By: Ann Kaiser
When Lakeside Development Company began planning The Residence at Foxtown in Mequon, Wisconsin, they envisioned creating a unique community that would benefit from the proximity and amenities of Mequon’s downtown area. This type of community had not previously been explored in the area, and the developers imagined the new neighborhood of attractive homes might evolve into a “true community, not just another subdivision,” explained Kyle Zabjek, Real Estate and Account Manager at Lakeside Development Company.
The Residence at Foxtown is located on Weston Drive, just south of Mequon Road, and will consist of 23 new homes oriented in three rows. Currently, 16 of these 23 homes have already been sold. The community was not designed with a specific population of potential buyers in mind, and the developers note that “a diverse group of people” are currently buying the homes, “from young professionals to empty nesters and everyone in between.” For many, according to Zabjek, “…the main common denominator is the desire to no longer want to maintain yards or shovel snow, or people that are downsizing their homes.”
The Foxtown homes, each around 2,000 square feet in size, are constructed with the aim of testing and certification by the Focus on Energy commission following completion. Two different floor plans are offered; home buyers may choose a design that focuses all three of the home’s bedrooms upstairs, and another that features a first-floor primary bedroom. The design offering a centralized group of second-floor bedrooms is optimal for entertaining, with a flowing, more open-concept first-floor layout that connects the kitchen, living room, and dining area. For those buyers who prefer the model with the easily accessible first-floor bedroom, the home’s second floor houses the other two bedrooms, each offering convenient walk-in closets. This floorplan still allows ease of entertaining in its attractive living room and kitchen spaces.
Home buyers will be given the option of adding a lower level as an upgrade during the home’s initial construction process, or as part of an additional build-out. In these cases, the lower level provides 400 square feet or more of living space to the residence, including its egress window. According to Zabjek, “One of the comments that I love hearing is when I host an open house, the first comment I get is, ‘Wow, this is so much bigger than it looks from the outside!’”
Lakeside Development Company utilizes standard building materials for their lovely homes; new homeowners are allowed to specially select more custom materials locally based on their individual preferences at the start of the building process. For this process, homeowners work one-on-one with Lakeside Development Company’s project manager.
Landscape hardscaping for the new Residence at Foxtown development is provided by Blaze Landscaping, while Sharper Image provides high-quality landscape maintenance. According to Kyle Zabjek, “Blaze Landscaping provides the landscape design based on what their landscape architects believe would be most beneficial and aesthetically pleasing around each home.” He expressed high regard for the work of Sharper Image as well, stating, “They do a great job keeping the landscape looking great throughout the year, and the roads clear in the winter!”
Zabjek anticipates that the Foxtown development may reach completion by the end of 2025, if it continues to follow its current positive momentum. Lakeside Development Company’s new Thiensville, Wisconsin community, two hundred Green, may be completed after that time as well. Zabjek anticipates that once The Residence at Foxtown is complete, two hundred Green may also gain a similar surge of popularity with individuals who “love the style and efficiency of the homes.”
Currently, Foxtown homes are priced starting at $735,000, but Zabjek indicated that additional upgrades available to potential buyers can raise that price into the $800,000 range. These upgrades allow buyers to “truly make the home unique and customized on the inside,” according to Zabjek. Buyers interested in investing in a home in the two hundred Green community will note that prices of those homes start at $699,000, and a similar appealing array of potential upgrades and selections can be applied to the purchase to customize each home.
For those interested in purchasing one of the new Foxtown homes, a particular appeal of the location is its unique array of enjoyable dining venues, shops and more. The popular Mequon Public Market, with its selection of restaurants, is conveniently located just north of The Residence at Foxtown. Zabjek noted that nearby local businesses “Foxtown Brewing, The Annex, Foxtown Station and Renard’s are all owned by the same company. They offer a wide range of provisions, seasonal events, brew their own beer, and were just approved to start distilling their own liquor.”
Within a few minutes’ walk from the new Foxtown homes, residents will enjoy accessing a bike shop, coffee shop, flower shop, and butcher shop. A grocery store is also located in close range, and restaurants like Café Hollander, Mr. B’s, a Colectivo coffee shop, and the St. Paul Fish Company offer enticing motivation for new residents to venture out and enjoy the camaraderie of other Mequon residents and visitors.
For Foxtown residents seeking a link to the nature-based activities of the area, Mequon’s Community Park and public pool are accessible via the Interurban Trail that runs directly past The Residence at Foxtown, with its entrance close to the new group of homes. Thiensville’s two hundred Green offers similar access to a range of desirable community activities and offers close proximity to The Village Park. At The Village Park, residents can enjoy a farmers’ market and live music performances in the summer months.
According to Zabjek, The Residence at Foxtown offers “a rare opportunity for people to be involved with the community,” as it is situated in an area without much additional direct room for housing growth. For those seeking a less urban dwelling space, two hundred Green is, in Zabjek’s words, “more of a traditional neighborhood due to the location and surroundings.”
Kyle Zabjek and his fellow team members at Lakeside Development Company look forward to the future of the two new communities, as well as to their positive impact on the lives of new residents. Each group of homes is ideally designed and situated to interact with the existing thriving area businesses and to further expand upon these community connections. In Zabjek’s words, “The development of the Foxtown area inspired The Residence at Foxtown. Foxtown would essentially become Mequon’s ‘downtown’ and have more of an urban feel due to walkability and proximity to all the neighborhood has to offer. This was a unique opportunity and something that had not been done in Mequon in the past.”
This article is from the
EY August 2024 Issue