A Q & A with David Weekley Homes
Who is developing the property and what are they doing?
David Weekley Homes (DW) purchased PD 768 tracts 1 and 2 in September 2016. These are the tracts behind Kessler Woods and N Oak Cliff Blvd, ending behind Lance and Amanda’s house. DW did not purchase the tracts along Davis. They are planning 57 units total. The homes are expected to be about 1,850– 3,000 square feet and to start at around $400K.
DW is planning 3 sets of home options. Option C (Tract 1, nearest Kessler Woods) will be 2 stories “Master Down” homes, with the master bedroom on the first floor. Option B, N Oak Cliff Blvd and in the center row, will be 2 stories with an optional 3rd story on some of the lots, with master bedroom on the 2nd floor. Option A, Stevens Village Drive, will be 2 stories with an option for 3rd floor. These homes are expected to face the street (the front door will be on Stevens Village Drive.
What is happening to the creek and the trees? What kind of landscaping will be installed?
Regarding the creek, DW noted that it’s not a creek, but a stormwater drainage ditch. They will be converting it into an underground pipe, shifting it to the west to be between the westernmost and center rows of houses. The property will be slightly graded to that pipeline location, so that it’s a soft V, and the property above the pipeline will be landscaped as a park between the houses.
The backs of the houses will face the park, and the fronts will face the streets. So the N Oak Cliff houses will see the fronts of the houses, not the back. There will be a 37’ easement between our back fences and the lots, which will include a landscape barrier and the road.
Additional trees will be planted on each lot.
The existing trees have been surveyed, and they will be removed for the land preparation. DW is working with the City’s arborist, and they expect to be replacing the trees in accordance with the PD requirement. They noted that DW consistently installs more landscaping than required, and their intent is to install a variety of species and sizes, selecting as large /mature trees as possible.
What will it look like?
If you’re interested in seeing a similar project, their Oak Park (Lemmon and Cedar Plaza near the Tollroad) is a good representation of their plans and what the developments look like (note that this development has 2, 3, and 4 story homes, where ours will have 2 and 3 only). They have recently started a development behind St. Cecilia – the 2 story there is a good representation of the 2 stories planned for this property. The model home across from Rosemont Elementary is a 2 story plan standard with a 3rd-floor option (with the 3rd-floor option the home is 36’ tall). The 3 story plans closest to St. Cecilia will not be carried over to the new project at West Davis.
Am I going to lose my downtown view?
DW does not anticipate these homes blocking current downtown views. With the grading/slope of our properties and the planned 2 story homes, our views should not be disrupted.
What about our back fences and the vegetation that was removed?
Behind the N Oak Cliff homes, DW is still in the development process but envisions a 4’ retaining wall next to the road, with dirt fill and landscaping to make a raised level bed, with shrubs.
The dirt fill will cover up the limestone rock that was exposed with the clearing. DW would like to work with the neighbors on getting the fences replaced/installing a landscape barrier. Once their survey and planning process is underway, we’ll hold a meeting with the neighbors to discuss the path forward for the fencing.
Are they using TIF funding?
No. DW is not utilizing the city’s TIF funds.
Will it be a gated community?
Not at this point. If needed, it will be a small (4’) gate to discourage traffic that does not need to be there.
What is the timing for construction?
They accelerated the clearing due to complaints of transients setting up tent housing on the property.
January 2017: Commence land preparation activities: moving dirt, installing underground utilities, and installing stormwater collection and discharge system. No plans to import or remove loads of dirt, so the excavation work will be minimal. Complete October 2017.b (Note, they will install their own sewer line, not tap into our existing one.)
November 2017: Commence construction of homes
May 2018: First closing on completed homes.
Note, they plan to have 5 – 10 homes in construction at any one time. They anticipate starting at the corner closest to Davis and Stevens Village Drive. Due to the closeness of the houses to each other, they will proceed in a more linear manner, not a scattered approach.