Oct. 8, 2008 -- Rosegill moving toward spring ground breaking. Southside Sentinal. Read release.

Sept. 23, 2008 -- Basheer & Edgemoore Wins Three Prestigious Monument Awards. Read release.

Jan. 17, 2008 -- Rosegill plan praised; unanimously approved. Southside Sentinel. Read release

October 2007 -- Rosegill joins celebration of 50th Urbanna Oyster Festival. Read release

Rosegill moving toward spring ground breaking

by Tom Chillemi

"Rosegill," Middlesex County's first large planned residential community, is moving toward a spring ground breaking for Phase I, said Pete Boisseau, spokesman for Rosegill Development LLC.

The first phase will be built on 105 acres west of Route 227 (Urbanna Road). The parcel extends from Urbanna Creek to Ivy Shores Blvd., the first road on the right when leaving town by way of the bridge.

The entry-way sign has been erected to that phase of the Rosegill community, and the remaining work on the engineering and design phase continues, said Boisseau.

The site plan for the 105-acre first phase was approved by the Middlesex Planning Commission in January 2008. There will be 123 homes on 95 lots, including 81 single-family homes, 9 two-unit attached homes, and 24 four-unit condos.

Most of the dwellings will be in the wooded areas. About 30 dwellings will be located on what is now farmland.

About 66 percent (69 acres) of the Phase I parcel will remain in open space, according to the site plan. The total developed area will be 36 acres, with dwellings placed on 28 acres. About 7 acres will be used for public roads and private alleys.

The homes will be in six size ranges based on five distinct architectural styles, with a wide range of exterior and interior options. Prices will start in the upper $200,000s and range to the $600,000s, said Boisseau.

The first phase of Rosegill will include a Harborside Park and Harbor Club, a seating pavilion, a pool with a trellised area and large fireplace, trails, and a kayak launch.

The Virginia Marine Re-sources Commission (VMRC) has approved the permit to build the kayak launch near the Urbanna Creek bridge.

In addition, Rosegill's developer has received a certificate from the Virginia Department of Health to construct the drinking water treatment plant for the entire project. The well has been drilled.

The entire subdivision will be served by central water and sewer. Rosegill will have a state-licensed and regulated utility for central water and wastewater treatment plants, as required by the proffers. No wastewater will flow into the Chesapeake Bay watershed, Urbanna Creek, or the Rappahannock River, according to the plan.

Rosegill is being developed by Rosegill Development LLC, which is managed by Basheer & Edgemoore, a leading developer of $500,000-plus homes in Northern Virginia and Annapolis, Md. Diane Cox Basheer of McLean and Deltaville is the principal of Basheer & Edgemoore.

Ken Thompson, who worked with Basheer during the rezoning process, has not been actively involved in Rosegill for more than two years because he is in the process of retiring, said Boisseau.

Rosegill Development LLC eventually will acquire all of the 848-acre Rosegill property, Boisseau said.

The developer has proffered that no more than 700 housing units will be built. The four phases of the development have been projected to take more than 10 years to build.

Basheer & Edgemoore Wins Three Prestigious Monument Awards

For Immediate Release
September 23, 2008

Contact: Natalie Hintenach, Marketing Manager 
703-849-8700

Falls Church, VA:   Basheer & Edgemoore recently won three 2008 Monument Awards for three different communities.  The Ballantrae Model at Cedar Grove won in the category of Single Family Homes over $800,000, Maymont won in the category of Site Land Planning, and the Beaumont Model at Whitehall won Honorable Mention for Single Family Homes over $1,100,000.

Sponsored by the Northern Virginia Building Industry Association and the Maryland-National Capital Building Association, the Monument Award recognizes superior home design and community site planning throughout Maryland, Virginia and Washington, DC.

A panel of judges comprised of nearly 50 real estate industry professionals visited Cedar Grove, Maymont and Whitehall this summer to get a first-hand look at this year's exciting new homes and communities. The judges considered a variety of elements to determine this year's winners, including floor plan innovation; the balance of design, value and curb appeal; and of course, consumer acceptance.

At its newest luxury community, Maymont, located in the sought after Vienna/Tysons area, Basheer & Edgemoore will build 58 new Embassy Collection homes on the 64-acre site.  Designed to reflect the architectural qualities of European estates, the homes will have stately brick and stone exteriors and range in size from approximately 4000 to over 6000 square feet. The community is built on a multi-generational family orchard of meandering hills with open green spaces, a pond and parks.

Cedar Grove is a private enclave of only twenty three City Homes in Fairfax convenient to I-495 and I-66, and the Vienna and Dunn Loring Metro stations, providing easy commuter access to major destinations in the Washington metropolitan area.  The Ballantrae model offers 4 levels and over 5,000 SqFt of living space with an open kitchen, dining room, and family room, two outdoor terraces, and an elevator.

Whitehall is an exclusive new community near Fredericksburg where estate-sized lots and award winning single family homes are set among over one thousand acres of pristine forest.  The Beaumont model is the newest design in Basheer & Edgemoore's Manor Collection, featuring a traditional, yet unique floor plan that appeals to the upscale Estate home buyer. 

Nominees, their guests, employees, family, suppliers and supporters gathered at the Monument Awards gala on September 4, 2008 at the new Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center at National Harbor. Winners were announced and recognized by friends and peers for their superior, winning design.

Entries filled 65 categories from single-family homes, townhomes and condominiums, to site and land planning, energy efficiency, environmental quality innovations, and high-end custom homes.  Developments from rural Virginia to Annapolis to Southern Maryland were represented. The Monument Awards are known for their intense judging process, examining and discussing nominees from every angle. 

"The Washington new homes market is one of the most competitive in the country," said Larry Nordhauser, Chairman of The Monument Awards. "The Monument Awards program is the most prestigious residential design competition in this market. Winning an award translates into true value for the consumer."

The Monument Awards are open to all members of the Northern Virginia and Maryland-National Capital building industry associations, the educational arm as well as the voice of builders, developers, real estate professionals and others working to provide a variety of housing products for area residents.

Basheer & Edgemoore is known for its award-winning, luxury-home communities throughout Northern Virginia and Maryland.  The builder and developer is best known for building communities that preserve a sense of place.  Basheer & Edgemoore communities include The Reserve in McLean, Farrcroft in Old Town Fairfax, McLean Place Luxury Townhomes, Charleston Square in Fairfax, Cedar Grove in Fairfax, Whitehall in Fredericksburg, Park Meadows in Leesburg and River Falls on the Occoquan in Woodbridge.

# # #

January 17, 2008

Rosegill plan praised; unanimously approved

Phase I will have 85 single-family houses,
seven duplexes and six multi-family
structures with four units each

By Tom Chillemi

It's been almost four years since developers first pitched the idea of building houses on Rosegill Farm, just outside Urbanna.

Last week the Middlesex Planning Commission gave unanimous approval to the site plan and subdivision for Phase I of what could be Middlesex County's largest subdivision.

Four phases are planned over 10 years on the 848-acre parcel. The developer has proffered that no more than 700 houses will be built.

The overall plan has been refined to meet public concerns voiced during public hearings on rezoning in 2006 and 2007.

After reviewing the Phase I plan last week, planning commission vice chairman J.D. Davis noted, "I think they (Rosegill officials) have covered it. They did a great job."

Commissioner David Johnson said, "The proffers have been exceeded in some cases. It's a very well presented package."

Construction could begin in late spring, said developer Diane Cox Basheer.

"We hope to have all the necessary permits in hand to break ground on land development and the water and waste water plants by late spring," said Basheer. "We plan to break ground on a model home grouping this coming fall adjacent to the planned Harborside Park and Harbor Club so when prospective home buyers come to look at the models, they will get a feeling for the first phase's amenities."

According to the plat, about 66 percent (69 acres) of the 105-acre Phase I parcel will remain in open space. The total developed area will be 36 acres, with dwellings placed on 28 acres. About 7 acres will be used for public roads and private alleys.

There will be 85 single-family houses, seven duplexes and six multi-family structures with four units each for a total of 123 housing units.

Most of the dwellings will be in wooded areas. About 30 dwellings will be located on what is now farmland.

Houses will be a minimum of 100 feet from Route 227.

Many garages and driveways will be behind the dwellings and accessed by private alleys. Some garages will be oriented so they do not face the street.

The entire subdivision will be served by central water and sewer.

Most of the dwellings are off the water. The three homes that are closest to Urbanna Creek are about 300 feet off the water.

Bob Walker of Deltaville spoke in favor of the site plan and subdivision application.

The developers still need to get VDOT approval of two proposed entrances with turn lanes from Route 227. Rosegill attorney Andy Condlin told the commission VDOT will dictate the timing and scheduling of road improvements and the developer will be required to post a bond.

Condlin's response came in response to comments made during last week's public hearing that the road should be improved first so construction traffic would have turn lanes. "I believe we would have a much safer operation," said Bob Calves of Urbanna.

Condlin said that the developer would want to have a nice, pleasing entrance when the model homes are built.

Two wells have been drilled to a depth of 650-700 feet and need Virginia Department of Health approval for the water treatment plan(t). One well will serve as a back-up well while the other is pumping. Fire hydrants will be served by the water system. A ground-level water tank will be built in the wooded area and screened.

The proposed wastewater treatment plant also needs approval. Wastewater will be treated to near drinking water quality and then dispersed underground in a drip field with pipes buried between eight inches and four feet, said Condlin.

There will be absolutely no discharge directly into the Rappahannock River or Urbanna Creek, he said.

The wastewater treatment plant will be housed in a building with architecture that resembles a vintage barn, said Condlin.

Condlin said the treatment plant will need a minimum of 40 homes in order to function efficiently. However, it must be in operation when the first house is built, he said, and the wastewater will have to be pumped and hauled for treatment until the plant has enough houses to operate.

Archaeological sites that were found and noted in the extensive report will be either protected or avoided.

Condlin also said land to be set aside in conservation easements is keyed to a minimum number of house sales in each phase.

October 2007

Rosegill joins celebration of 50th Urbanna Oyster Festival

The Urbanna Oyster Festival celebrates its 50th anniversary November 2-3, 2007 having grown from a small community event to one that attracts national media attention, including coverage on food and travel cable network programs.

The new Rosegill community has been a sponsor of the Oyster Festival for the last three years. Diane Cox Basheer, Rosegill's developer, was recognized at this year's pre-festival gathering of contributors for that support.

In addition, historic Rosegill has long provided prime parking for thousands of visitors during Oyster Festival weekend and that parking is available again this year on farm fields on both sides of Rt. 227 coming into the town from the south. Rosegill will continue to provide parking for the festival in the future as the community is developed. About 70% of existing farmland will continue to be a working farm. While not "official" festival parking sites, proceeds from parking fees at Rosegill go to support the festival and its scholarship foundation.

Rosegill's Oyster Festival tent will be located on Virginia Street in front of the EVB bank. Visitors are invited to stop by for the latest updates on the development of the community and to get a free cup for refreshments and a helium balloon for children.