Brunswick Forest and The Villages: Having It All- All in one place

Star News
By: Brunswick Forest

 
Live. Work. Play. Master-planned communities across the U.S. and Great Britain have flourished through the concept of a central location for many of life’s major activities. Unquestionably an environmentally friendly movement, it is also heralded for fostering a strong sense of community.

Bill And Beth DuVall Can Vouch For Brunswick Forest On All Three Fronts.
The DuValls retired from the Clinton, NC, office of Edward Jones Investments in 2006, and became some of the very first residents in Brunswick Forest. “We picked our lot from a plat map and to view it, we drove as close to it as we could get, over muddy roads,” said Bill. “Thankfully, the developer has delivered on the promised amenities!”

Bill said retirement did not last long, as the firm’s corporate office soon called and asked them to operate an office in Leland. They first located in Waterford, but moved to The Villages at Brunswick Forest in July 2012. “It’s funny,” said Bill. The company had a presence in Leland for more than 10 years, but we had several people stop by our Villages office saying they were excited to find that Edward Jones Investments was now in
Leland. I guess we have better visibility at The Villages.”

Business Is Booming
Excellent visibility may very well be one of the contributing factors to the commercial center’s success. Much like the residential community it supports, The Villages at Brunswick Forest hasn’t stopped booming. The 160-acre town center is made up of more than 500,000 square feet of retail and professional establishments, including New Hanover Regional Medical Center’s 40,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art medical building. And its newest building, home to several new businesses, is scheduled to open in early 2014. The Villages’ newest additions include:

• JordanBuilt Homes—development office and design studio
• Tideline Fabrics & Home Décor—a retail shop offering fabrics, sewing supplies and home décor
• Hollywood Nails—nail salon

“The Villages not only puts convenience at the front door for Brunswick Forest residents,” said Jerry Helms, Director of Sales for Brunswick Forest. “It expands the business offerings for all of Leland and northern Brunswick Country, as well.” Helms said the town center has become an amenity for the entire area, as it is the site of Leland’s Founder’s Day Festival, as well as many car shows, craft shows, and other community events.

“We have it all right here,” said Helms, “which is why even locals are moving here from Wilmington and surrounding areas.” Indeed, residents can see their doctor, shop for groceries, pick up their prescription, dine on gourmet pizza or pasta, buy new shoes, frame a picture, treat themselves to a latte, board their pet, and so many other things… all without ever leaving their neighborhood. In fact, they don’t even have to get in a car. A network of walking and biking trails connects the entire neighborhood to The Villages at Brunswick Forest.

“I’m not sure how long the commute to the office is,” said Bill, whose home is in the Jefferson Landing neighborhood of Brunwick Forest. “Let’s just say it’s so short, my coffee doesn’t even have a chance to cool off.”

Playing Up The Amenities
Beth retired from Edward Jones for the second time in early November to spend more time with family, but she sometimes attended a fitness class at the Wellness Center on her way to work. “It was often tempting for both of us to leave work a bit early and take in nine holes of golf before dark,” said Bill.

“Going home for lunch was always the norm for us, often picking up a ‘make your own’ salad from Lowes Foods along the way,” he continued. “Sometimes I can even get in a quick game of ball with the grandchildren before returning to work.”

Bill said while The Villages makes things so easy and convenient, it’s certainly no problem to make a quick run over the bridge into Wilmington. In fact, many people who work in Wilmington find they can enjoy all the resort-like amenities at Brunswick Forest, yet travel back and forth to work with ease.

“Like the residential community, The Villages continues to grow on a controlled, systematic basis,” said Helms. “The developer can fill spaces nearly as quickly as they can build them, but the company is committed to developing it thoughtfully. We want to help ensure the businesses that locate here are successful, and are supporting the needs and wants of Brunswick Forest residents. Our residents tell us what they want, and we work on getting those fulfilled.”

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