Despite its unassuming name, Marvin, NC is a fast-growing community in Union County, North Carolina. The village of 6,500 residents in the 2020 census is a southeastern suburb of Charlotte, NC growing at a rate of 2.45 percent. Saussy Burbank is contributing to the increase with its Cottages at Marvin Gardens neighborhood. For this article, we interviewed sales agent, Thomasena Washington, about the village and the quaint cottage homes.
Before turning to our Marvin Gardens properties, though, let’s first provide some fun facts about the village:
A big draw is that the Cottages at Marvin Gardens is an age-restricted community (55+) featuring 25 single-family residences. The homes are under construction at this blog’s writing with eight remaining for sale. The three homes currently on the market are a three-bedroom ranch plan and two four-bedroom 1.5 story plans.
When it comes to 55-and-over communities, Washington said, the homes are often very cookie cutter. Many also lead with big garage doors dominating the curb appeal. Saussy Burbank’s designers went in a different direction. “They are very unique,” she said.
Driving down the street in Marvin Gardens you’ll see a collection of homes with tall roof pitches. You wouldn’t know from the outside which homes are ranches or are 1.5 or two story homes. All of the homes also have extra curb appeal from their brick or stone fronts, painted columns, and cedar brackets or accents.
Residents can also enjoy covered rear porches or screen porches and fully finished garages. Plus, in this age-restricted community, homeowners don’t have to worry about yard maintenance. Saussy Burbank is installing Bermuda sod and irrigation. The Homeowners Association (HOA) fees also cover landscaping and lawn maintenance for residents. This makes the properties “lock and go,” Washington said. “Residents can go and visit with a grown child or travel for a month knowing the yard is maintained.”
For adults who want to be out and active closer to home, Marvin is just minutes from Waverly or Blakeney, two attractive mixed-use areas with restaurants and shops. Walmart and Lowe’s are also easy to reach as are the interstates.
Saussy Burbank has also paid attention to the needs of this specific community inside the homes too. For example, Washington noted, all of the common areas are floored with SPC luxury vinyl which is durable and easy to clean. “It’s a better product for someone who wants worry-free maintenance.”
The homes are also being framed with supports in the shower wall to add grab bars later on if the residents require them. Curbless entry showers are offered in the owner’s bathroom suite where there is also a shower seat. The owner’s suite is downstairs in all of the available plans as well.
Throughout the home, the doors are wider to accommodate wheelchairs or walkers if needed. The doors are also 8’ high. With the 10’ high ceilings that makes for a nice open plan, Washington said.
The interior finishes are top quality. There are French doors leading to the rear porch instead of sliding glass doors. For those that love to cook, many of the gourmet kitchens in the cottages also boast double ovens.
The Cottages at Marvin Gardens community is an easy walking distance from the new Publix at the corner of Providence and New Town Road. “It’s close enough for you to get what you need for the day instead of having to shop for the week,” Washington said.
Another perk of age-restricted living in Marvin Gardens? There are no restrictions on children living in a residence or the duration of their visit. Plus, kids can ride on bikes under the mature natural trees. There are also sidewalks on both sides of the street. It’s even OK to build a private pool or fence in a backyard.
“Marvin is highly sought after for a number of reasons,” Washington said. One of those will surely be the Cottages at Marvin Gardens. “It’s a quaint community.”
Washington, who has been with Saussy Burbank 29 years, says the company’s “attention to detail is unmatched by other builders developing 55-and-over communities.” In the cottages, “you get all the charm of a Saussy Burbank home just in a smaller package.”
In addition to the high quality, you’ll get Saussy Burbank’s customer service focus. Washington said, “We are about making sure that we have treated people fairly. We rely on our word-of-mouth referrals and our repeat buyers, and we have lots of them.”