By Carol Hazard, Richmond Times-Dispatch
The brick entrance is done. And the roads are cut for Eagle Preserve at Jordan on the James, the first major residential development start in north Prince George County in years.
Within weeks, the community off Jordan Point Road will be a construction zone. Eleven of 79 lots have sold.
Eagle Preserve is the final phase of development of Jordan on the James, an established residential community south of the Benjamin Harrison bridge and the Jordan Point Yacht Haven marina along the James River.
“Jordan on the James is a custom-built community, where homeowners selected their builders and plans and created their homes from the start,” said Jim Cuddihy Jr. of Bland Development Corp., who is developing the project with his wife, Bonnie Cuddihy.
“Eagle Preserve is more of production-built community,” he said. Homeowners can choose from five floor plans, make modifications and personalize their homes through a selection of cabinets and finishes.
“These are personalized homes, not custom homes,” said Amy Allen, sales agent for the community.
Eagle Preserve has a separate entrance and will have a separate homeowners association from Jordan on the James, which has 128 homes and 64 condos.
Ryan Homes is the designated builder for Eagle Preserve. Homes will start at $270,000, with the average price estimated at $310,000.
The model home, which opened June 6, has five bedrooms and three baths. It features a covered front porch, an open-floor design with 9-foot ceilings on the first floor and a composite deck on the back. The kitchen has off-white cabinets, granite countertops and a large island.
The 2,750-square-foot home, on a half-acre lot, has a double garage.
Cuddihy said he expects Eagle Preserve, so-called because of an abundance of bald eagles in the area, will be fully built in three years. About 20 houses will front or back up to two lakes.
The community is across from the Jordan Point Country Club, which was in foreclosure and taken back March 25 by the lender.
“I would love to see it as an estate property or continue as a golf course; it’s a wonderful setting on the James River,” said Cuddihy, adding that sales have not suffered because the golf course is not open.
Cuddihy acquired 110 acres with 2,000 feet of river frontage for Jordan on the James in 1986 and 41 acres for Eagle Preserve in 2005.
Construction on Jordan on the James started in 1989.
His plan to build the new community was slowed by what he called “the real estate depression,” which started in 2007 and continued through 2012.
“While the whole market may not have fully recovered, it’s been years since a major residential community has been introduced in Prince George County,” Cuddihy said. “There is very little supply of new homes in this price range.”
Recent large residential communities in Prince George include Brickhouse Landing and The Meadows.
Brickhouse Landing, which opened in 2009, is an upscale community off Middle Road with houses starting in the $400,000s.
The Meadows, off Sandy Ridge Road, opened in the mid-2000s. Houses there sell for $225,000 to $350,000.
Both communities are still under development, said Johana Story with Re/Max Commonwealth overseeing sales with Troy Gibbs in both communities.
Cuddihy worked with the county to get water rights for the Eagle Preserve development, receiving permission to proceed in 2012. It took a few more years to submit plans, receive approval and work out the partnership with the builder.