By John English
Contributing Writer
In the southeast corner of North Richland Hills, just west of Colleyville, is the neighborhood of HomeTown, a master-planned community that bills itself as “traditional living with an urban flair.”
Originally constructed in 1999, HomeTown offers residents various amenities, from a 25-acre park system, which includes eight acres of lakes, waterfalls, and walking trails, to easy access to several shops, a host of restaurants, and the NRH2O water park.
Resident Dennis Davidson moved to HomeTown in 2007 and said he was originally drawn to the community because of the style of homes being built.
“The homebuilder, Cambridge Homes, built that European-style villa that you just don’t see everywhere else,” Davidson said. “And we just liked the layout. We have a rec center, a post office, grocery stores, and gas stations all within a few blocks of the actual homes. There are a lot of ponds and walking areas for people who live in the community, and the HOA has it laid out so that most of the properties are well-maintained. ”
HomeTown is served by the Birdville school district, and the median list price of residences in the community is just under $490,000. 🗺️ Here’s a map.
“We’ve got townhomes across the street from us,” Davidson said. “We have courtyards and rear entry garages. That’s appealing to a lot of people because you have fewer vehicles parked on the streets. You have a smaller house like mine in the 1,750 square-foot range, and three houses down you have a 3,500 square-foot home. I really like the craftsmanship that goes into the homes along with the style. I like the very steep roofs with high ceilings on the interior. It just makes it feel bigger.”
The narrow streets and courtyards lend to a more urban feel, but the assortment of wildlife, from rabbits, raccoons, ducks, geese, cranes, and much more reminds residents and visitors alike that nature is never far away.
One of the more interesting aspects of HomeTown is that it is still a work in progress.
According to the Arcadia Realty Corp., “upon completion, the community will include 850 single-family homes, 1,200 multi-family units, 100,000 square feet of retail and flex space, a city library, a performing arts center, a $20 million recreation center, a state-of-the-art elementary school, and a hockey and ice-skating arena.”
That arena is the NYTEX Sports Centre, home of the Lone Star Brahmas hockey team.
Although most of the conveniences are already available to residents, multiple homes, townhomes, and apartments are for sale.
Available properties in HomeTown typically range in price from the low $400,000s to the upper $600,000s.
The community is bordered by Bridge Street to the West, Mid-Cities Boulevard to the North, and Grapevine Highway to the South.
The HomeTown neighborhood website (www.hometownnrh.com) describes their community as the “comfort, safety and natural beauty of a new urban community, together with the warmth and charm of classic American neighborhoods. ”
Davidson said he would recommend HomeTown to anyone.
“It’s a safe, beautiful neighborhood, with large trees and a lot of green space,” Davidson said. “The city responds quickly to problems and there is very little crime. I don’t know of a better area for a family looking to buy.”
