Rivercut Golf Community begins home construction

by Christine Ballew-Gonzales

SBJ Contributing Writer

Rivercut Golf Community, which began selling home sites in mid-February, has begun construction of the first homes, according to president and owner, Gary Mitchell. Those who purchase home sites have up to 18 months to begin construction, Mitchell said, and the first Rivercut spec homes will be seen in the coming weeks.

Rivercut Golf Community is comprised of three single-family neighborhoods, Mitchell said. Semi-custom neighborhood homes begin at $141,500. Custom II neighborhood homes start at $185,000, while Custom I homes begin at $225,000. For those wishing to build on their own, lots in the Custom II neighborhood are $36,900 and up, and lots in the Custom I neighborhood begin at $39,900.

As the community continues to evolve, Mitchell said, plans are under way for additional Rivercut amenities. A 25-acre park and recreation center are expected to be completed within three years.

The park will include facilities for swimming, tennis, and basketball, as well as a clubhouse, sports field, and picnic areas. A half-acre golf course neighborhood park will open this fall, and a swimming pool will be open next summer, Mitchell said.

Also in the works are plans to offer town homes, which will be built as duplexes, triplexes and four-plexes. The town homes should be available in the next couple of years, Mitchell said, and prices are expected be in the $125,000 to $150,000 range.

Mitchell is also developing plans for The Villas, which will be upscale but smaller freestanding homes. The Villas, which are expected to be offered in the $200,000 to $300,000 price range, could be available as early as 2000, Mitchell said.

Both The Villas and the town homes will feature the benefits of "maintenance free living," Mitchell said. There has already been considerable interest in the town homes, he added.

Beautification efforts within the Rivercut development were stymied by this summer's drought, but now those plans are moving ahead, Mitchell said. A 30-foot waterfall, to be built into an existing bluff at the entry to the community, will be started in a few weeks.

Sales of Rivercut Golf Community homes have seen the same fluctuations that other properties experience at various points in the year.

"Our sales came out strong, then slowed down," Mitchell said. "They've been up and down. Now that fall is coming, sales are starting to pick up. We knew it would be strong."

Mitchell said recent interest-rate hikes haven't adversely affected sales in the Rivercut community. "We have had 1,800 people through our sales doors since we started," he said. "That's very strong interest in this project."

The reopening of the golf course, along with the completion of model homes for prospective buyers to view, have both stepped up sales traffic, Mitchell said.

The first six months of Rivercut Golf Community activity have helped the community begin to take shape, according to Mitchell.