Townhouses turning up, but with a new twist

The townhouse, traditionally a three-story attached row house, is popping up on infill developments around Reno but in a modified form dubbed a high-density, single-family, detached home.

The Towne Center at Virginia Crossing, just west of Park Lane Mall, rolls out Camden, with its multi-story units painted in playful pastels. From a distance, they look like traditional townhouses, but a mere inch or two separates each building. The reason, says Chris Judson, co-owner of SilverStar Communities, is to keep purchase of a unit simple: fee simple.

Highland Place, with 21 units on a two-plus acre lot in the northwest neighborhood at Robb Drive and 7th Street, also offers single-family town homes, as Cynthia Osborne, sales and marketing manager for West Haven Development Group, calls the two and three-story zero-lot-line structures. Each sits on a footprint of around 1,000 square feet.

Market research, says Geno Ferretto, development manager for West Haven, shows buyers of entry-level homes typically young couples or singles don't want the big yard to maintain. "They want a courtyard or patio, but want a turnkey place: lock the door and go."

The low maintenance unit also appeals to the aging Baby Boomer who wants to lock 'n go, says Bill Miller, co-owner of SilverStar Development. Its Grants Landing project situates 137 units on the Truckee River north of Mill Street.

"What people want is low maintenance and high lifestyle," says Miller, citing the results of focus groups. Urban infill areas command more density and cater more toward a younger market, he adds.

But infill sites are becoming more difficult to find.

Land prices have gotten so expensive over the past five years, says Ferretto, that developments must have more units, more density.

And not all townhouse buyers are young.

Gerry Martin, community sales manager for West Haven, says those who tour the models display demographics different from what she expected.

"They're not just upwardly mobile young couples," says Martin, "But include all ages, including families with teenagers who love McQueen High School, just across the street.

"Also older singles who don't mind the stairs, and want to be in the midst of schools, churches, shopping and walking trails. Many older people don't want to live in a seniors only community; they want to see children playing and people walking dogs."

And, adds Osborne, the townhouses also draw Bay Area people wanting a second home.

Despite the small footprint of the units at Highland Place, Martin says the interiors provide 1,500 to 2,000 square feet of living space with up to four bedrooms and three baths.

Camden's 137 units will range roughly from 1,200 to 1,700 square feet. The site, just under 15 acres, is adjacent to the five-acre Town Center shopping center.

West Haven plans three more townhouse communities, says Osborne. Canabria Townhomes at Sierra Highlands & 7th St. with 32 units. Models will open late this year.

Next year sees Marina Landing at Sparks Marina, with several hundred two and three-story units with a club house. And in Truckee, Royal Ridge, a mix of townhomes and condos.