Small, modern homes with urban farming coming to Fort Worth suburb
A developer is building a small “pocket neighborhood” in Kennedale with modern farm homes and lots of outdoor space where people can grow their own food and meet their neighbors.
Urban Chic Properties got the go-ahead to move forward with the Moderno, Live Simply development after the city council approved zoning six acres on 3775 Kennedale-New Hope Road.
Leslie Frazier, CEO of Urban Chic, said the company was looking for properties in the center of the Metroplex.
“We saw the property in Kennedale, and we met with city staff. They embraced the pocket neighborhood concept,” she said.
Jacob Sumpter, chief operating officer of MMA Inc., the engineering firm for the Moderno, told the council that the homes starting at 800 to 1,200 square feet will appeal to millennials and empty-nesters who want a home but don’t want the responsibilities of maintaining a yard.
“Millennials want that living experience. People don’t want to mow their yards anymore. They want a smaller, compact home that is cute and modern looking, creating a cottage feel,” Sumpter said in an interview.
The Moderno is designed with a “pocket neighborhood” concept where the homes face inward often into a courtyard or an open space where neighbors can gather and get to know one another. Pocket neighborhoods are popular in the Pacific Northwest, Sumpter said.
The city council also approved during the Sept. 15 meeting another six-acre development at 439 Mansfield Cardinal Road. That neighborhood is expected to have 48 houses.
Some of the features in the Moderno include raised gardens, a dog park, a fire pit and space for outdoor games. The 50 homes will have front porches, private patios and energy-efficient appliances.
The home prices will range from around $185,000 to $240,000.
According to a news release from Urban Chic Properties, the benefits of urban farming include promoting a healthy community, cooperation among neighbors, sharing locally grown food and building a healthy lifestyle.
This story was originally published September 25, 2020 at 5:45 AM.