Update: The Cottages on Cantrell close to finishing first cottages

With 60% green space, about 73 cottages, a gym, community spaces and more, the Cottages on Cantrell development offers a unique community experience to its residents.

Blain Vinson, Aspen Community Development vice president, explained how the neighborhood, which is an HOA, is designed to bring people together, which required them to build many of their amenities ahead of the cottages.

“What we’re selling is a vision,” he said. “It’s not a normal neighborhood.”

To help potential residents understand the heart of Cottages on Cantrell, they have already built the 2,000-square foot gym, the pedestrian bridge to Bullard Heights Neighborhood Park, the dog park and the walking trails. Vinson said they’re adding two pickleball courts to the development as well.

The cottages are arranged in separate pods, which contain about eight to 10 cottages each, centering on a shared green space and including a 720-square foot carriage house for community gatherings. Carriage houses include an outdoor patio, open living areas, full-size kitchen and restrooms.

In about 60 days, two pods (17 cottages) will be complete and ready for residents to move in, Vinson said. The project has been in the works for several years, he said, with a groundbreaking in 2019 and the final plat approval by Waxahachie City Council in 2021.

With no age restrictions, the neighborhood is a multigenerational community for those looking for a smaller footprint but not wanting to live in an apartment. Vinson believes any aged person can enjoy the neighborhood, from older widowers to young professionals.

“If I’m an international pilot, but I’m single and fly to Australia or Japan, who takes care of my place when I’m gone?” Vinson said.

Residents of Cottages on Cantrell will have their lawns mowed and have access to multiple amenities. Part of Vinson’s vision is for neighbors to look after each other, so they can travel or be gone for several days, knowing their home is in good hands.

The development is designed to create that community.

“We want everybody in that pod to know everybody in that pod,” Vinson said.

With detached garages, residents will park and walk to their home on meandering sidewalks, where they can visit with their neighbors. Each cottage faces each other and includes a front porch, giving residents the opportunity to see each other. The carriage houses/community spaces allow residents to spend time with one another.

“They can’t go in the garage and shut the garage door behind them and just disappear,” Vinson said. “It’s a community. It’s really getting back to ‘Leave It to Beaver’ days of what a community used to be: where everybody kind of knew everybody. (It gives you) security and the safety of knowing your neighbors and your neighbors knowing you and starting to care about you.”

Vinson and his wife have decided to be one of the first residents in the neighborhood, he said. He hopes to help the residents understand the community concept and to work through logistics.

One change from the original plan was the loss of the white picket fences, Vinson said. Originally, each cottage would have a white picket fence, but as they planned for the fences and the sidewalks, the community green space would have shrunk considerably if those had been installed.

Prices on the homes range from $330,000 to $398,000. Inquiries can be made by contacting the builders, Canyon Creek Construction and Acker Bradbury Construction, separately. Once 50% of the cottages are sold in one pod, the builder will begin their next pod, Vinson said.

For more information about the neighborhood to view cottage floorplans, visit https://www.cottagesoncantrell.com. Contact The Carter Hillock Group at tammycarter@ebby.com or celestina@ebby.com for Acker Bradbury cottage pricing. Contact Canyon Creek for its cottage pricing at 972-435-0506 or visit https://www.canyoncreektexas.com/under-construction/.

Originally published February 8, 2023 - https://www.waxahachiesun.com/business/update-the-cottages-on-cantrell-close-to-finishing-first-cottages/article_b953b06e-a7ec-11ed-b01e-47aa78abbe7c.html