NEWS

Two of the more active builders at the massive Jerome Village development in Plain City are coming back for more.

Rockford Homes and Schottenstein Homes have signed on to build in two new communities: Orchid Hill and Willowbrush.

Nationwide Realty Ltd. is launching Orchid Hill first with infrastructure work still being done on the other community. Orchid’s prices start in the high $300,000s. (You can find the builders’ websites here and here.)

Orchid has 147 lots; 46 of them have been released and the builders have an equal share. Willowbrush will be developed in phases. The first will have 74 lots.

When completed, Jerome Village will have 2,200 single-family homes in 13 neighborhoods and 1.5 million square feet of commercial office and retail space abutting U.S. Route 42.

Rae Lemley, Rockford’s director of marketing, said the development offers pricing for all families and access to Dublin schools.

The master plan includes on-site elementary and middle schools, which haven’t been built yet. Forty percent of the development’s 1,500 acres is reserved for green space, she said. There’s also a park system that will connect to Glacier Ridge Metro Park.

Development plans include a commerce center that would house businesses, retailers and restaurants.

“Jerome Village will truly offer everything today’s families want and need, coupled with a feeling of community and respect for the land,” Lemley said.

David Parsley, vice president of sales and marketing at Schottenstein Homes, said Willowbrush will be a little more affordable than Orchid with homes starting in the $340,000s.

He said they’ll have 101 lots there and already have five pre-sales, “Which is really strong because you can’t even drive there without a four-wheeler.”

“(Willowbrush) is the most affordable housing you can buy in the community,” Parsley said. “What’s been surprising is the most significant interest we have in both communities has been the ranch floor plan. It used to be that just 10 percent of our sales were ranches, so there’s something in the air out there.”

Rockford Homes

Both Rockford Homes and Schottenstein Homes have built in several other neighborhoods at the development. Schottenstein was the original builder in the first section – Cranberry – that had 90 lots in 2011.

“We’ve always been busy since day one,” Parsley said.

Here are some updates from Nationwide Realty about the development:

• 900 lots constructed to date
• 500+ homes occupied to date
• 110 homes under construction
• There are 13 active builders at the community
• You can find Jerome Village’s website here

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Laura Newpoff covers residential real estate, travel and tourism, manufacturing and the business of sports for Columbus Business First.