Home development wave moves in all directions

In Springfield, the development wave is moving out in all directions, but especially east and west. Sewer service is extending along U.S. Highway 60 east toward Rogersville and west toward Brookline, which makes those areas magnets for new construction, said Greene County Planning Director Kent Morris.

Likewise, the Branson area residential market is surging, not only in lake homes, luxury homes and condominiums, but also in affordable housing.

East

Ron Stenger Cos., which builds everything from midrange move-up to high-end executive homes, is “putting a lot of investment into the east-northeast side of town,” said Stenger Vice President Ed Alden.

Stenger’s Wild Horse and Lakes at Wild Horse subdivisions are part of an east-northeast development surge driven by the expansion of Springfield’s urban service area and the infrastructure that comes with it.

With homes in the $200,000 to $400,000 range, both subdivisions have been well-received, Alden said. The company just finished Lakes at Wild Horse Phase III and is launching Phase IV. Wild Horse Phase III is in the works.

Sam Clifton, owner of Millstone Homes LLC, said there’s a lot of development activity east around Rogersville, but not necessarily in subdivisions. Rather, he sees a trend of building single homes on 10- or 20-acre lots.

West

Urban service area expansion is also driving development to the west, and local builders predict big things for Brookline.

“I think that area’s getting ready to blow wide open,” said Brett Godfrey, president of Built by Brett.

South and west of Springfield, Republic is embracing growth, unveiling a 10-year plan that envisions 20 subdivisions with up to 20,000 residents.

But the transition area between Springfield and Republic is also a residential hot zone.

Homes in the Bent Tree subdivision just west of Springfield, priced between $138,000 and $203,000, target the first move-up market.

“That thing has just exploded,” said Alden, who is beginning to let bids for Bent Tree’s fourth phase in two years.

“It’s the fastest growing subdivision I’ve been associated with in 18 years with Stenger.”

Stu Stenger said the company is also pursuing development northwest of Springfield, where land is available and affordable.

South

Southeast and southwest Springfield are historically the hot locations for executive homes, and builders say that still rings true.

“There’s still a lot going on in the southwest part of town,” said Built by Brett’s Godfrey, who’s working on Phase II of Woodfield Park near Cox and Plainview roads.

But for luxury homes especially, builders say developable land is increasingly scarce in Springfield.

“The problem in Springfield is we’re running out of golf course lots,” said Millstone’s Clifton, who is building at Millwood and San Poppi, as well as Eaglesgate. Located on the site of Siler’s Golf Course, Eaglesgate is already approaching build-out after only two years in development, he said.

As a result, Clifton is pursuing work at Branson Hills, which features the Tribute to Payne Stewart Golf Course.

And Nixa is also picking up some of the luxury home market.

While residential Nixa is largely entry-level and second-tier homes, Clifton pointed to large-lot, low-density, high-end developments like The Timbers at Riverdale, south of Nixa, as a sign of things to come.

The Timbers is a gated community with 12 three- to six-acre lots. Sold through Gregg Stancer Realty, The Timbers has direct and private access to the Finley River, and buyers can choose river frontage, fully timbered or hilltop lots.

Godfrey calls such developments “green subdivisions” because of their low impact, preservation of natural features and winding, lane-like streets.

His latest “green” project is Hidden Trees, just northwest of Battlefield. The 20-acre luxury development offers four five-acre lots in a wooded area and lot prices in the $200,000 range. Each house and lot should bring around $1 million, Godfrey said.

Branson

Steve Welko of Welko Construction Inc. has been building in the Tri-Lakes area for about 30 years.

“The Branson Tri-Lakes market is hot overall,” he said, not only in Branson proper, but in Forsyth, Kimberling City and Reeds Spring.

Welko said different communities serve different niches in the housing market. Kimberling City is mostly about lake-view property, especially for the retirement market, he said. Hollister appeals to retirees, but also to families because it offers Table Rock Lake living within the Hollister school district.

Branson itself tends toward high-end homes because of the cost of land and the high cost of building in mountainous terrain, Welko said.

Entry-level homes are sprouting in satellite communities, particularly those to the east – Forsyth and Taneyville – where lower land prices make it possible to build more affordable housing, he added.

Welko himself is pursuing a new housing niche via a ranch-style Epcon Communities condominium project, The Villas at Branson Hills LLC.

Prices will range from $199,900 to $239,900, and amenities include common area maintenance, a clubhouse, swimming pool, fitness center and putting green.

The Villas will have no timeshare or nightly rental options. Ninety percent of the condo’s 72 units will be owner occupied and the remainder rented, with a minimum one-year lease.

That way, Welko said, condo residents can build a community that isn’t disrupted by a constantly changing population of overnight or weekly renters.

He plans to break ground this month.[[In-content Ad]]