Neighborhood wrapping up

Construction at The Traditions is nearly complete, but a few homes remain in the traditional styled neighborhood, its developer says.
   Forty-one homes have been sold, leaving six available, said James Pratt of Pratt & Associates, the developer of the 28-acre neighborhood near Mountain Creek Road.
   "We still have six opportunities for people who like what we’re doing," said Jim Gallagher of Stonebridge Realty, the sales agent. And, Pratt & Associates has plans for a similar development next year in East Brainerd, Mr. Gallagher said. The unnamed project comprises 42 acres.
   The remaining homes at The Traditions are selling for $225,000 to $260,000, he said. Previous homes sold for $220,000 to $285,000. The homes range in size from about 1,620 to 1,690 square feet.
   The Traditions features a 1.5-acre spring-fed lake, called Lake Traditions, a swimming pool, walking trail, playground and sidewalks, among other amenities, Mr. Gallagher said. There are underground sprinklers in the front and back yards.
   "There’s no place in town that has these amenities with only 47 homes," he said. "It’s a very intimate number."
   The neighborhood is 10 minutes from downtown off Corridor J and nine minutes from Northgate Mall, he said. Eightyfive percent of Traditions residents are professionals who work downtown.
   The Traditions is part of an emerging trend in real estate which creates Traditional Neighborhood Developments, Mr. Gallagher said. These developments are re-creations of vintage 1920s neighborhoods. The trend started about 10 to 15 years ago in major markets such as the Seaside resort in Florida and Celebration, a Disney community.
   The Traditional Neighborhood Development calls for a considerable investment in recreating period architecture with such details as front porches with columns and balconies, he said. The plan also calls for neighborhood components such as sidewalks on both sides of the street and a six-foot grass buffer with street lights, decorative mailboxes and hardwood trees.
   The Traditions employs those details as well as stamped pavement on the ends of driveways and in street parking areas, which re-creates the appearance of cobblestones, Mr. Gallagher said. There also are alleys behind the homes.