By CHIP DAWSON
DavidsonNews.net

What courage! Setting off into the unknown to make a new life. Wilderness all about and the only shelter still to be built.

Meet Buddy and Barbara Ferrell, the first residents of Antiquity. In 2007, the Ferrells, who already lived in Mecklenburg County, read about Antiquity in the Huntersville Herald and decided to take a drive. They came down South Street from the north, crossed the covered bridge – which impressed them, they said – and decided to buy what was then a field with a “for sale” sign sitting in it. When they closed on their new Cunnane Group home on March 10, 2008, they beat the next resident by just seven days.

Today, four years after the Ferrells moved in and five years after the project was approved, the couple has been joined by 207 other households on the 130-acre site. Originally planned for 1,000 units and with Town of Cornelius approval for 702 combined single-family and multi-family properties, the current full build-out target is 413 for-purchase residential units plus 94 apartments — roughly half the original plan. Read the full story

CORNELIUS - M/I Homes Charlotte opened a new model home in the Antiquity neighborhood in Cornelius, with plans to build about 45 homes on Market Street. The builder already has begun construction, with three homes move-in ready.

Plans range from 2,168 to 2,739 square feet and include amenities such as rear-entry garages and dual master bedrooms – one on the first floor and one upstairs – to appeal to families with grandparents in the home. Prices range from $224,990 to $282,986. So far, none has sold, M/I homes marketing director Stacie Tinucci said, but the builder recently held a grand opening event and more than 50 realtors attended. Read the full story

Ohio developer Goldberg Companies/GCI Residential over the holidays started work on “Legacy Cornelius,” a multi-family complex off Westmoreland Road that has been in the plans for almost a decade. The developer plans to build 168, 2-story condo units and 77 townhouse units, as well as a pool and amenities building.  Read the full story

In the middle of a December night, a security alarm wailed in an Antiquity home. The resident called 9-1-1 and Cornelius Police arrived almost immediately. A search of the home and the area found a door ajar, but no sign of an attempted entry. Nothing was missing and no one was in the area.

But the next day, the HOA management company sent an e-mail to all residents saying, “…there was an attempt to break in to a resident’s home yesterday…be sure to call 9-1-1 to report any suspicious activities.”

The day after that, a security alarm company had teams canvassing the neighborhood telling residents that there had been a break in and that they should consider signing up for monitoring services. When questioned, the alarm company representative said they had learned of the “break in” from a resident who read it in a newsletter.

And yet, according to police, all signs pointed to the incident being a false alarm.  Read the full story

By CHIP DAWSON
DavidsonNews.net

Until three years ago, the eastern view from the Cornelius Town Hall steps was underwhelming—a huge evergreen hedge screened the railroad and land beyond. Since then, Catawba Avenue has been extended across the tracks into Antiquity, the hedge is gone and a massive 43-foot-high series of structures rises from over ten acres of land to the southeast. Among them are the Antiquity Heights Apartments, nearing completion with the promise of quality housing at affordable prices only a short walk from the town center.

Danny Ellis, a representative of Charlotte-based GEM Management, says the four buildings will be open in April, weather permitting. Framing is done, roofs are on and windows are being installed. With the bulk of the work now moving inside, only finish grading and landscaping will be subject to winter variations.

According to Ellis, GEM manages 8,000 apartment units across the United States. Based on the high volume of calls, he believes all 94 units will be filled within six months of opening. Read the full story

Based on information from the Carolina Multiple Listing Services, Inc. for the period 12/05/11 through 12/11/11 in Cornelius. Properties reported can be listed or sold by various participants in the MLS. Listings include properties in the Cornelius Zip code

SEE THE LISTINGS: Read the full story