Just over a year after the ground was broken at Karwick Village, the first phase of the community is nearing completion. What began as bare land and a dream off Karwick Road in March 2025 has become a neighborhood of six families, with paved streets, poured sidewalks, fresh landscaping, and the small, everyday details that turn a construction site into a place people truly call home.
With Phase 1 wrapping up, we wanted to share where things stand, what residents are noticing, and what’s next.
From Bare Ground to a Finished Neighborhood
For anyone who has not driven past Karwick Village in a few months, the change is dramatic. The Phase 1 footprint is essentially complete. Homes are occupied. Families have moved in. And the infrastructure that makes a community function, rather than merely exist, is either finished or in its final stages.
Here is the current state of the site:
- Paving is being finished across the development, giving the community its permanent street surface and a much smoother ride than the construction-era gravel and sand that have been plaguing residents.
- Concrete and sidewalks are in place, connecting homes to one another and to shared community spaces.
- Landscaping is well underway. Grass is being spread across common areas so that residents have somewhere to set up a picnic blanket, let kids play, or simply enjoy the outdoors without tracking in sand.
- Drainage grading has been completed, topsoiled, and seeded, with straw laid over the seed to protect it while the grass establishes itself.
- The community mailbox has been placed in its final location.
- The dumpster pad has been poured and is ready for use.
Each of these items may sound small on its own. Together, they are the difference between a construction site and a finished neighborhood.
What Residents Are Noticing
One of the best parts of this phase has been hearing directly from the residents who live at Karwick Village. The feedback has been consistent and, in some cases, pretty funny.
The clearest theme: residents hate the sand. After months of snow, construction dust, tracked-in sand, and unfinished walkways, the arrival of all sidewalks has been a genuine quality-of-life improvement. Residents can walk to each other’s homes without muddy shoes, and kids can ride bikes. Small things, until you have gone without them.
The first community gathering has already taken place on site, exactly the kind of moment this project was designed to produce. Karwick Village was never intended to be just a collection of affordable houses next to each other. The whole premise of a cooperative community is that neighbors know one another, share spaces, and build something together over time. Seeing that start to happen, even amid ongoing construction, is a strong signal that the design is working.
Why These “Small” Finishing Touches Matter
It is easy to think of paving, sidewalks, topsoil, and mailboxes as the boring part of a housing project. The exciting photos are the ones showing framing going up or a family getting keys for the first time. Finishing touches make a huge difference for our residents and mark a major milestone for Homeward Bound Villages.
Looking Ahead to Phase 2
With Phase 1 in the final stretch, attention is turning to Phase 2. The six families currently living at Karwick Village mark the beginning of the community, not the end goal. Phase 2 will focus first on the much-needed Community Center, where we will continue developing shared spaces and deepen the cooperative model that distinguishes this project from traditional affordable housing developments. This is also where the community kitchen will be located, and on-site laundry facilities will be available at Karwick Village.
We will share more about the Phase 2 timeline, design, and opportunities for future residents in the coming weeks and months. For now, the focus is on closing out Phase 1, supporting the residents who are already home, and making sure the foundation we have built, literally and figuratively, is strong enough to grow from.
A Quick Thank You
None of this progress happens without the contractors, volunteers, funders, and neighbors who have shown up for Karwick Village over the past year. Every completed sidewalk and every bag of grass seed represents real collaboration among many different people who believe this community is worth building.
If you want to see the progress for yourself, follow Homeward Bound Villages on Facebook for the latest photos and updates, or reach out directly to learn how you can support Phase 2.
Six families are home. More are coming as we live our mission to create communities through affordable housing. Below you will see the finishing touches of Phase 1 at Karwick Village.
