A Fuller Life in a ‘Right-Sized’ wee-Cottage®?

New wee-Cottages at Rogers Farm, Central Park and Erie Commons bring freedom home

By Sarah Huber

Some of Boulder Creek Neighborhoods’ bestselling homes are among their most modest – but only at first glance. While Boulder Creek’s intuitively designed wee-Cottages^® feature a “right-sized” footprint, as Boulder Creek likes to say, these homes offer extraordinarily full living in a lower-maintenance, efficient home.

Following success in Blue Vista in Longmont and most recently, Riverdale Ranch in Thornton, where wee-Cottage homes were snapped up in record time, Boulder Creek is rolling out wee-Cottages this spring in two unique neighborhoods: Rogers Farm in Superior, and North End at Central Park (formerly Stapleton in Denver). A third wee-Cottage community, Erie Commons in Erie, is slated for a fourth quarter sales launch.

Jessica Champlin, Boulder Creek Neighborhoods’ chief revenue officer, explained, “The wee-Cottages are for who they’re for – by which we mean, you’ll know, almost instinctively, if wee-Cottage is for you when you see them. These homes are for retirees, professionals, young families – for people who want a smaller, lower-maintenance home with less to manage as they pursue a fuller life.”   True that the wee-Cottage floor plans are rather unique designs, Champlin says, “Time after time, homeowners tell us that this is the home they have dreamed of, the home they didn’t think existed. It’s a new way to think about what you need from a floor plan.”

The beauty of the wee-Cottage is at least four-fold: The clever design takes advantage of every square inch; the fact that these are single-family two- and three-story homes that don’t share a wall with a neighbor; the energy efficiency baked into a wee-Cottage by nature of its size and shape (though Energy Star rated appliances also contribute); and the lower-maintenance qualities inherent to each floor plan in the collection. “These are not ‘tiny houses’,” Champlin said. Rather, these are homes crafted for the Colorado lifestyle that puts a premium on time spent outdoors or chasing a hobby or with family and friends – instead of long weekends tending a large yard and scrubbing rarely used spaces.

Champlin noted, there’s been an ongoing realignment of American ideas about what makes a house a home. After all, the average family home size in 1950 was 983 square feet, in 1980 it was 1,700 square feet and in 2018 it was 2,600 square feet – and that is even as family size has declined. “It’s very clear to us that not every aspiring homeowner is seeking a 2,600 square foot home to purchase and maintain.  That’s just too big and too expensive for many people,” she said.

With sizes from 900 to 1,500 square feet, and with two and three bedroom designs, the wee-Cottages can fit the bill for those seeking a more right-sized residence.  Not coincidentally, it can also make homeownership more attainable for homeowners. “We recognize that Boulder County is a very desirable place to live, though the skyrocketing prices in recent years can really make homeownership feel impossible. We want to be a part of the solution,” Champlin said.  “Affordability is relative,” she continues, “as the definition is down to the individual.”  While it’s true that the wee-Cottages may not be truly affordable for every homebuyer, they are often the lowest priced, single family new home in the area. 

wee-Cottage at Rogers Farm, Erie Commons and North End at Central Park

Boulder Creek Neighborhoods is unveiling reimagined wee-Cottage designs that reflect the vibe of each growing location. At buildout, Rogers Farm in Superior will feature 55 wee-Cottages, with two model homes anticipated to open this fall. This neighborhood will incorporate Boulder Creek’s fresh take on a “courtyard design,” in which the homes feature both attached garages and front yard spaces.  Many are positioned to communally enjoy a large community park, others front tree-lined streets and smaller landscaped spaces.  Furthermore, Rogers Farm will introduce the latest wee-Cottage floor plan, the three-story Cottage Eight, as well as several new modern farmhouse designs. These homes will start in the high $500s to mid $600s.

Though not in Boulder County, Boulder Creek is getting ready to launch the wee-Cottages at North End at Central Park in Denver.  This final enclave of the neighborhood formerly known as Stapleton will feature 30 wee-Cottages of a standard layout – featuring fenced back yards and both attached and detached garages. Channeling the eclectic Central Park flair, North End wee-Cottages will be brightly painted and boast a sleek, original design. These homes surround neighborhood greenspace parks and easily connect to Central Park’s substantial path and park system.  “These will be the final wee-Cottage homes to be offered in Central Park,” said Champlin.  “It’s a great opportunity to capture the lifestyle the area is known for.”  Expected to launch for sale this spring, the wee-Cottages at North End at Central Park will start in the mid $500s.

Erie Commons will welcome more than 150 two- and three- story wee-Cottages at build-out, and are expected open for sale towards the end of 2022 (the interest list is growing daily via the Boulder Creek Neighborhoods’ website). Similar to Rogers Farm, Erie Commons’ cottages will be constructed in a courtyard concept – a grouping of homes that share outdoor green spaces that will be professionally designed and maintained, and homes will feature fenced front yards and include attached garages and parking pads.  Conveniently located close to the award-winning Erie Community Center and Library, and just blocks from dynamic Downtown Erie, prices for the wee-Cottages at Erie Commons are expected to be announced this fall. 

To learn more about wee-Cottage floor plans and availability at Rogers Farm, North End at Central Park, and Erie Commons or to join an interest list, visit wee-Cottage.com. Priority Lists are currently underway at Rogers Farm and Central Park, as some Boulder Creek sales managers receive multiple calls a week asking when the next wee-Cottage neighborhood will reach the market. 

For questions and more information, the Boulder Creek Online Concierge team is available seven days a week at 303.309.0088.