The development, which first broke ground in early 2007, will consist of 550 homes, ranging from 1,000 square-foot flats in the downtown district, to row homes and single family detached cottage and estate homes measuring up to 6,000 square feet. The Hine Group, a second-generation, family-owned company based in Harrisonburg, is acting as a builder/developer on the 180-acre project.

EarthCraft Standards
All homes at Preston Lake are being constructed to standards established by EarthCraft House Virginia. EarthCraft homes are at least 15 percent more energy efficient than homes built to current energy codes. The residences will use less water, and will provide occupants with healthier air, thanks to an extraordinarily tight building envelope.

For added protection against mold, the developer has selected James Hardie's HardieBacker® Cement Board with Moldblock™ technology as the tile underlayment in the kitchen and bath areas.

On the exterior, HardiePlank® is the exclusive fiber cement lap siding at Preston Lake. "One of our primary initiatives is sustainability and green building," says Ian Robinson, Director of Marketing for The Hine Group. HardiePlank delivers on that objective, using natural raw materials (wood pulp, cement, sand and water) that are sourced in the region. The product's long life and durability minimize the need for replacement, and saves homeowners money on maintenance costs, too.

Moreover, the developer is installing HardiePlank® with ColorPlus® technology, a process that bakes the color into the board at the factory. This method provides a rich consistent color, and eliminates paint VOCs normally released during onsite painting. The product's 15-year finish warranty assures a longer period before re-painting is necessary.

Robinson appreciates how James Hardie is a proponent of "timeless architecture and the value of good design," a philosophy shared by The Hine Group and in evidence at Preston Lake. During the company's 41-year history, The Hine Group has become known for building homes to "exacting standards using some of the best products out there, including James Hardie." In fact, thus far at Preston Lake, "I don't think we've built a single home where Hardie hasn't been used in one place or another."

According to Richard Hine, President of The Hine Group, "Most residential products in our area—both rowhouses and single family homes—use the typical vinyl siding product. We specifically EXCLUDE vinyl from our Preston Lake subdivision for both performance and aesthetic reasons. James Hardie looks rich, elegant and historically correct for our architectural designs."

Hine says James Hardie's large selection of color choices, finishes (smooth or woodgrain), and product types (clapboard, shingles, and more) made the material an easy choice for Preston Lake. A "great manufacturer support team" is also a valuable benefit, the developer adds.

Respectable Sales Activity
Robinson says that the project continues to have strong sales despite a national housing downturn. Preston Lake is "doing surprisingly well compared to national figures," and surpasses all area projects in both sales and closings. Roughly 45 percent of homes in Preston Lake have already been reserved, and the builder expects to record approximately 20 closings over the next two months.

Paul Bosetti, James Hardie's Business Development Executive for Central Virginia, credits the developer for working hard to create a high quality streetscape at Preston Lake that makes a lasting impression on visitors. He says the builder is offering the entire palette of prepainted ColorPlus materials, which will help create an even more diverse and organic look for the community.

(Digital) Main Street U.S.A.
Construction of the Neotraditional-style Main Street buildings has not yet begun, but will eventually feature 450,000 square feet of retail and professional space. Robinson says numerous national retailers and restaurants, as well as local merchants, have already signed letters of intent to operate there.

Until then, residents still have plenty of other diversions at Preston Lake and its environs. A beautifully landscaped Village Green already beckons, and a waterfront clubhouse, swimming pool, dog park and several athletic fields will complement it. Plans for community farming plots are also on the drawing board.

Preston Lake is the first community in the Shenandoah Valley to feature a FTTH (Fiber to the Home) package for phone, internet and TV. The fiber optic technology delivers dramatically higher bandwidth than DSL or cable, providing homeowners with superb data quality and internet connection speeds. The fiber network will be able to accommodate future technologies as they evolve, such as 3D television or distance learning.

Great Outdoors
Preston Lake's proximity to the Shenandoah National Park and the Blue Ridge Mountains promise memorable excursions for residents, while golf and the Atlantic Ocean are also nearby. Both Washington, D.C. and Richmond, Virginia are less than two hours away. Preston Lake is "outside the hustle and bustle," Robinson says, "but still pretty close to a lot of great culture and fairly-sized metropolitan areas. It's a good place to live."

Prices at Preston Lake range from the $100's to the mid $600's.

For more information on the Preston Lake, visit http://www.prestonlakeva.com

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