Classic neighborhoods were built with vision for the livability and function before the advent of production housing became the norm after World War II. That’s why their historic and property investment value has endured. The vision behind this mass produced housing movement looked no farther than the bottom line with little thought to the lack of true livability left in it’s wake after the sales office closed and moved across town. American neighborhoods became vast single-family zones, as graceful as the garage doors that dominated them.
That’s starting to change, as Americans rediscover the beauty and craftsmanship and function of the traditional neighborhood. Water’s Edge is at the forefront of neo-traditional development and the green building movement, fusing the elegance of time-tested building with the convenience and efficiency of modern technology.
Water’s Edge features the time-honored icons of a traditional American town:
- Approx.10 acres of parks and public open space with pathways.
- A real town square and nondenominational chapel and small ampetheater near the main entrance. The square includes an area for festivals, farmer’s market, concerts and a portion can be used for winter ice-skating.
- Approximately 26,000 square feet of neighborhood-scale commercial space for a variety of small retail stores, offices, a branch post office, a planned branch library, sidewalk cafe and more.
- An exercise facility such as an authentic, classic YMCA with daycare.
- Classrooms for children and adult education. While details haven’t been finalized, some type of public or private instruction will be available at Water’s Edge. At the very least, home schooling families will find a space to support their needs. Water’s Edge has a strong commitment to quality educational development.
- Active senior housing units
We believe in being environmentally responsible at Water’s Edge. Idaho Smart Growth has given Water’s Edge a Smart Growth score card rating of 97 out of 100. (A typical subdivision in the area normally scores under 20 points.) Our homes will also be built to stringent LEED, Building America and Energy Star standards. The entire community’s overall design, layout and livability will be certified under a new national standard for housing subdivisions called LEED-ND. (see www.usgbc.org and look for the new LEED-ND Neighborhood Development pilot program.
