Vesta Homes Nestled With School, Park in Small-Town Atmosphere

– Collierville Herald –

While the renewal of downtown Memphis continues to attract the area’s fast-paced city dwellers, the design of Schilling Farms in quiet Collierville is having the same effect on families looking for a more tranquil place to call home.

Schilling Farms, a $350-million development, is a joint venture between Boyle Investment Company and Harry Smith, chairman of Schilling, Inc.

The master plan for Schilling Farms was developed in conjunction with Cooper, Robertson & Partners of New York City and Looney Ricks Kiss Architects of Memphis, both of which also collaborated on the design for Celebration, Disney’s new town development outside of Orlando. The idea behind Boyle’s 443-acre planned community is to combine all aspects of family living.

This unique return to an old-fashioned notion of community is one of the reasons that prompted the Memphis Area Home Builders Association to choose Schilling Farms as its site for the 1999 Vesta Home Show. Vesta, which features several luxury homes designed and decorated by leaders in their professions, is the Mid-South’s premier home event attracting over 30,000 people annually.

David Parsons, chairman of the 1999 Vesta Home Show, said that Schilling farms is an impressive and ambitious development. "A white fence and mature tree lined boulevard greet visitors to Schilling Farms," parsons said. "From there, pedestrian friendly sidewalks, park benches, wooded surroundings and classic architecture are just a few of the features that make Schilling Farms one of the most sought after areas in the county. Our members feel that Schilling Farms is exactly the kind of neighborhood development that will highlight the standard and quality that our association demands."

The developers are honored to be the site of this year’s show.

"Vesta is known for introducing people to the finest homes in the best neighborhoods," said J.A. Hayden, III, vice president of Boyle. "Everything about Schilling Farms, from the impressive streetscapes to the dynamic growth in this part of Collierville, makes it an exciting and dramatic location for this year’s Vesta."

One reason that the site was chosen was because of its history.

"Schilling Farms is reminiscent of a bygone era," added Hayden. "Strict building codes and attention to the smallest details are helping us maintain the small town atmosphere and architectural heritage of Collierville."

A variety of lot sizes are offered with home prices ranging from $275,000 to over $400,000. The first phase of 87 lots, called The Neighborhood, includes a new Shelby County middle school and a small park. McGinnis Park provides the subdivision an impressive focal point with its magnificent, old oak trees, which are visible from 4,000 feet away on Poplar Avenue. The entire design of the project, including the road plan, was modified to accommodate the trees.

At completion, Schilling Farms will include 1.5 million square feet of office space, 90 acres of distribution space, as well as a variety of residential neighborhoods which will be served by a new Schilling Farms middle school. In addition, Schilling Farms donated the parcel of land on which a new Collierville YMCA opened in May.

Vesta chooses one community annually in which to showcase new home design and construction. This year’s show in The Neighborhood at Schilling Farms marks the event’s return to Collierville after two years in other parts of Shelby County.