Are you seeing more small-scale developments, and if so, what design solutions work for small parcels of land?

by Anja Seng and Jenni Nichols

Yes, small-scale developments are increasing around the country. Affordability is among the biggest challenges facing the housing industry, and a land shortage plus high land prices make it difficult to offer attainable homes. So, developers are turning to small-scale developments, and there are design solutions that help make these affordable developments attractive.?

We picked 3 new small-scale communities worth checking out. Key features of these developments:

1. A mix of home types across 7–39 floor plans attracts a broader range of buyers.
2. Open space, paseos, and pathways that help make a denser community feel walkable and breathable.
3. Gathering areas like a covered picnic area and lawn bowling replace a pool.
4. Communities benefit from fewer development impacts and infrastructure costs, shorter construction timelines, and a greater emphasis on architecture, amenities, and wellness.

Covina Bowl by Trumark Homes?is a 4.5-acre infill site that revitalized an abandoned bowling alley. Trumark developed an adaptive reuse plan—with the design help from WHA—to preserve certain aspects of the bowling alley while developing high-density homes. The Googie-style architecture and signage make this neighborhood instantly recognizable.

Covina Bowl consists of 2 home collections:

• The Rows are traditional, side-by-side 3-story townhomes with 2 floor plans of 1,573 and 1,705 square feet.
• Flats & Towns allowed the design team to be creative with the puzzle-piecing 7 floor plans ranging from 735 to 1,823 square feet. The array of layouts, home sizes, and price points helped appeal to a broad buyer pool.

Trumark sold out of all 132 homes within 2 years of opening.

Trumark planned retail in a corner of the site, along with paseos and pockets of green space, to breathe more life into this infill community.

South 620?by Van Metre Homes is a rezoning development designated as a Transition Compact Neighborhood, a site between more developed and rural areas of Loudoun County, VA. A key factor in obtaining rezoning approval was achieving higher density while maintaining open space.

While preserving 50% of South 620 for open space (compared to 27% in an average master plan1), Van Metre achieved an overall density of 3.8 per acre among 112 homes. That might seem low in some markets, but the surrounding neighborhoods in Aldie, VA, consist primarily of big single-family detached homes.

Van Metre’s architecture team designed 3 product types: single-family detached, duplexes, and quadruplex townhomes. Each home type adds variety while still fitting the context of the surrounding neighborhoods.?

In addition to trails that wind around tree conservations and ponds, Van Metre tucked in pockets of green space throughout this small-scale community. There is a pollinator garden, social green, and the Spencer Smith multi-use field with a tot lot and sports courts.

Indigo by Meristem Communities and DAHLIN as town architect is a smaller-scale community (relative to other Texas master plans) that is just coming to life. The 235-acre site will have 800 homes, 250,000 square feet of mixed-use commercial and retail, and a 42-acre farm.

The emphasis here is creating a walkable, public realm where you’re encouraged to socialize with neighbors. Indigo is very wellness-driven, pedestrian-friendly, and architecture-forward. This small-town agrihood environment is much easier to achieve when working with a smaller site. The intimacy and coziness lend to the community’s charm.

The HOA-owned Indigo Farm has full-time farmers who will assist residents in gardening classes and growing vegetables. Farm-fresh organic produce will feed into The Filling Station (a general store that just broke ground) and diverse menus in local restaurants.?

Meristem maintained a significant portion of the community for open space. Trails and paths lined with greenery connect residents to all parts of the community, and mews (playful, artsy green spaces) thoughtfully integrate the outdoors. The mixed-use area brings convenience and ensures a sense of place, balancing the focus on nature.?

We covered the small-scale development trend in the New Home Trends Institute’s 2Q24 webinar on data and design solutions (NHTI members can watch the recording?here).

Keep the questions coming by submitting them?here?or emailing?[email protected].

For even more insights, complete this form to learn about becoming a New Home Trends Institute member.

1 New Home Trends Institute by John Burns Research and Consulting, LLC 2024 survey of 55 master-planned communities across the US