The Model Ideal

August 1, 2014 Homestyle No comments

The model home of Turtlewood at Southport. Photo by Bethany Turner

In a quieter part of Southport, away from the thoroughfare of Howe Street, Turtlewood at Southport has been growing all summer long. Among homesites waiting to break ground, three adorable cottages in three different floor plans beckon newcomers to the area.

Locals may be familiar with the development from its first incarnation. “There are a few homes that were part of the original development that was started in 2004 or 2005,” Rasa Love, realtor with Buddy Blake’s Remax Essentials team, explains. “Because of the recession, everything slowed down. But the new developer, Todd Jemison, came in and bought Turtlewood and took ownership of the major percentage of the homesites in this neighborhood.”

With two or three more floor plans on the way, Turtlewood is Todd Jemison’s vision for a close-knit but relaxed community in seaside Southport. “I want to create a comfortable community where neighbors know one another and can enjoy life, whatever stage they’re in,” Jemison shares. “I was charmed by this unique coastal town that offers a lot to its residents. We’re excited to be part of Southport which offers such great places to be active as well as spots to relax and take it easy. It has such beautiful, coastal views plus great restaurants, shops, art galleries, golf courses, water sports—the list goes on.”

Photo by Bethany Turner

Jemison, a Wake Forest University graduate and the son of a realtor, has lived closely in the industry his entire life. Since 1995, he has been involved as a licensed realtor, mortgage broker, and real-estate developer. Jemison is using these skills to revitalize Turtlewood with a team of professionals sourced locally. Remax Essentials, with offices in Leland and Wilmington, and soon to have an office in Southport, joined the team in December 2013. “We are now the exclusive agent for Turtlewood,” Love affirms.

The developer also teamed with Tidal Wave Construction, owned by Todd Piper of Wilmington. Founding the company in 2004, Piper’s focus is on energy efficiency in order to marry yesterday’s architectural charm with today’s new technology.

In fact, Turtlewood seeks to produce homes that are both energy efficient and low maintenance. “Todd feels that the Turtlewood neighborhood is a treasure with its natural settings and marsh-front homesites,” the developer’s wife, Jill Jemison, owner of Jill Marketing, describes. “The homes themselves offer an ease of life through their energy efficiency and nearly maintenance-free features so that residents can focus on the important things in their lives.”

Flex space, shown here as a home office. Photo by Bethany Turner

Energy-saving features include high-efficiency blown cellulose insulation, 2×6 wall construction ensuring 170 percent greater insulation than code requires, double-pane insulated windows that also exceed hurricane requirements, air-pressure-tested high-efficiency HVAC system, and every house is pressure-tested throughout for maximum efficiency.

Exterior features help to keep maintenance down, including: durable cement lap siding; sealed concrete porches; mold, rot, and mildew-proof foundation assembly; 30-year architectural shingle roof; premium rust and warp-proof front door; and a decorative carriage-style, hurricane rated garage door.

While the goal is to craft cottage-style homes fit for living in Southport, Jemison and Piper developed many “lifestyle features” to include in select floor plans, such as extra space in the garage for a golf cart, bikes, and/or storage; bathroom vanities with double sinks at “back-saving” heights; and state-of-the-art security systems with smart-phone monitoring and controls.

Photo by Bethany Turner

“Our standard features are the majority of other neighborhoods’ upgrades,” Rasa continues. “We try to keep the upgrades down to a minimum, so people walk in to the model and say, ‘Oh, I really want this’—and that’s our standard. Granite countertops, stainless-steel appliances, high-end cabinets, engineered flooring, ceramic tile, heavy craftsman trim—those are all standard. We have a good selection of cabinets, granite and tile, and for hardwood flooring there is a selection of three.”

Of the three homes currently standing, all three floor plans are represented. “We have a model and two builder specs on the ground, so it’s a really good opportunity for buyers to look at the three floor plans we do have right now. Then they have the opportunity to choose one of our lots and one of the home plans. But, if they’re interested in building a custom home and bringing in their own plans, they can do that. We just need to work within our architectural guidelines: the cottage feel of Southport, craftsman-style.”

Photo by Bethany Turner

The model, featured in the photos in this article, is the Yaupon Reserve plan, offering three bedrooms, two bathrooms, a bonus room (shown here as an office), walk-in attic storage, and a two-car garage. The model was styled from the paint to the rugs by Jill Jemison.

The Yaupon Reserve is one of the more spacious floor plans available at 3,265 square feet under the roof. The Cattail Bungalow plan, built as a spec at 5991 Gray Squirrel Path and offered for $259,900, offers three bedrooms, two bathrooms, flex space, and a two-car garage at 2,665 square feet under the roof. The final plan, Marshwalk Cottage, for sale at 5994 Gray Squirrel Path, with three bedrooms, two bathrooms, and a two-car garage has 2,521 square feet under the roof, listed at $249,900.

Each home offers a decorative columned porch with a stone facade along with a landscape package including irrigation. Inside folks will find thick craftsman-style trim, minimum nine-foot smooth ceilings, and vaulted ceilings. Flooring includes engineered hardwood in the hallways and living areas, ceramic tile in the kitchen, bathrooms and laundry rooms, as well as high-grade stain-resistant carpet in all bedrooms and flex spaces.

Photo by Bethany Turner

The bathrooms and kitchens offer Moen Brantford fixtures in either oil-rubbed bronze or satin nickel, while the kitchen features soft-close drawers and Frigidaire Gallery Series stainless-steel appliances and a smooth-surface stove. The kitchen was professionally designed to aid in ease of use. The master bedroom has a walk-in closet with wood built-ins, and there’s storage cabinets in the laundry rooms.

All of the aforementioned amenities are standard in Turtlewood at Southport. So, what makes an upgrade? Optional features include a gas fireplace with mantle, a true chimney-vented fireplace, wood flooring throughout, a walk-in tiled shower, heated floors in the master bathroom, and the security system that can be monitored via smart phone.

Photo by Bethany Turner

For more information on Turtlewood at Southport, visit www.Turtlewood.com or call (844) 877-8539. Those interested also may contact Rasa Love at info@turtlewood.com or (910) 547-5068. Currently of 50 single-family homes, 18 sites are sold.

“I was out on the water this past week,” Love begins as she describes life in Southport. “I realized how relaxed and laid back Southport is, and how lucky we are to live in a place where most people pay thousands of dollars to vacation. We’re lucky to be able to get out on the water within minutes on the boat—and from there, everything changes. It’s just such a special and beautiful place here. I think the people here are really nice, laid back, and pleasant. I think it’s just a magical place to live.”