The proposed sketch plan for The Courtyards at Mint Hill is projected Jan. 9 at Mint Hill Town Hall. The 21-acre site is located at 14333 Idlewild Road. Justin Vick/MMHW photo
MINT HILL – Epcon Communities is targeting 21 acres off Idlewild Road for its next 55-and-older neighborhood.
The homebuilder envisions 53 homes, a walking trail and a central park area with an outdoor seating area and fire pit.
Mike Davis, director of land development at Epcon Communities, shared plans for The Courtyards at Mint Hill with town commissioners before their Jan. 9 meeting to get feedback before submitting official paperwork.
Epcon Communities specializes in building homes for 55-and-older buyers. The company focuses on age-restricted homes, which require that 80% of units have at least one occupant age 55 or older.
Davis said age-restricted communities don’t generate as many road trips and make a lesser impact on school enrollment than a traditional neighborhood of single-family homes. Their communities also have low crime rates.
“Our buyers support local businesses, restaurants and services nearby,” Davis said. “They typically will donate more time to charities and organizations.”
Epcon Communities has been active in the Charlotte housing market since 2013. The company has homes available in several communities across the region, including Concord, Gastonia, Huntersville, Mooresville and Wesley Chapel.
The company broke ground in November on The Courtyards on Lawyers Road, which will include 146 homes at Lawyers and Allen Black roads in Stallings. It sold out of homes two years ago in The Courtyards at Emerald Lake, also in Stallings.
Davis said what makes the product unique is the rear yard is passive space. Fencing between the units creates a courtyard effect, allowing people to use the space for entertaining. The community provides yard maintenance for residents.
Davis told commissioners that homes in The Courtyards at Mint Hill will have side setbacks of 10.5 feet.
Mayor Brad Simmons told Davis that he’d like to see the density to be closer in line with two units per acre. He also expressed concerns about the proximity of homes, making note of something Davis said earlier in the presentation regarding neighbors typically taking advantage of their fenced-in yards by adding grills.
Commissioner Dale Dalton mentioned the idea of installing sprinkler systems in the homes.
Davis said buyers aren’t used to having sprinklers in their homes. He said communities request sprinklers because they’re concerned about the property being outside of fire coverage or if there is a single entrance into a community. The Courtyards at Mint Hill will have two entrances at Hooks Road.
“The problem I got with it – these things are so close together,” Dalton countered. “If one catches, I don’t care how close (Fire Chief David Leath) is, he’s not going to be there before two or three catch fire.”
Pj berry says
Overpriced so elder are hooked into the new home mortgage for over age 60. Never get monies back from sale. A rip off and scam. Quality of this type housing all look alike and way over priceD
WARNING. SENIORS DONT FALL FOR THIS TYPE OF CRAMMED UP BREATHING NEXT DOOR TO NEOGHBOR LIFESTYLE. THEY TRY AND SELL YOU A LIFESTYLE. WE DONT NEED TO BUY FRIENDS. JUST QUALITY BUILT HOMES AFFORDABLE FOR RETIREES AND SAFE SURROUNDINGS. EPCON BUYS CHEAP LAND IN THE WORST PARTS OF CITY.
Angela says
WAY TOO MANY homes CRAMMED together in a location that is supposed to be rural and more spread out than the rest of Charlotte. If you can reduce it to half, maybe the neighbors would be more in favor. I do like that it’s age related housing. I understand trying to make the money, but quality of life and home values are hugely important for the neighboring residents who have worked extremely hard to get in this area. We moved out of a crammed in neighborhood for a reason. Give us some space, please. Thank you!
Dan Williams says
I agree with the above concern. And with Davis Trace, Hooks Road and Stallings Road intersecting with Idlewild within such a short span, I don’t see how signal lights could work
Troy Minor says
The entrances to the development will be on Hooks road. There is an existing hazard near the intersection of Hooks and Idlewild. There are numerous accidents at the intersection of Stallings and Idlewild; more than you would expect at an intersection. It appears to be to caused by the inability of drivers wanting to turn left from Stallings onto Idlewild are not able to see vehicles on Idlewild traveling towards 485 until they are pretty much up on them. If additional traffic is going to be funneling out of Hooks, the Stalling & Idlewild intersection needs to be dealt addressed.