Condo developer brings $20M community to Hickory Hills area

Construction at The Villas at Hickory Hills is under way on East Cherry Street, across from Hickory Hills Golf Course. David and Nancy Hoke of Danan Development Inc. and Springfield and Nixa franchisee for Ohio-based Epcon Communities Inc., are behind the nearly $20 million project.

The development plan comprises 21 single-story buildings, each with four condo units ranging in size from 1,324 square feet to 1,884 square feet, Hoke said. Several model units were scheduled to open up to the public Sept. 13-–14.

Three buildings are nearly finished, with occupancy available in October, Hoke said, and a clubhouse with a community room also is under way.

Meanwhile, Hoke – who also owns an Epcon community in Nixa called The Villas at Wicklow – has submitted permits on the next three Hickory Hills buildings, and he plans to build the remaining units as sales dictate.

According to The Villas listing agent Holly Stenger of The Stenger Group at Carol Jones, Realtors, six of the 12 units under construction have sold.

“I think the location is unbeatable, and I think it’s a need that Springfield has had, especially at this price point,” she said.

The condos range from $230,000 to $298,000, Hoke said. There are four floor plans, and most units have two bedrooms and two bathrooms, though some have an additional bathroom as well as a four-season room. Each unit also has an attached two-car garage. Larry Nelson of Springfield is the project architect.

The development is not age-restrictive, Hoke said, but it generally appeals to active retirees who like to travel or spend part of the year in another home.

“It attracts people who have similar lifestyle interests,” Hoke said, adding that bringing together similar people is a bonus in itself. “You can buy a beautiful home anywhere, but you don’t know who your neighbors are going to be.”

Another unique feature of The Villas is that exterior maintenance is taken care of for residents, so no landscaping or outdoor upkeep is required. The condos also are void of any steps, which is a draw for older residents, Hoke said.

But it is The Villas’ location that Hoke expects will be its crowning characteristic.

Hoke enlisted Ron Kronenberger of Springfield firm 9DOT Solutions Land LLC, to conduct demographic studies to find a site in town for his project. The spot near Hickory Hills was the cream of the crop, Kronenberger said.

“This area was just really dynamite,” he said, noting the nearby golf course is a major factor in the location’s popularity.

Kronenberger said he recommended the site based on demographics such as age, household income and proximity to U.S. Highway 65 and medical facilities.

Stenger predicts the condos will appeal to empty-nesters, busy professionals and single parents. Kronenberger added that members of Hickory Hills may be looking to move their parents to the area, and The Villas will meet that need.