Lake of the Ozarks gets $220M neighborhood

It’s a small-town feeling with a $220 million price tag.

Clayton Graham grew up in Chicago, in an area that had a friendly atmosphere among neighbors. That camaraderie is something he said is lacking near Lake of the Ozarks, a town known for summer vacationing and parties.

Graham and his wife, Cheryl, hope to bring a small-town atmosphere with Lakeside at Cross Creek, their master-planned community now under construction.

“The lake has very little sense of community, where you know who your neighbor is,” Clayton Graham said. “Growing up in Chicago, there was always a sense of community – block parties, having an extended family in the neighborhood. So that was part of the driving force.”

The couple’s Windy City background also led to the look of the development, which will have distinctly craftsman architecture, with its low pitched roofs and porches supported by square columns.

The project will feature 220 villas ranging from 2,500 to 4,500 square feet each, 40 bungalows at about 1,800 square feet each, and 66 single-family custom home sites. There also will be seven 22-unit condominium buildings, one 60-unit building called The Lodge and 11 six-unit loft buildings.

Other planned amenities include a lake house with fitness center, a post office and a general store that Graham said will help contribute to the community’s “feeling of yesteryear.”

David Beach of Springfield firm H Design Group is the architect for the project. He said the development is something new for the lake area.

“It’s a really interesting, high-end project,” Beach said. “It’s an exciting project for a firm our size to be working on in this area.”

The $220 million project, including $17 million spent on infrastructure including roads and utilities, is in the opening stages of construction.

Ground has been broken on two of the model homes, which will be ready before the end of the year.

Graham, who is acting as his own general contractor, said one condo building and two loft buildings should be ready by May 28, 2007.

Lakeside at Cross Creek Amenities

• Seven 22-unit condominium buildings;

• 11 six-unit loft buildings;

• The Lodge, a 60-unit condo building;

• More than 300 residential sites, including 220 villas and 40 bungalows;

• The Lake House, with deli, coffeehouse and exercise facility;

• Walking trails, tennis courts, a playground and swimming pool;

• Covered boat slips for each residential owner; and

• Old-fashioned post office with indoor mailboxes and a general store.[[In-content Ad]]