Kelsey Glen: Community offers ‘the best of both worlds’
When JoAnne and Bill Patterson moved to Wilson County from Charlotte, N.C., they wanted a house in the country. But they wanted a house in the city, too.
They found what they were looking for in Kelsey Glen, a growing master planned community in north Mt. Juliet off Old Lebanon Dirt Road.
“We couldn’t get Kelsey Glen out of our minds. We have the best of both worlds,” said JoAnne. “There’s a real country atmosphere. Looking out back, there’s lots of open land, deer, wild turkeys. But we’re close to Providence and all the conveniences. Nashville is just 15 minutes away.”
They will soon be meeting new neighbors. The Jones Co., Kelsey Glen’s founder, is actively building new homes in the master planned community to meet growing demand. The community is adding additional amenities this year, including a pool and cabana and a new portion of a walking trail, said Perry Pratt, Jones Co. vice president.
“Kelsey Glen’s appeal is that it is a master planned community in more of a rural setting that is not immediately surrounded by commercial activity and the traffic,” he said.
The company also builds homes in Providence, a master planned community adjacent to popular shopping, entertainment and dining destinations in south Mt. Juliet.
Master planned communities are increasingly in demand, said Pratt. They often provide amenities like pools that residents otherwise might have to join a private club to enjoy. Then there’s the convenience factor.
“Kids can ride their bikes to the pool. You don’t have a long drive,” he said.
Homes in master planned communities are a good investment, said Pratt, since houses meet the community’s standards and architectural styles are coordinated. In communities like Kelsey Glen, a variety of floor plans allow residents to move to a larger home or downsize without leaving the community.
“As families grow, we have a lot of move-up buyers,” said Pratt. “They like the community. They like the schools. They can move up without moving away.”
Many home buyers like the certainty of buying a home in a planned community, he said.
“It’s planned. You know what you’re going to get,” Pratt said.
In Kelsey Glen, that means a house in the $180,000s to the $300,000s. Homes share features such as open floor plans, hardwoods and drop zones, a designated spot where busy families can recharge their cellphones and electronic devices and set down the car keys.
“It’s all in one organized area,” Pratt said.
The Pattersons’ 2,500-square-foot house has plenty of room for their extended family and features four bedrooms and three baths. A game room and three bedrooms are upstairs. The master is down. The kitchen has granite countertops and stainless appliances, “everything people want,” said JoAnne.
A major appeal of Kelsey Glen’s homes is their energy efficiency. Lights in pantries and utility areas automatically turn on and off when someone walks in and out. Compact fluorescent lights replace many ordinary light bulbs. Thermostats are programmable, allowing precise control of indoor temperatures.
Other energy-saving features are out of sight. Upgraded insulation keeps homes comfortable. The heating and cooling air ducts in each home are pressure tested by an independent third party for energy-wasting — and money wasting — leaks. The result is lower monthly energy bills. “It’s dramatic,” Pratt said.
The Pattersons like knowing that physicians’ offices and Summit Medical Center are only minutes away on Interstate 40. For residents who travel on business, the close proximity to Nashville International Airport is a major attraction, Pratt said. “Sometimes people select Wilson over Williamson County because the airport is nearby,” he said. “It’s a 15-minute drive versus 30 or 40 minutes. Wilson County’s appeal is that is has the advantages of a small community and the advantages of a metro area.”
JoAnne is looking forward to spending time at the pool with her grandchild and enjoying nature on the new walking trail, activities that she could not pursue if she didn’t live in a master planned community.
“You’re buying a lifestyle,” she said.
The Tennessean - Bill Lewis
