Mixed-Use Development at Birkhill

Birkhill @ Fireclay was designed to be a model of what a real mixed-use development can be like. We have taken an area in Murray City and turned it into a modern transit-oriented, mixed-use community that offers the best of both urban and suburban living. There are some real benefits to living in a community like this, and both retailers and residents are starting to realize what they are.

Retailers have found that developments like this are very beneficial because they have a constant source of customers living right next to them. Each new retail establishment is adding to a community that is full of destinations, so the residents never have to go very far to get what they need.

The residents also enjoy the proximity of so many retail locations within walking distance. Want to spend some time at a quiet restaurant? No problem. Need to get a few things for your townhome? That’s easy too. Just take a quick walk to the stores and restaurants that are actually part of the community and pick up what you need.

At Hamlet Homes we have always been interested in redeveloping blighted lands and promoting healthy urban areas. The Birkhill development is no different. We started with some troubled land in Murray and turned it into a community where retail spaces and residential buildings work together to provide a unique living experience.

Many mixed-use developments are also tied to public transit nodes that will allow residents to reach other parts of the city without having to continually depend on their own automobiles. Birkhill has a TRAX station very close, so when you want to head into downtown Salt Lake City, it can be done quickly and easily without all the stress and aggravation that comes from dealing with downtown traffic. There are also a number of UTA bus lines nearby that you can use.

The home plans in the community include different designs for the condos and the townhomes. The retail areas can be built to suit and the residents can choose from five different floor plans for the townhomes. The ones that are selling now are going in the 180k range, so it is a perfect time to check them out and see which ones fit in the budget.

We were the first to really turn ground in Murray’s former smelting district. We started the Birkhill @ Fireclay project to reclaim this land that most people had given up on. We worked on the project for three years to develop a mixed-use community that really accomplishes what it was designed for.

Making Use of Neighborhood Classifieds

House hunting can be exciting, tedious, frustrating, and fun. Everyone has different methods for finding the neighborhoods and the homes that they will love and that they can afford. Many people will turn to real estate agents and leave the initial search phase up to them. There are others, though, that prefer having a little more control over the process and start searching for themselves in the local neighborhood classifieds.

This is actually a very common method for finding new or used homes to buy or rent. Traditionally, neighborhood classifieds were something that you would only find in the local newspaper or other niche publication, but now most of these services have gone to the online market where it’s easy to search through and sort all the available properties in town.

Of course, when you look through neighborhood classifieds (either online or off) you are not going to be able to get a feel for what the neighborhood is actually like. The seller may post numerous pictures of the interior and exterior of the home, but it’s hard to get details on what the living circumstances are actually like.

For example, many of the communities that we’ve developed are created to be transit oriented developments so you can easily make it into the city without having to fight traffic in your own car. Other neighborhoods are mixed-use developments, which means everything you need (from restaurants and groceries to hair salons) are all located right in your own community.

It’s hard to get a feel for important details like that from simple classified listing. Some people may go out of their way to list as many amenities and community features as they can, but in the end, if you really want to know what the area is like, you are going to have to do the legwork and go check it out.

It should also be noted that a lot of neighborhood classifieds simply can’t check all the listings themselves. That means that many fraudulent or questionable homes get listed on these services. Don’t give your personal information to anyone that claims to be selling a house until you know you can trust them.

In the end, that’s one of the most important aspects of buying a house: trust. If you don’t think you can trust individual listings in these classified sections, try talking to others that have gone through the home buying process or are already living in the neighborhood where the house is located. Just remember, this is a big decision and a huge investment, it will be worth your time to look into the home, the neighborhood, and even the person selling it.

Promoting New Urbanism at Waverly Station

The New Urbanism movement has been gaining a lot of popularity lately as more and more people start to recognize the benefits of living in a walkable neighborhood or transit oriented development (TOD). These neighborhoods are designed to reflect an older time when cars weren’t so prevalent and residents needed an easy way to get to offices, shops, or even restaurants. At Waverly Station, like all of our urban developments, we have been committed to developing communities that keep to the ideals of the movement.

Waverly Station is one of our more recent transit oriented developments, and we have put a lot of time and planning into making sure it is the kind of neighborhood that is both attractive and convenient. The design of the neighborhood is at the heart of any New Urbanism movement, and Waverly Station was designed to promote a real community feeling.

One of the main purposes of a TOD is to have a number of entertainment, shopping, or work opportunities either just outside the door or within easy reach by public transit. We have always tried to create opportunities to reduce our reliance on automobiles, and these communities are a great way to do it. If you can’t walk to it, you can easily reach it by using the nearby TRAX station.

Of course, the architecture on the homes is also an extremely important aspect of these neighborhoods. At Waverly Station we have focused on developing homes with a “loft” element in mind. This way you can take advantage of a lot of natural light that filters in through many strategically placed windows. There are a couple different floor plans to choose from, but whichever you choose you will have access to a lot of great features like two-car garages, tiered kitchen bars, covered porches, and many other amenities.

The good news is that New Urbanism does not imply lots of new costs. The homes at Waverly Station are still very affordable and you can get into one for less than 200k. And once you’re there you will start to see how the convenience of a transit oriented development can start to cut down on many of your other bills (like the ever-increasing gas costs).

Between the beautifully landscaped area, the elegantly designed homes, and the access to great, modern amenities (like the UTOPIA fiber optic network) there are a lot of things to recommend Waverly Station as a good example of New Urbanism done right.

A Village within the City

It’s a conundrum. How do you live in the middle of a city where you can be in close proximity to a full range of entertainment and services, but maintain the quiet, familiar feel of a close-knit community? We designed Huntly Manor with a village concept in mind so you can get the best of both worlds.

Huntly Manor is a new home community located in South Salt Lake City. Each home is surrounded by quaint, landscaped yards and each two- or three-bedroom home includes private storage spaces and patios. Most of these homes are also available in the 160k range, so they are also an affordable way to get into a quiet community lifestyle.

There are 70 townhomes making up this little village, and there are some great amenities both inside the community and in the nearby surrounding areas. That means when you want to head out for some recreational or entertainment activities, you won’t have to go very far.

And just like so many of our other communities, Huntly Manor was built to make travelling easy. You can head into the downtown areas without having to fight the downtown traffic. Huntly Manor is situated very close to the 3300 Street TRAX station, so you can easily make your way into the city without all the associated stress of dodging angry driving and wandering pedestrians.

We are also determined to make sure the residents have access to some of the more high-end conveniences that are necessary in this modern day and age. Each of these homes are set up to access the UTOPIA fiber optic network. That means you will have some of the fastest Internet available so you can work from home or stream all your favorite movies and music. And the best part is that you don’t have to pay any extra for that service. Your HOA dues include the Internet.

From the city conveniences all around Huntly Manor to the fun playground and common areas inside the community, this is a great place for anyone looking for a home that walks the line between urban and suburban living.

Hit the Slopes then Head Home

Park City, Utah has some of the greatest ski slopes in the country, with people coming in from thousands of miles away just to spend a week, or a weekend, or sometimes just a day out on the mountains and enjoying the snow. Now imagine what it would be like if you had your own home nearby, where you could spend your nights in comfort and luxury while you rest and rejuvenate to prepare for another day of incredible skiing.

Hamlet Homes offers some luxurious homes in the Bear Hollow Village where you can really start to take advantage of everything that Park City has to offer. Park City is beautiful year-round, and there are plenty of activities to participate in even when there isn’t any snow on the ground.

Imagine having the convenience of your own place located right between the Utah Winter Sports Park and The Canyons ski resort. You wouldn’t ever have to fight the crowds or make reservations months in advance just to get a weekend out on the hills.

Of course, living in Park City is about more than the skiing. Our condos in Bear Hollow Village are part of a beautiful, master-planned community that puts you right in the middle of countless outdoor recreational opportunities.

We’ve also gone out of our way to create the luxury condos you will love to come home to. Inside the homes and condos you’ll have access to high-speed Internet, cable TV, granite countertops, and a full range of other amenities, while outside you can access the community clubhouse, pool, and fitness room. Everything you need to enjoy your time in Park City is right nearby.

There really is nothing like waking up to the panoramic views from the condos at Bear Hollow. And whether you are getting up to go hiking in the warm summer months or skiing in the breathtaking winter season, you’ll always be able to come home and relax in style.

Condos in Park City sell fast – and with good reason. The whole area offers an idyllic setting whether you are looking for a vacation ski home or a nice condo for your family. If you have always dreamed of living in an area with immediate access to year-round recreational activities, it may be time to consider something at Bear Hollow Village.

What’s Going On at Daybreak?

The Daybreak Community has always been about developing a balanced lifestyle and a walkable neighborhood. Already there are parks, hiking trails, schools, and community gardens in the area for the residents, but this is just the start. Daybreak continues to grow, and there are plans to bring in more shops, more homes, and more businesses. Daybreak has always been about developing a friendly, convenient community, and with each new addition, the community gets even better.

Recently, the Daybreak SoDa Row Village Center shops were announced and it will be including everything from a Mexican restaurant to a barbershop to a nice gelato café. These businesses are all locally owned and operated, which will give the whole place a really unique flavor.

Hamlet Homes is also building in Daybreak. We have always been interested in developing mixed-use communities, and this has given us a chance to build some incredible single family homes, townhomes, and even Flex Space Rowhomes in the Village Center where everything is within walking distance.

This neighborhood will put you close to the dining and shopping areas, but it will also keep you in close proximity to the lake. This means you will have access to all the fishing, canoeing, kayaking, and other water activities your family will love. Or you can simply spend a quiet evening on the beach looking out over Oquirrh Lake with someone special.

These homes will also put you in close proximity to the planned TRAX station in Daybreak, which will provide a whole new level of convenience. If you need to head into town, you won’t have to fight congested downtown traffic anymore. This light rail system will let you really experience what it is like to be part of a transit-oriented community.

Less traffic means less pollution, and at Hamlet Homes we have always been conscientious of the environment. Our previous transit-oriented communities have been designed to help cut down on the amount of driving a person needs to do, but now our new homes in the Daybreak community are all ENERGY STAR compliant. That means these houses are good for the environment and good for your budget.

SoDa Row at Daybreak offers something for everyone, whether you are a first-time homebuyer or a move down buyer. These homes include upgraded flooring and countertops, balconies, a loft area, and 9ft ceilings. These homes all start in the low $200K area, so it’s easy to get involved with a community that is growing and changing almost every day.

A Quick Tour of the Millburn Manor Village Community

As you drive into the community the first thing you are going to notice is the immaculately landscaped neighborhood. The homes, community park, and playground are all designed to add to the beautiful, friendly atmosphere of the neighborhood.

Getting here is easy and quick.. These are great single family homes that were designed to bring a cohesive feel to the community, yet still leaving plenty of room for individuality. The architecture behind these homes adds a real historic feel to the place. With the large porches, traditional designs, and privately fenced yards, these are houses that families can turn into a home.

All of the home plans in this neighborhood offer up to four bedrooms and three bathrooms, full basements, and plenty of other amenities to get you started. The price range begins in the low 200s, so this is also a great place for first-time home buyers to look.

The one thing that all the Hamlet Home’s communities have in common is the close proximity to (or inclusion of) a lot shopping, dining, and other activities. Just take a quick look around the area and you will find the E Center, the Hale Center Theater, Salt Lake Community College, and two different golf courses. There are a lot of possibilities for fun activities around Milburn Manor.

The most important thing about building a new neighborhood like this is creating an atmosphere that actually feels like a community. That’s why we have designed such a cohesive community layout and left some large open spaces for a playground and a community park. These are areas where families can go and start to meet the people who live around them.

There really is more to a community than the houses that line the streets. We’ve always done everything we can to encourage and develop the kind of neighborhoods you are happy to come home to.