Hickory Grove: Construction and sales are gaining momentum in this active-adult community in Ashland

Our idea of the perfect home can change over time. The starter home you fell in love with might feel a little crowded, once you start a family. And the bigger house with the large yard you bought to accommodate your growing family can feel a little empty, once your kids have left the nest.

Plus, yard work rarely gets more enjoyable as we age.

For empty nesters, the perfect home might be one that offers a low-maintenance lifestyle, with a primary suite on the first level. Living in a neighborhood with people roughly your age would be an added bonus.

That’s why the number of active-adult communities is growing nationwide. As boomers age, their notion of the perfect home has shifted.

Debbie Bullock felt that shift in the last few years. She’d enjoyed living in the Ladysmith Village community in Caroline County for 10 years. But climbing the stairs in her three-story house was getting a little old.

It wasn’t just the low-maintenance lifestyle and one-floor living that attracted Bullock to active-adult communities, though. She wanted to be closer to family and friends.

“I’ve lived in Caroline County all of my life,” she said. “I went to school here, and my kids went to school here, too.”

Once Bullock’s kids grew up, though, they moved to other parts of Virginia, and there wasn’t a lot tying her to her native county anymore.

Once she decided to move, Bullock acted quickly.

“I’d seen they were clearing land for a new active-adult community in Ashland, and I made an enquiry before they were even selling the lots,” she said.

The community – Hickory Grove, located near the intersection of Providence Church Road and Route 54 – will have 150 single-family, detached homes when it’s finished. Its developer, Hanover County-based Hickory Grove Partners LLC, bought the 52.25-acre parcel of land in Jan. 2024.

The development company’s partners are Todd Rogers and Mike Chenault, who own Rogers-Chenault Inc., a Hanover-based land development company, as well as Jeff Tunstall, a Hanover-based builder and developer.

Even though Hickory Grove was in its early stages of development, the appeal to Bullock was clear.

“I love the town of Ashland,” she said. “It’s quaint. And I have a lot of family and friends who live there.”

The location was also conveniently close to grocery stores and restaurants, as well as Interstate 95. And Bullock especially liked the floorplan for one of the available models.

She ended up being the community’s first homebuyer.

Bullock’s house is under construction now, and she said she anticipates moving in by November. It will have 2,522 square feet of living space, with four bedrooms and three full baths, with a primary suite on the first floor. The house will also have a two-car garage.

Bullock said she’s looking forward to meeting her new neighbors, but she’s especially excited to live close to family and friends.

“I will be five minutes from my daughter and her family,” she said.

Home stats and sales

Three builders are active in Hickory Grove.

Lakeside-based StyleCraft will build 35 homes, with sizes ranging from 1,600 to 2,200 square feet. Prices start in the low $500,000s.

“We have two homes nearly built,” said Megan Damron, StyleCraft’s sales manager. “The completion date is mid-August. And we have two more quick move-ins in the works.”

Charlotte, N.C-based Eastwood Homes is building 36 homes, with sizes ranging from 1,477 to 2,498 square feet. Prices start in the upper $400,000s.

“We are currently constructing our Edison model home, along with two quick move-in homes featuring our Burton and Patterson floorplans,” said Jessica Cooper, sales manager for Eastwood’s Richmond division. “These should be completed by late August or September.”

And Hanover-based RCI Builders is slated to build 79 homes, with sizes ranging from 1,900 to 3,000 square feet. (Rogers and Chenault co-own RCI Builders with Patrick Ashley.) Prices start at $500,000.

Currently, RCI has 12 homes under construction.

All the community’s homes will feature open floorplans and first-floor primary suites, as well as garages. Architectural styles will include Modern Farmhouse, Craftsman and Traditional. Exterior maintenance will be provided by the community’s homeowners association.

Hickory Grove’s amenities will include a large pond with a pier, a pavilion, pickleball courts, raised community gardens and a dog park, as well as approximately four miles of walking trails and sidewalks.

All three builders have opened their sections to sales, and early interest has been strong.

“We opened sales approximately three months ago, and we’ve had 12 sales so far,” Rogers said.

StyleCraft has sold three homes, and Damron said she anticipates interest growing once the company has finished its model home.

“Our model’s grand opening is Saturday, August 15,” she added. “We’re making a fun farmers market-style event.”

A number of factors are driving early sales, Cooper said.

“The combination of thoughtfully designed homes, a low-maintenance lifestyle and an unbeatable Ashland location makes Hickory Grove a truly unique opportunity,” Cooper said. “Buyers are looking for a community where they can simplify their lives without compromising on quality, and Hickory Grove delivers exactly that.”

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