High-end developments rise on narrow, two-lane former country road near Lake Norman
Crews are grading land for more large subdivisions along a two-mile former country road in Cornelius, Davidson and Huntersville.
The budding communities on Mayes Road signal the ongoing eastward shift of development from more crowded Lake Norman. Subdivisions are cropping up on former farm and woodlands east of N.C. 115 in north Mecklenburg and southern Iredell counties.
“There’s not a lot that can be built on Lake Norman,” Alan Banks, CEO of Keystone Custom Homes told The Charlotte Observer on Tuesday. “It’s built.”
Keystone is grading land for its planned 154-home Preserve at Mayes Meadow development at 12229 Mayes Road. Work on the first home is scheduled for July, with full build out in four years, Banks said.
Curvy, two-lane Mayes Road connects N.C. 115 at railroad tracks south of downtown Cornelius with N.C. 73 East (Sam Furr Road) in the Davidson-Huntersville area. The Mayes Road-Sam Furr Road intersection is three miles east of Interstate 77 exit 25, which leads to Birkdale Village and the lake.
Home builder JPOrleans is framing houses in Coventry Glen, where 80 single-family homes are planned at 12000 Mayes Rd. in Huntersville. Prices range from $774,990 to $974,990, according to the company website.
Mayes Road is still close to the lake and retail areas, has quality schools nearby but less traffic than roads closer to the lake, Banks said.
“Creating community”
Homes in Preserve at Mayes Meadow will surround a six-acre park that will include playgrounds, walkways and pavilion and seating areas, Banks said.
“Now we can really create community,” he said of the park, to be named the Meadow at Preserve at Mayes Meadow.
A 225-year-old oak tree in the park will be “an anchor,” Banks said. “It’s going to be beautiful,” he said of the park and overall development.
“A high percentage” of homes will cater to families with school-age children, Banks said. Others will be geared to empty-nester buyers who want to be closer to their children and grandchildren, he said.
The development is a half-mile from the Mayes Hall community at 13300 Mayes Rd. in Davidson. A sign on Friday said only two homes were still available.
Tri Pointe Homes built many of the homes in Mayes Hall, as well as Charlotte custom builder Simonini Homes.
Keystone is building homes on the 15 remaining lots in the development, Banks said. Prices range from $697,135 to $832,133, the Keystone website shows.
Planned road improvements
Preserve at Mayes Meadow received zoning approval in 2021 for its 90 acres, according to the town of Cornelius online projects page.
As part of the approval, the developer agreed to add a 100-foot eastbound right turn lane from Mayes Road onto Westmoreland Road; east- and westbound turn lanes on Mayes Road into the development; and a median on Mayes Road at the eastern entrance to the subdivision.
Homes are priced from $740,857 to $849,233.
The Cornelius Board of Commissioners is scheduled to consider annexing the property at its regular meeting at 6 p.m. April 21 at Town Hall, 21445 Catawba Ave.