Briar Chapel in Chapel Hill (Star: appointed, credit, new home)

[PDXmom]

I'm wondering if anyone has looked into Briar Chapel in Chapel Hill and what were your thoughts. I drove down their today. I love all the walking trails, forests, and lush roads going into the subdivision. And the Arts & Crafts style clubhouse, 1920s details on the street lighting, & bridges all appeal to me.

But it looked like the lots had been stripped of all their trees. (I did not get to go into the model/ info center. DD fell alseep in the car and I didn't want to wake her.) I only drove around the areas closest to the info center and club house. But I was so disappointed to see no trees on the home lots. Their website really plays up their environmental friendliness and "green living". So I expected to see trees on the lots.

Does anyone know if there are other treed lots that I missed. And can treed lots + home be obtained for under 400K? Also, does anyone know the size of the lots?

[Sayantsi]

I was disappointed with what I saw there and think you don't get a lot for your money, but that's just me - I wasn't impressed with the offerings in any price range and the lots are really small. The development is 1600 acres with only 900 being developed, which sounds nice until you see that while the undeveloped land is expansive, all the development is piled right on top of itself - I'd prefer more spaced development like you used to get and more nature all around. The houses sit on small lots that will take time to grow in with any trees you plant, and development is expected to go on for the next eight years.

[PDXmom]

Originally Posted by Sayantsi

I was disappointed with what I saw there and think you don't get a lot for your money, but that's just me - I wasn't impressed with the offerings in any price range and the lots are really small. The development is 1600 acres with only 900 being developed, which sounds nice until you see that while the undeveloped land is expansive, all the development is piled right on top of itself - I'd prefer more spaced development like you used to get and more nature all around. The houses sit on small lots that will take time to grow in with any trees you plant, and development is expected to go on for the next eight years.

Thanks for the input. You mentioned the lots are small. Are the lots under .33?

I did get the feel that the homes were all in one spot on top of each other instead of sprinkled through out the acreage, which IMHO would make it more green.

[geoff2v]

Originally Posted by PDXmom

Thanks for the input. You mentioned the lots are small. Are the lots under .33?

I did get the feel that the homes were all in one spot on top of each other instead of sprinkled through out the acreage, which IMHO would make it more green.

Spreading out the houses (while keeping the lots the same size, I assume) so that the undeveloped areas are disbursed throughout the development may make the project "look" more green, but that may actually be less environmentally friendly.

[coltank]

I believe that developers typically pay for utilities and things based on the amount of frontage a lot has. That's why lots get smaller and smaller unless you shell out big bucks.

[Sayantsi]

Originally Posted by PDXmom

Thanks for the input. You mentioned the lots are small. Are the lots under .33?

I did get the feel that the homes were all in one spot on top of each other instead of sprinkled through out the acreage, which IMHO would make it more green.

If I remember correctly, lost were .10 acre with unattached garages for the sub 300k homes. Parking on the street will be prohibited as homes will have back alley type streets to access driveways. Think urban row housing and you get the idea. Its a theme that has its pluses, but in NC where we have so much land and beautiful trees, I wasn't impressed. I also didn't like the long drive into the community - its a winding one lane road that is very scenic, but when everyone is driving out in the morning, there's going to be congestion.

Developments have gone from spacious to cramped because developers want to maximize profits. If you can put 10 lots in an acre and sell a 200k house on each, thats more profit than putting 5 houses on an acre. Briar Chapel follows this commoditization but standardizing the floor plans and materials for housing. Standard graded lots, standard floor plans, standard materials, all allow for lower building costs, and small lots allow for greater profits.

You could buy a house in the nearby country, get more land and house, and still have the development's shopping and schools accessible to you, but if you want the enclave community feel, you'd want to be in the neighborhood. There are definite pluses to communities, especially with children, with sidewalks, parks, street lights, and nearby shopping. It will be an active community.

[PDXmom]

Originally Posted by geoff2v

Spreading out the houses (while keeping the lots the same size, I assume) so that the undeveloped areas are disbursed throughout the development may make the project "look" more green, but that may actually be less environmentally friendly.

My thinking is that homes that are surrounded by trees have a lower cooling cost in the summer. And if they are decidious trees then they loose their leaves to allow for the sun to heat the house in the winter.

But I guess keeping the houses in one same area does mean fewer roads and thus less storm water run off. I'm not sure which one is better or worse. hmmm?

[DaisyNCSU]

Hey guys. I was reading through all your comments and realized there may be some extra information that might be helpful in understanding the community. Although I myself cannot afford to live there my friend has purchased there, and actually took me out to see her homesite. Many of the things you guys have discussed are accurate. The developer is preserving more land than is being built on, and the homesites are small, however, this community in all sense of the word, is "green". I myself live in an Energy Star certified home, so I am familiar with the product that is being built in this community. Product is the one topic you guys have not talked about. My friend actually bought with Vanguard Homes in Briar Chapel and according the builder, her home will be Energy Star, GBI (green builder initiative) and WaterSense qualified. The other cool thing was that Vanguard offered opportunity for them to add additional "green" upgrades like solar and rainwater catchers. I know as buyers we all get stuck with this need to have homesites like they used to be, when there was an abundance of land. So your choice today is to buy an older home with all it's air leaks and lack of efficiency so you can have a big homesite, or you choose to be a part of modern communities where the homes are more environmentally friendly saving energy, water, and providing better indoor air quality. So before discrediting this community and it's efforts to be "green", I would encourage you to visit again and talk to someone onsite. When I was out ther with my friend, I noticed 2 finished homes that would be worth checking out.

[frogandtoad]

Originally Posted by DaisyNCSU

the homes are more environmentally friendly saving energy, water, and providing better indoor air quality. .

I haven't been to this community although I do definitely "get" the benefit. I was really opposed to homes all squished together like that, but with kids, I think it would be great to have. And to know it's "green" would be nice too. So all that is great info. The only part I take dispute with is the better indoor air quality. Actually older homes have far better indoor air quality for 2 main reasons:

1. They are old. This means there has been time for the chemicals used in building materials to disperse. Green home or not, there are many many chemicals used in the building materials and these are all emitting noxious fumes/gases (whether or not you can smell them) for up to 20 years. The first 8 years emits the most.

2. They are not air tight. This goes with number one. They are less efficient, they waste money and resources as a/c, heat, etc goes out the cracks, up the chimney. BUT...it also means that there is fresh air from outside coming in all the time. This keeps the air in the home much cleaner than homes which are airtight.

There has been a lot written on this lately--how all the airtight/energy efficient homes may be good for the environment, but not so good for health...so open a window in any new home (new being under 20 years)!!!

[PDXmom]

Originally Posted by DaisyNCSU

Hey guys. I was reading through all your comments and realized there may be some extra information that might be helpful in understanding the community. Although I myself cannot afford to live there my friend has purchased there, and actually took me out to see her homesite. Many of the things you guys have discussed are accurate. The developer is preserving more land than is being built on, and the homesites are small, however, this community in all sense of the word, is "green". I myself live in an Energy Star certified home, so I am familiar with the product that is being built in this community. Product is the one topic you guys have not talked about. My friend actually bought with Vanguard Homes in Briar Chapel and according the builder, her home will be Energy Star, GBI (green builder initiative) and WaterSense qualified. The other cool thing was that Vanguard offered opportunity for them to add additional "green" upgrades like solar and rainwater catchers. I know as buyers we all get stuck with this need to have homesites like they used to be, when there was an abundance of land. So your choice today is to buy an older home with all it's air leaks and lack of efficiency so you can have a big homesite, or you choose to be a part of modern communities where the homes are more environmentally friendly saving energy, water, and providing better indoor air quality. So before discrediting this community and it's efforts to be "green", I would encourage you to visit again and talk to someone onsite. When I was out ther with my friend, I noticed 2 finished homes that would be worth checking out.

It's good to hear more about BC. And I'm glad to hear they are adding eco-friendly upgrades like solar and rainwater containment. But I still think the most basic green thing to do is to leave mature trees on the lot. Trees do alot in terms of helping with cooling in the summer (when my personal energy expenditure is the greatest) and they help with things like run off and water quality. Not to mention, quality of life enhancers like privacy and reducing one's blood pressure (well, they reduce my blood pressure... not sure about others.

The smaller lot size does not discourage me. Our previous home had a 50 ft by 100 ft lot... that's .11. But I had more trees on my tiny city lot in Portland than several of those lots put together had.

The bottom line is that trees get in the way of builders. It's cheaper to cut them down and plop some landscaping trees in at the end. These landscaping trees probably only have a 50% chance of making it to the 5 year mark of the home. And the builder does make money off of solar upgrades and water containment.

In general I love that "green living" is more in the media. But I cringe at the knock offs and marketing folks only looking at turning a profit. I'll stop by and check out BC again. But I love my trees (even on .10 lots) so I'm a skeptic. I'll let you know if they convert me.