Other notable improvements to the Statesville Avenue corridor include the addition of a new Charlotte Fire Department Headquarters slated to break ground in January and expansion of Anita Stroud Park.  Restoration of a stream within the park will soon be underway as will development of the community’s first trails.  A state of the art child development center recently opened, while plans are in development for Double Oaks Park and other properties in the Statesville Avenue Corridor owned by The Housing Partnership.  “There is a lot more that is going to happen in Brightwalk and in this area, and we are most excited about how various community and development partners are responding to our vision for this community,” shared Garrett.

For more information on Brightwalk and Historic Double Oaks visit www.brightwalkcharlotte.com.