Brookside News + Events

February 29, 2008

Brookside Press Q & A: Ground Breaking Ceremony & Lake Dedication

Dear Bill,

As a follow-up to the Phase 8 Groundbreaking on Friday, we wanted to present some additional background / detail that may be useful for your readers.
 
Even when times are bad, people need a place to live and Brookside is a very special place. I've walked over and managed many projects in Northern Virginia from Fair Lakes to Cascades and I've never seen a place as wonderful as Brookside. Standing on the shore of just one of the five pristine lakes, you can't help but relax and feel closer to nature. All in a convenient Fauquier location mid way between Warrenton and Gainesville!


Brookside is so gorgeous, not because of tightly manicured shrubs or nursery stock-sized trees, but from the splendor of acre after acre of preserved mature trees, five breathtaking lakes and countless inspiring views. Brookside is over 1,000 acres and is approved for about the same number of single family homes.

The entire area, including Brookside's lakes, community recreation centers, and village square, are stitched together with miles and miles of trails – including future connections near the brand new Kettle Run High School and Greenville Grade School (both scheduled to open in Fall 2008), the Auburn Middle School (opened Fall 2004) and the New Baltimore Library (planned opening in 2009). Brookside's trails will also link its lakefront village center, located between Lake Ashby and Lake Wesley, to Vint Hill's amenities and the Lake Brittle loop trail.
 
The nature and community aspects of Brookside are only part of why we confidently put our shovels in the ground, despite today's housing market. It doesn't take a "leap of faith" to see the desirability of Brookside's few new lakefront homes or the community overall. That was the thought behind the February 29th (Leap Day) Ground Breaking. We also had the Lake Wesley Dedication in honor of Wesley Edwards, complete with a bar-be-que, bonfires, ceremonial shovels and an all around good time. We had folks join us from the local government, our extended business family, including Patricia Miller and Steve Rodgers, the surrounding neighborhoods, and of course the existing residents of Brookside.
 
From left: M&T Bank, NVR Homes, Scott District County Supervisor, S. W. Rodgers,
Ed Moore, Brian Cohn, Pat Miller, M. Riordan WSA Board Scott District, Wes Kennedy, PE

We also took this public opportunity to introduce new home designs for this first waterfront section of Brookside. These new designs are Brookside's very first small- to mid-sized homes and the first that will be priced in the $300K-$500K range. That means for the first time in the Brookside's history you will be able to get into Brookside with a conforming rate first home mortgage. For years the only homes available were Brookside's estate homes in the $500K to $1 Million+ range. Although Brookside's estate homes continue to sell well on heavily wooded ½ and one acre lots, we expect their pace will also increase with new buyers flocking to the smaller single family waterfront homes.

It is hard to imagine, but until this new phase no one was able to access or even see the extensive water features at Brookside. That is what is so exiting. Brookside has residents in over 200 estate homes that moved in the last few years and none of them has had the opportunity to enjoy the four internal lakes. Because of Brookside's appeal, we expect to exceed 250 occupied residences before the celebration of Fauquier's 250th Year Anniversary celebration next year.

Brookside opened a new pool and small community building two years ago on Riley Road. That facility came about as a gift to the residents, never pictured, planned proffered or promised, just an extra Brookside amenity to address the multi year delay from when construction plans for this new phase were first submitted to Fauquier County. The Riley Road pool is designed to accommodate a Brookside swim team, area swim meets, and as a secondary pool and meeting facility to the approved main community facility on the shore of Lake Ashby. With the first lakefront phase now beginning, we finally have the approved grades around Lake Wesley for planning Brookside's main lakefront community center, pool, and village square.

We already started detailed plans for this fantastic recreational area between Lake Wesley and Lake Ashby for the main community center, pool, board walk, fishing pier and dock, not to mention tennis courts, tot lots, play ground, Brookside's baseball diamond and a soccer field. Brookside's Lake Ashby pool is being designed for pure family fun and relaxed pleasure, including plans to almost touch the waters of Lake Ashby. We are looking at zero entry areas; kids spray and play areas, adult soaking spots and a few traditional lanes. The serenity and natural beauty of Lake Ashby will be an incredible backdrop to frame decades of memories for Brookside and Fauquier County residents.

Lake Ashby is one of our waterfront gems, and at about 60 acres it is the largest of our lakes. Once known as Hidden Lake, because practically no one ever saw it till now, we can't wait to open it for fishing, birding, boating, hiking and picnicking. The five lakes, Ashby, Willow, Anne, Wesley and Brittle are widely known among the regions anglers for their treasure trove of giant largemouth bass and family fun.

Because Brookside's lakes are for generations to enjoy, for now the policy is catch and gentle release on the four internal lakes. For those fishing for keeps, Brookside borders the 78 acre Lake Brittle at their public fishing pier, boat dock, picnic and trail entrance. Anglers drive from all over the region to enjoy Lake Brittle. For those living at Brookside, Lake Brittle is just one of the five hot spots you can walk to on Brookside trail system to toss a fishing line in the water or just to enjoy the natural beauty.

Lake Wesley is just gorgeous and one of the prettiest spots around for a new home. The groundbreaking was for our first mid priced homes that start right along Lake Wesley's shore. We hope to have two lakefront models up as quickly as possible, but are always dealing with delays. That's not a surprise to anyone trying to do business in Fauquier. The County's staunch anti-development reputation is party why Brookside is so unique in Fauquier County, and why Fauquier doesn't suffer from the extensive oversupply facing other area markets.

Of Fauquier's entire 500,000 plus acres, only about two percent is planned for development, and Brookside is the only approved fully amenitized master planned community. With that environment you can't and likely won't ever find anything like Brookside in Fauquier County and certainly not in Fairfax, Prince William or Loudoun Counties, where the density of most master planned communities is several times more than Brookside's homes.

Though Brookside's been in the County's plans and in the works for decades, I started at Brookside over five years ago partly because of its rare and incredible beauty. But mostly because I believe that Ed Miller and Brian Cohn devised a truly thoughtful environmental protection plan that went beyond anything I'd seen at the time. I was taught from the onset of my career that if you are going to create something, make it special. These guys are people I wanted to team with. Of the 1,000+ acres, Brookside already placed over 160+ acres in permanent conservation easement, including significant buffer areas designed to feed and protect the preserved wetlands and the four on-site spring fed lakes.

I feel very fortunate in that my job is truly a pleasure. As we set about constructing the remainder of Brookside, I get to be around the rare beauty of Brookside on a daily basis. We've heard in the past that all but one lake in the Washington metro area is man made, so if you fish, bird watch, or just enjoy the open space and fresh cool breeze off the water, having five walk-able lakes in one community is truly unique anywhere in this region.

With the all the natural beauty and the new schools and library, the only question is, where in Brookside do you want to live, right on the water or on one of the quiet wooded cul-de-sacs?

Thank you,

Ed Moore, President
Brookside Communities, LLC