Our Communities: The Meadows North
What fun to discover a new neighborhood hidden around a corner or tucked away in the woods. And when there’s a little history to go with it, it’s even better.
For you “old Gainesville” folks who can remember back forty years before we had “garden centers,” you bought your fertilizer and other supplies at Brownlee Seed and Feed, located near Santa Fe Community College’s downtown campus (which was a train station at that time). During the 1950’s, the Brownlee family built a home just south of where Glen Springs Elementary is now located. The home was in the rural area on a large parcel of land and was, in part, a chicken farm.
During the 1960’s, Gainesville grew westward and the neighborhoods of Brywood and The Meadows were developed just to the south of the Brownlee farm, separated by the city limits line, and homes were established off Glen Springs Road. Eventually the farm was sold, and various pieces were nibbled away over the years until about 12 acres were left.
Tom and Susan Spain of Albemarle Development Corporation divided the remaining property into twelve large lots – averaging about one acre each – nestled in the heart of northwest Gainesville. The Spain’s development company was chosen by the seller because of its history of creating small communities in the northwest from “left over” parcels, such as Lenox Place, Kelston Lane and Willowcroft.
The center of the property, having been farmland and used for horses until a few years ago, is a rolling open meadow surrounded by huge live oaks – some of which are more than 100 years old. The lots and roads have been planned in such a way as to preserve these oaks and the natural topography, with the large lot size minimizing the impact on the surrounding established neighborhoods.
For those of you who wonder about how subdivision names are chosen, this one was easy – the community is north of The Meadows, hence, The Meadows North. Homes typically will fall between $700,000 and $1.5 million, including lot.
Availability and home sites
- Lot 5: $199,000 This heavily-wooded corner lot has mature live oaks and existing well and pump for irrigation