Community within a community

Ramsgate subdivision is starting its third and final phase, offering modern homes dressed in traditional garb for a neo-traditional neighborhood, one that is close enough to Chattanooga for work and shopping, but far away enough to give a feel of country living.
   The 5-year-old Hixson development is an established neighborhood with homes starting in the $300,000-plus range.
   The new phase will offer homes starting in the $260,000 price range that are meant to appeal to a specific market, according to Southern Land Co. marketing director Debbie Coppinger.
   "We are targeting the aging baby boomers, empty nesters and young professionals who want quality homes with less upkeep," Mrs. Coppinger said.
   Chattanooga businessman James Pratt is the exclusive builder for Summertown Village at Ramsgate.
   "We will build it out in homes that we all agree will fit real well together," said Mr. Pratt, who is also developing Traditions, a subdivision in Red Bank designed with a similar concept.
   Senior designer Jack Kerr said the goal is to create a community within a community. There will be streetscaping, and the street lights will be on 12-foot poles with 6-foot grass strips between the curb and sidewalks.
   "Trees will be planted in the grass strips to give this section a village effect, rather than a subdivision," Mr. Kerr said. "The homes will be between 2,400 and 2,600 square feet for the two-story houses with some traditional architecture such as cornices, porches and columns. There will be a consistency between the larger houses and the village that will provide a consistency throughout the community."
   Mr. Pratt became acquainted with Southern Land Co. when he started the Traditions, his first development of its size. Mr. Kerr and Mrs. Coppinger helped Mr. Pratt select the home designs for his development, he said.
   "We were thrown together a lot, then we (his son and partner Win Pratt) decided to beef up our building, and one thing led to another," said Mr. Pratt of his collaboration with Southern Land Co. owner Tim Downey.
   There will be 23 homes in Summertown when the $6 million development is completed.
   Ramsgate, which was faring poorly when Mr. Downey bought it five years ago, is more than 75 percent complete, with 98 homes out of the 120 lots, Mrs. Coppinger said.
   Ramsgate is located off the west side of Hixson Pike about 14 miles from downtown Chattanooga.
   "All these years people have equated quality to size. That won't be the case here," Mr. Pratt said.