IN THE NEWS

The community offers affordable home prices and a work, live, play lifestyle

 
MURRAY, UTAH (February 19, 2008) — Hamlet Homes' first phase of its vibrant new, mixed-use transit-oriented development (TOD), Birkhill at Fireclay, in the heart of Murray City, is now underway.  For more than two years, the homebuilder and Murray City worked together to plan, develop and clean-up the community site, which was formerly a brownfield area.  Hamlet has now begun constructing the buildings in the community with the first one scheduled for completion in July  2008. 

"The construction of the first Birkhill at Fireclay building is a momentous occasion," said Michael Brodsky, CEO of the Hamlet group of companies.  "This community has been  a tremendous undertaking for Hamlet over the past several years, and it is exciting that residents and business owners will soon be able to touch, feel and be part of this mixed-use, TOD neighborhood."

Located at Fireclay Avenue (4295 South) and Main Street, Birkhill is the first mixed-use community under development in Murray's 97-acre RDA Fireclay District.  The community provides an exciting, environmentally and economically sound alternative to suburban sprawl and will offer homeowners, retailers and businesses the opportunity to enjoy a dynamic place in which to live, work and play. 

"Hamlet Homes has redeveloped some of Murray City's most-blighted industrial land into attractive urban communities," said Murray City Mayor Dan Snarr.  "Birkhill at Fireclay will be the pinnacle of an exciting walkable community, and Murray City considers itself very fortunate to have Hamlet Homes as an urban development partner." 

The epitome of a well-planned, attractively designed urban neighborhood, Birkhill's residential, commercial and retail services are intertwined and conveniently located next to the Fireclay TRAX station, creating a truly walkable, urban lifestyle. 

"Hamlet Homes has caught the vision of connecting communities and transit together, " said Mike Allegra, chief capital development officer for Utah Transit Authority, "This truly is a renaissance for transit and TOD." 

Hamlet Homes is releasing for sale the first phase of 230 condominiums in its building now under construction.  When completed, the 30-acre Birkhill community will contain more than 330 residential units, including townhomes and condos, as well as 250,000 square-feet of commercial space thta will combine retail and office uses.  A nearby community park and playground is located along Cottonwood Creek.  Hamlet is investing an estimated $150 million in the project. 

Birkhill at Fireclay will feature charming Federal-and Georgian-style architectural designs with stone and brick exteriors, similar to those found in eastern communities like Boston and Philadelphia, as well as tree-lined sidewalks and landscaped street medians.  The first mixed-use condominium building will welcome residents and guests with an elegant lobby showcasing attractive lighting, lush carpet patterns and distinctive floor tiles. 

Each condo has between 760 and 1,440 square feet of living space with up to three bedrooms and two baths.  The master bedrooms feature large walk-in closets and garden baths.  A well-designed kitchen includes a countertop island, track lighting and GE Energy Star ®  appliances.  Homeowners will particularly enjoy features such as energy-efficient windows, progressive light fixtures, central air conditioning and an intercom security system.  Each home is also designed to be accessible for people with disabilities. 

Maintenance-free, full brick and stone exteriors, along with a fully landscaped park and pavilion nearby, add convenience and beauty to the surrounding area.  Birkhill at Fireclay's home prices start in the mid-$190s. 

The community features UTOPIA Community MetroNet™'s high-speed fiber optic technology, providing residents with advanced voice, video and Internet communications.  Through its partnership with UTOPIA, Birkhill at Fireclay's Owners' Association has contracted to provide homebuyers with the most-advanced, high-speed Internet and digital television through MSTAR.NET.  To learn more about the community, contact Nate Kingdom at (801) 270-7489 or visit Hamlet Homes' Web site at www.hamlethomes.com.   

About Hamlet Homes 

Hamlet Homes (www.hamlethomes.com) crafts quality, customer-oriented homes, ranging from condominiums and townhomes to single-family homes located in attractively designed neighborhoods in northern Utah.  In addition, Hamlet is a leader of urban redevelopment, transit-oriented communities.  Since the company's founding in 1995, Hamlet Homes has constructed more than 3,000 homes in 30 communities.  The company is continually striving to meet and exceed the expectations of its homebuyers and live up to its brand of "Great Homes.  Great People.  Great Experience."  In 2005, 2006, and 2007, Hamlet was awarded the Builder of Integrity Award from the Quality Builders Warranty Corporation, and in 2003, 2004, 2006 and 2007, Hamlet was awarded Utah's Best of State medal for residential construction.   Located in Salt Lake City, Utah, Hamlet Homes is part of the Hamlet group of companies, which also includes Hamlet Development, Diversified Habitats and Stirling Mortgage, an affiliate of Wells Fargo.



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