Gabardine

Gabardine is a 144-unit community in south Austin off of Brodie Lane at Frate Barker Road. One unique feature about Gabardine is that it’s adjacent to SOS land – but isn’t in the SOS district. The price points start in the 160s for Flats and go to the $190s for cottages; however, any new competitors in the area will be subject to SOS fees and won’t be able to hit these price points. Ever.

Even better news? Gabardine has VAST open space, an amenities center, and is covered in trees. The developers specifically protected many trees that the city of Austin would have passed on. This makes for some rich scenery from the get go. Furthermore, the schools are fantastic. Baranoff, Bailey and Bowie. Exemplary schools at this price point? Unheard of. The competition – dare we call it – down the road will offer schools that are less than par.

But the fun doesn’t stop there. It’s a detached condo community. This means that each home stands on its own, but the yards and the exteriors of the homes are maintained by the HOA. No mowing! All of the homes have their own privately fenced yards, and each one comes with a garage. All the trimmings of single family living, with weekends free from the weedwhacker.

Plum Creek

On December 12, 2008, lookthinkmake received its first official client, Plum Creek.  The best part is that Plum Creek has amazing history. It’s a 2200-acre, master-planned community just south of Austin and has been growing since about 1997.

There are several real estate developments to represent in and around Austin, as Austin has not been hit in the same way as other areas of the US. However, the developers of Plum Creek have had an incredible vision for the community before it was chic to have an incredible vision. New Urbanism. It doesn’t happen overnight, and it takes quite a commitment to create a development that caters to New Urbanist principles. But this one has been planned from the beginning to do just that. And the history of the build out follows that these guys are serious about it.

So it’s our privilege and our pleasure to tell this story. What it means to those that live there, why others might consider Plum Creek a good place to land, and all along educate others about why New Urbanism concepts aren’t really new, but are experiencing a much-needed renewal.