WESTERLY WHAT’S ALL THE BUZZ? BRIE FOWLER
Have you heard the buzz about Westerly, the new, one-of-a-kind neighborhood in Erie? Westerly is a meticulously planned 400-acre community, featuring approximately 1,200 homes with diverse designs within a traditional neighborhood setting, creating the perfect environment to enjoy a life well lived. Westerly is rooted in the visionary ideas of Tim Downey, founder and CEO of Southern Land Company (the developer of Westerly). Mr. Downey has long admired the Walt Disney Company and the magical experiences it creates for people; and early in his life, he developed a deep appreciation for well-designed, classic neighborhoods from the past that evoke feelings of community and comfort, like Cherry Creek in Denver and Highland Park in Texas. Drawing inspiration from Disney and iconic neighborhoods, as well as his own experience growing up in small-town Farmington, Michigan, Mr. Downey believed new neighborhoods could— and should—offer timelessly beautiful places and truly special experiences. This belief, paired with an immersive, multi-year study of the Erie community, ultimately led Southern Land Company to conceptualize—and now realize—Westerly. Westerly opened to homeowners earlier this year, and it’s already easy to observe the level of thought put into every part of the community. For instance, when planning the layout of Westerly, the design team at Southern Land Company made sure that each park within the community offers views of Longs Peak, no matter where you are standing in the parks. Additionally, while Southern Land Company’s homebuilding group, SLC Homes, is one of the homebuilders in Westerly, the company selected two other accomplished homebuilders with Colorado roots—Brightland Homes and McStain Neighborhoods—to help make Westerly a reality. Together, the three builders deliver carefully constructed, design-centric homes that boast high-end materials, elegant finishes, contemporary conveniences, and gorgeous, intentional landscaping. This approach creates a sense of unity yet variety within the neighborhood.
