We recently sat down with Rick Harris and Rachelle Beveridge of John L Scott, Ashland, KDA’s top REALTORS®, to learn what homebuyers should know about Ashland’s first sustainable cottage community, The Garden Cottages Ashland. Here’s what Rick and Rachelle had to say about this green community in Ashland, Oregon.
What’s the estimated completion date for The Garden Cottages?
Updated 11/11/2020: All of The Garden Cottages have now sold!
What’s the neighborhood like?
The Garden Cottages is an eco-friendly, close-knit community with neighbor-friendly features like covered porches, shared walkways, nicely landscaped common areas and private fenced yards and patios. Owners share a community-managed electric vehicle, dedicated covered parking (some with trickle-chargers for personal electric vehicles), bio-swale stormwater systems, covered bike parking, pretty mountain views, and a bee-friendly pollinator garden. Ashland’s Garden Cottages are located just blocks from downtown and very close to schools, shopping, and Ashland’s world-class amenities.
What are the schools like?
Information about Ashland’s well-regarded schools can be found on the Ashland School District website. For information about Southern Oregon University, click here.
What is the crime like in the neighborhood?
Ashland is a safe community with low crime rates. Consumers should contact the Ashland Police Department for crime statistics about the Ashland marketplace.
What’s included when I buy a cottage?
Ashland’s Garden Cottages feature classic styling with energy-efficient, modern conveniences throughout. Each home includes roof-top solar panels, water-saver plumbing fixtures, electric heat pump water heater, Daiken semi ducted heat, and air conditioning system. High-quality amenities include resilient plank flooring, stained cabinetry, custom interior lighting, quartz counters, tile bath, and Energy star dishwasher, microwave, and electric induction cooktop/convection oven.
Each cottage includes one covered parking space. Each home at The Garden Cottages is part of a small homeowners association that pays for shared costs—common area maintenance (including utility and insurance costs), reserves for replacement of common elements, and the Shared Electric Vehicle Program.
What are similar homes selling for?
The Garden Cottages is the first community developed under the new Ashland Cottage Home Ordinance, so comparable properties are hard to find. Cottages range in price from $349,000 to $363,000 and are well-priced given the high-quality features and construction in this enlightened and eco-friendly community.
How much are the property taxes?
Jackson County has not completed its assessment of the Garden Cottages as yet, and won’t be finished until 2021. Property taxes on this new construction project will be partially assessed in 2020 and then fully assessed in 2021. Please contact the Jackson County Assessor’s office for detailed information.
What sustainability and energy efficiency features are included?
There are so many! Each Garden Cottage Home includes these great features:
- Earth Advantage Platinum Certification — incorporating eco-friendly design elements, systems, and materials to create superior indoor air quality, use natural resources responsibly, protect the land and lower typical water usage. Energy-efficient systems include EnergyStar appliances, heat pump water heaters and semi-ducted heat and air conditioning systems.
- Net Zero Energy Certification — limiting energy needs through added insulation, ventilation control, highly efficient HVAC and water heaters, and energy-conserving appliances, and including installed rooftop solar panels to generate as much energy onsite as is used annually.
- Lifelong Housing Certification — featuring single-level construction, no-step entries, wider hallways and doors, accessible bath and kitchen fixtures and easily operated electrical switches, door handles and since faucets plus enhanced accessibility in the open space and walkways.
- Ashland Firesafe Approved – this is the first development that meets all of Ashland’s new wildfire safety standards, including fire-resistant construction materials, Firesafe planting, Firewise landscaping techniques, and careful site planning to prevent wildfires, protect lives, and enhance community livability.
How much do utilities cost?
This is an all-electric complex with installed solar panels and energy-efficient features. While the exact utility costs will depend on individual usage, electric bills will quite low, but owners will still pay the normal City of Ashland Street fees, sewer bills and storm sewer assessments.
Are there any major development plans for this neighborhood?
This neighborhood is a mix of new cottage construction along with existing homes in the area. Most land in this neighborhood has already been built out, though there may be small pockets of “in-fill” development of individual units added to existing homes in the area.
What can you tell me about the Shared Electric Vehicle program?
As part of their commitment to a cleaner environment, KDA’s Garden Cottage project is excited to include a Shared Electric Vehicle (SEV) program. The first of its kind in Southern Oregon, residents will have access to several hours a month of electric car transportation as a part of the regular Home Owner Association dues.
Each HOA member will have access to the vehicle through a scheduling program that allows them to book slots for up to three hours at a time. A 2016 Nissan Leaf has been purchased for the use and benefit of the community members.
The SEV program will be managed by a Limited Liability Company (LLC) specifically created to address the management of the monthly assessment as well as the regular cleaning and maintenance of the vehicle. The SEV will have its own dedicated parking space and charger in addition to the personal parking space provided to each cottage. This program will provide the opportunity for households to reduce to one vehicle or potentially eliminate the need for a car altogether, adding money back into the pocket of Ashland’s Garden Cottage homeowners.
Why do you love Ashland?
As we mentioned before in our last blog about Phillips Corner: Ashland is a vibrant and eclectic blend of entrepreneurs, artists, families of all types, retirees, hippies, university students, and professionals. Ashland is home to the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, the Ashland Independent Film Festival, is a Bee City, Tree City, and on most “Top-Ten” lists for beautiful small livable cities. Most of all, Ashland as a community is “engaged” people here care about their town and how best to preserve its unique charm and lovely environment.
Anything else we should know about the cottages?
Ashland’s Garden Cottages community is an innovative housing opportunity — a beautiful, sustainable neighborhood with a smaller carbon footprint, designed for a comfortable Ashland lifestyle — with homes that are ideal for full or part-time living.
Check Out Other Sustainable Homes Currently For Sale In Ashland
Or, contact our sales team:
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Rick Harris |
Rachelle Beveridge |
About KDA Homes
With over 100 years of combined experience, KDA Homes is committed to being pioneers in smarter home design leading the way for sustainability in residential development and green building. The company approaches every project with the end goal in mind – building a home for a new community to grow. KDA is a proud member of the Ashland community.
