Study: Neighborhood is fastest-growing

HUBER HEIGHTS, Ohio (WDTN) - The only things sprouting up faster than the blades of grass in one neighborhood are the homes, which is proof the place is quickly growing on people.

"It's a good amount of house for the money we spent, so we're happy with that," says Ayesha Bell.

Bell, her husband, and her six week old baby are moving into a newly built home at Carriage Trails in Huber Heights.

But they're not alone.

According to an analysis by Northpointe Group, Carriage Trails is the fastest-growing development in Southwestern Ohio so far this year.

The developer says there's no secret formula, just a simple agreement.

"One of the things that really works for us here is the partnership we have with the city," says Ken Conaway, Vice-President of Carriage Trails.

The partnership is through a TIF or tax increment financing agreement.

Basically it means Huber Heights is using the property tax dollars it'll generate from the new development to pay up front for things like streets and sewers there.

Since the developer isn't footing the bill for those things, the homes can be sold for less.

"It helps reduce the front end costs so the prepped lot for sale is going to be at a really competitive price," says Jonathan Mendel, Director of Planning and Zoning for Huber Heights.

Carriage Trails also has something else going for it. The nature path that runs all along it, and that will one day connect it to Huber Heights' new aquatic facility.

That and the price are enough for young families like the Bells to call Carriage Trails home.

"To be able to build and start fresh and get everything we wanted and pick it out for ourselves was a big bonus rather than paying the same amount but living where somebody already lived," Bell says.

So far about 164 homes have been built, and about 100 of those have been sold. The master plan calls for 2,000 homes by the time the development is finished.