Buffington Homes Rescues Brighton Farms Subdivision

Fayetteville-based builder Buffington Homes of Arkansas is planning to revive an abandoned residential project in Benton County.

Brighton Farms, a 41.1-acre development between Bright Road and Morning Star Road in southwest Bentonville, will be developed into 171 buildable lots.

The subdivision, in close proximity to the Wildwood and Brighton Heights additions, will also include three common park areas, containing a swimming pool, playground equipment, gazebos, outdoor grilling facilities and a covered structure.

Buffington Homes, through its Brighton Bentonville LLC, recently closed on the purchase of the bank-owned land for $1.67 million. Clay Carlton and Mike Lamberth are managing members of the LLC.

Chambers Bank of Danville is financing the project.

Paul Esterer of Newmark Grubb Arkansas in Bentonville had the listing.

“We were very pleased to work with a reputable builder like Buffington Homes,” Esterer said. “From our standpoint, we are excited about passing that property on to the right owner.”

Homes in the subdivision will range in size from 1,900 SF to 2,700 SF and in price from $220,000 to a little more than $300,000.

There are one- and two-story floor plans. The architectural style of the homes will be French country design consisting of full brick and/or stone exteriors.

Jorgenson & Associates engineering firm of Fayetteville, Kipp-Flores Architects of Austin, Texas, and landscape design form DK Design of Fayetteville are all working on the project.

The subdivision was originally being developed by LandQuest Communities LLC of Michigan in 2005. The project was almost ready for final plat approval when the developers ended construction, coinciding with a deteriorating economy.

The property fell into foreclosure and was acquired by Regions Bank in 2009, but virtually all water, sewer, curb and storm drain infrastructure was installed, most of the electrical conduit was installed and the street base was laid.

Carlton said the infrastructure is being tested, and he hopes to get final plat approval in 90 days.

“Weather permitting, we hope to be building the first homes within 120 days,” he said.