The new housing development, Stonehaven, sits in the middle of nowhere, 6 miles west of Warrenton and 12 miles north of Culpeper. Some thought it might provide “affordable housing” for the area, but with homes starting “in the low $500s”, I don’t think so. Or maybe my definition of affordable housing is a bit different from others.

Stonehaven is 60 miles west of Washington DC, and about 25 miles east of Skyline Drive and the Appalachian Trail. The development, which could eventually include over 750 homes, is in Culpeper County, about a mile from the border of Fauquier County and a couple miles from Rappahannock County. Both Fauquier and Rappahannock have strict zoning requirements in place and a housing development of this magnitude couldn’t just pop up in the middle of nowhere. Culpeper County like Loudoun and Prince William, is a bit different and pretty much open for business.

The land was wooded and the Rappahannock River crosses to the east of the property. Longstreet and Jackson would have passed nearby on their way to the Battle of Second Manassas in 1862.

There is an older development just a bit down Rixeyville Road. While there is a golf course nearby, a gas station across the highway and a brewery about 4 miles away, there are no other businesses in the area. There are no immediate plans for a grocery store, or to my knowledge, even a 7-11 in the near future, although the “master plan” has retail shops, office space and a grocery store coming “soon”. In the meantime, If the residents want to grocery shop, shop in general, go out to dinner or have a couple of drinks at a bar, they need to make the drive to Warrenton or Culpeper.

Due to the restrictions on growth in Fauquier, housing is tight in the area and there are ongoing discussions about the need for affordable housing – for teachers, police officers and others. When this property development was first announced, there was, on one side angst about the growth, and on the other, the hope for at least some affordable housing.

Unfortunately, the concern about growth was real, while the hope for affordable housing proved false. We ended up with a worst of both worlds scenario. They paved paradise, put in a housing development and are adding hundreds of cars to our local roads. And, PS, they did nothing to improve affordable housing. While the houses are starting in the “low $500s”, when I looked online, one of the homes is listed at over $800K.

Yep, they are building hundreds of cookie-cutter houses and people are already moving in. I guess someone said “Build it, and they will come.” Still, it’s all a little sad.

I suppose there’s mild hope. They just put up a new sign announcing townhomes starting from the low $400s. Is it affordable yet?

Addendum:

Stonehaven is about a 15 minute drive on back roads from our home in Fauquier County.