There’s a picturesque little spot a few blocks southwest of downtown McKinney that has been used for athletic fields for many years. But North Texas builder Jennifer Clarke Johnson set her eyes on it and is planning 20 homes that throwback to the area’s historical architecture.
Johnson, founder and president of Olivia Clarke Homes, joined forces with Rockhill Capital and Investments to break ground on College Street earlier this month.
“We’re really excited we were able to pick up this pocket of land,” Johnson said. “We wanted to create and blend in with the historical architecture in the area and create something we hope the longtime residents will be proud of. We worked really hard to bring some historical elevation and also give a little modern twist with a good throwback.”
Coming Home
Designs for College Street include three different two-story floor plans and a one-story plan starting with three bedrooms and two baths. Some plans will have an office, and all feature a detached garage to complement the surrounding historical homes, Johnson said.
“It’s a ‘Leave it to Beaver’ feel, kind of a 1930s or ‘40s feel,” she said. “We did that strategically.”
Johnson plans to redevelop the land into 50-foot-by-120-foot lots for homes spanning approximately 2,300 to 4,500 square feet. The homes will be a mix of styles, including Craftsman, cottage, southern, and farmhouse.
“There’s a lot of really great looks,” Johnson said. “We have to abide by and get approval from the historical commission. It was really exciting for us to do this because, in so many other cities, we’re not able to use the different materials to deliver these looks.”
The historical architecture and proximity to a classic downtown make the development special, Johnson added.
“People will be drawn to that,” she said. “The floor plans and amenities have all the modern conveniences people will want.”
Ryan Griffin, managing partner for Rockhill Capital and Investments, said his team didn’t hesitate to join forces with Olivia Clarke Homes.
“We knew this could be a very special project, not only due to the location so near downtown McKinney, but also to offer new-construction homes that tie into the historic charm of the area,” he said. “This is a very rare product and we’re excited to see the buyer response.”
Land Line
A developer friend told Johnson about the site, and she was immediately interested.
“The land price was so high that there would not be any profit in it for a developer to buy and sell it,” she said. “It really needed to be something for a builder to build on.”
While they’re not quite ready to release pricing, Johnson and her team are already building an interest list, and those who are thinking about buying a home at College Street will be notified first when more information is available.
Johnson has been recognized by the Dallas Builders Association and serves on the elite DBA Women in Building committee. In April, Olivia Clarke Homes was honored with two DBA McSam Awards.
The builder said she hopes to begin construction on College Street late this year.
“The interest rate increase has slowed down our traffic and our sales,” she said. “Wait lists are a thing of the past. For the past two years, we’ve had a continual selling season without a cool-down period. I think this year we’ll go back to actually having a selling season.”
