Ryan Homes’ Newest Housing Development in Indiana Township – The First in Over a Decade
Families looking for new construction in the Fox Chapel Area School District have been offered few options in the last decade, but Ryan Homes is excited to announce that they will be filling that void in 2020. Starting in July, a brand new development named Richmont Estates will open for VIP appointments. Located in Indiana Township along Rich Hill Road (off of Route 910 and across from Fox Chapel Village), Richmont will offer both single-family homes and townhouses. This is a rare opportunity to move into a brand new home, which will sit in the footprint of Hartwood Elementary School, Dorseyville Middle School (in close proximity), and Fox Chapel High School. Home buyers looking for a nationally ranked school district with convenient access to the city–without the hassle of remodeling–will be very interested in Richmont.
Indiana Township approved plans in June 2019 for a development of 44 single family homes and 50 townhouse structures. Richmont sits on approximately 34 acres, and the developer was approved in January 2020 for an amendment to subdivide an adjacent additional parcel into four single-family lots, which brings the total of single-family lots to 48. Daniel Anderson, Manager of Indiana Township, provided these statistics, adding that the community should benefit from “a diverse housing stock.”
Indiana Township has been named a 2020 Banner Community by the Allegheny League of Municipalities (ALOM). It is the eighth year in which Indiana Township received such a designation, since the program was first launched in 2013.
Anderson explains the meaning behind the designation: “This recognition was provided because of the municipality’s efforts to provide effective, efficient and accountable services to its residents and businesses. A Banner Community distinguishes itself as a model community through a commitment to sustainable practices including professional development, intergovernmental cooperation, sound fiscal management and proactive communications to engage community stakeholders. [We are] proud to be part of the Fox Chapel Area School District which is a nationally recognized, award-winning school district
about 10 miles northeast of Downtown Pittsburgh.”
Single-family homes are being built with up to five bedrooms, 3.5 bathrooms, and two-car garages. Ryan Homes has been listening to buyers who are saying that they want a house that’s “not too big” and are taking into consideration their needs for a 2,000-3,500 square foot space. Josh Mowrey, General Manager for Richmont, says that Ryan Homes’ architects and designers have taken into account their customers’ feedback when integrating new features in their latest home layouts and design. What Mowrey loves about his company is that their emphasis is really “to focus on the customer.” Innovations have been made in recent models with specific regard to the exterior design and kitchen island design.
Townhomes will offer three bedrooms, 2.5 baths, and a two-car garage and will include a low maintenance community. Grass cutting, mulching, and fertilization will be included as part of that package. The townhomes measure exactly 1,658 square feet each, and they have been a great selling product for Ryan Homes. They have sold more of this footprint in the past seven years than ever before.
Mowrey knows there is more than one “best” attribute of this particular development. He speaks with enthusiasm: “I want to stress how excited we are to be able to offer new homes in the Fox Chapel School District at a great value compared to the resale market. We haven’t had a community in that area in over 10 years and we are offering great new floor plans and features that our homeowners will love. Buyers will be able to move into a brand new home in a very desirable school district. They will maintain great access to Downtown, plus the Route 28 corridor is expanding with great improvements.”
Indeed, one of the most desirable aspects of this new construction is the convenient access to Route 28, the Pennsylvania Turnpike, and nearby parks. Mowrey thinks that “the close proximity to Emmerling Community Park (2 miles away) will be something our homeowners take advantage of frequently.” Also, because health and wellness are on the minds of so many home seekers, Mowrey reports that their “buyers tend to prefer lower homeowner association (HOA) fees so that they have the freedom to join the pools/health clubs that they prefer”–and the choices are plentiful. One community center and various private gyms and clubs are situated within a 10 mile radius, as are two additional community parks: Deer Lakes and Hartwood Acres.
Ryan Homes is proud of their partnership with trusted vendors. Here is a listing of just a few of their quality partners: GE, Shaw, Kohler, PlyGem, Sherwin Williams, Timberlake Cabinetry, and Delta. They are equally proud of the fact that the subcontractors who have been hired and who are currently working on the Richmont Estates are local and live in the same communities as the construction itself.
The new development will offer some premium features–custom cabinets, updated finishes, second floor laundry and dedicated lower level storage–to name a few. Customers can choose from four floor plans: the Allegheny, Ballenger, Hudson, or Columbia. Mowrey says these new layouts have been very well received within the past year and have become the top selling layouts. Mowrey also points out that the “open concept” plan has been transformed into more of a “lifestyle triangle,” wherein a dining area is incorporated. Think of this dining area as a sitting area, bigger than a breakfast nook, with lots of light and a comfortable space where you can relax instead of eating quickly at an island and rushing out.
The Lifestyle Triangle is becoming a common concept in homes and utilizes the three rooms which are most lived in: the kitchen, the family room, and the dining area. There are a variety of ways in which to create the triangle, but the idea is that the three spaces interact with each other. The three spaces can be arranged in various ways to create the triangle, which influences how the spaces interact with each other.
The feel of the kitchen, dining area, and family room is kept cozy with this particular layout. As Mowrey explains: “With the lifestyle triangle, there isn’t wasted space with this design. The spaces are functional and match the way our customers want to live in their homes.”
Increasingly, prospective buyers are favoring a casual lifestyle plan, which incorporates the high traffic living spaces, such as the kitchen and family room. The idea is to eliminate redundant formal spaces in the home (i.e. the formal sitting room of a bygone era or the formal dining room, which younger families typically say they have no need for). Instead, builders are concentrating on the square footage and especially on the finishes in the spaces that are heavily used.
The most popular floor plan–the Ballenger model home–can be seen on the Ryan Homes website (ryanhomes.com). The site includes a static floor plan plus an interactive floor plan, and it allows a calculation of energy savings’ costs. Of course, the virtual home tour features well-appointed homes whose walls and decor are found in muted tones of gray and white. Naturally, these model homes are somewhat minimalist in terms of “stuff,” but that is intentional to give you a sense of the living space. The space for a family really isn’t too big, nor too small.
Plus, the floor plan offers room for flexibility. For instance, when entering through the covered porch, a flex room is found–the functionality of that room is totally left up to the homeowner. A huge modern island in the kitchen flows neatly into the dining area and family room. Upstairs, the owner’s bedroom offers two separate closets. There is a second floor laundry room. Buyers have their choice of four bedrooms or transforming one into a loft. For even more space, owners can opt to finish the basement with another bedroom. In select areas, a wet bar is an option. The website advertises the price range as starting from the low $200s into the mid $500s.
In terms of energy efficiency, LED lights will be installed in the recessed lighting, and Ryan Homes uses BuiltSmart for their heating and cooling systems, which is comparable to the well-known Energy Star system. BuiltSmart is their whole-home approach to performance and efficiency, providing the highest levels of comfort while lowering monthly energy costs by up to 30%.
Customers have come to expect improvements and inclusions with regard to technological features. Richmont construction will include a pre-wired Guardian home security system, NEST thermostats, wireless doorbells, and Wi-Fi enabled garage door openers. All homes will be equipped for wireless router setups.
Prospective homeowners interested in the townhouse model can visit the Wexford Model, which is also found on the Ryan Homes website. With the Wexford floor plan, the spacious design of a single-family home meets the convenience of townhome living. The main living level features a huge living room, ideal for entertaining. A private alcove sets off a convenient powder room. The bright and airy dining area features a bank of windows and is open to a gourmet kitchen. An island lends even more work space. A four-foot extension to the rear can be added for even more living space.
Upstairs is a luxurious owner’s suite with a large bedroom, private owner’s bath and gigantic walk-in closet with shelves. Home buyers can choose to install a separate soaking tub and shower. Two secondary bedrooms with ample closet space, a laundry area, and a hall bath complete the second floor. Options on the lower level differ by community, but all feature extra living space and an optional finished recreation room. The Wexford boasts traditional elevations in brick and siding, some with bay windows. This model is advertised in price ranging from the low $200s to the mid $600s.
It is important to mention that the communities on the banks of the Allegheny River have been hard hit with heavy rainfall in the past few years. Buyers are mainly asking about rainwater collection and landslide frequency, and Ryan Homes is addressing these concerns and acknowledges them by way of resilience design. Richmont Estates were designed with a storm water system that includes not just a French drain, but also a waterproofing foundation that can handle higher rainwater levels than in the past. Reports Mowrey: “Ryan Homes installs a poured concrete wall foundation and utilizes Delta MS waterproofing in conjunction with a French drain to ensure our homes are built to last. This system is backed by an industry leading 10 year structural warranty.” Most buyers are satisfied with these measures, since the foundation and drain is covered under their warranties. However, if they do want to see or learn more, Ryan builders will go above and beyond by taking a prospective buyer out to the construction site, visit a home under construction, and show them the details of
the system.
While the name Ryan Homes is well known, its history is not. The business began in 1948 with the company’s mission of “building beautiful places people love to call home.” They list “unparalleled customer care, innovative designs, quality construction, affordable prices and desirable communities in prime locations” as the principals that have guided them, having grown from a small, family-run business founded in Pittsburgh into one of the top five homebuilders in the nation. In fact, 96% of their customers report that they would recommend Ryan Homes to their families and friends.
Prospective buyers of the Richmont Estates will be privy to an upcoming marketing campaign, which will include the following sites:
Richmont Single-Family Homes: www.ryanhomes.com/RichmontSF
Richmont Townhomes: www.ryanhomes.com/RichmontTH
Facebook page: www.facebook.com/ryanhomesdifference/
Lastly, Ryan Homes encourages any prospective buyer to visit these web pages and to sign-up for the VIP List. Joining the VIP List will grant access to VIP pricing and give the first opportunity to purchase a home at Richmont. In addition, those who register will receive personalized updates via email. NH