Public gets a view of The Village
Hendrix College welcomed the public to The Village at Hendrix on Thursday to view the grounds of the first single-family residence and two mixed-use buildings.
Andres Duany, Hendrix's master planner, who is responsible for the vision of the New Urbanism neighborhood, explained some of the ideas behind the project. He said students have come to love towns and villages, and they prefer living off-campus. Also, he said, a principle of New Urbanism is that "Americans have a right to walk to places where they can get everyday needs."
He said people spend a lot of time driving, and American suburban sprawl does not serve anyone well. He explained The Village is more than just a subdivision; it is a place that will have grocery stores and other places within walking distance. Single-family residences, live-work units, townhouses and small retail will co-exist.
Duany further stated that the best town for building something like The Village at Hendrix is a college town.
"The college town is what gives this place culture," he said. "It also mixes up the ages. Because of the constant renewal (by the college), this will be one of the few communities that's continually mixed in age."
Duany continued, "If I really had to live in one of my own towns this is a very good candidate. The college is the greatest amenity the town has, and the town is the greatest amenity the college has. You'll be able to lead your life here without feeling compelled to leave all the time."
Pattie Howse is the first person to purchase a single-family residence in The Village. It is under construction now and is expected to be completed by year's end, according to information from Hendrix.
Howse said, "I'm thrilled. I feel like I am buying into a lifestyle as much as a house. I love that every house will have a front porch and you can visit with your neighbors. The developers and The Village at Hendrix people and the architects have all been a delight.
"I think there's a lot of psychology they've applied in the development. One of the things I'm fascinated with is a garage houses things, and a home houses people, so the garages will not be visible from the street. You'll enter through a back alley.
"Another thing I love is the architecture you can choose from, and the buildings are just so quaint. And it's not something we've seen in Conway."
The Market Square, which includes two large mixed-use buildings facing a green area, will incorporate commercial elements on the ground floor and student housing on the top three floors, according to information from Hendrix. Students will move into the new apartments when they return for the fall semester in August.
(Staff writer Rachel Parker Dickerson can be reached by e-mail at rachel.dickerson@thecabin.net or by phone at 505-1277. Send us your news at www.thecabin.net/submit)