From Raw Ground to Neighborhood

Photo: http://bit.ly/1GZwoVK

When you drive through your neighborhood, you probably notice all of the homes and the yards, but do you know what was there before all the homes and yards? Before a neighborhood is a neighborhood, it is just a piece of land. Maybe the land was once farmed or maybe it was just a piece of land with weeds, - either way it wasn't the neighborhood you know today.

So how do we get from a piece of land or raw ground to a neighborhood? First, the land is sold to someone who wants to develop it. The Developer then goes through a process with the local City to create an approved subdivision.  This public process involves following local zoning and subdivision ordinances and can take several months to accomplish.  

Once the City has approved the subdivision, the plat is recorded with the County, thus creating building lots that can be sold. Before homes can be built; however, the Developer must install all of the required infrastructure (streets, fire hydrants, streetlights, water, sewer, storm drain, etc). 

Each lot is sold, a new house is built, and a neighborhood is created! 

Note: The Developer is usually required to warranty all of the required improvements (infrastructure) for a year after completion and approved City inspection. Once the year is up, the City accepts the subdivision and all of its improvements. The City is then the owner of and is responsible for maintaining the infrastructure (i.e. if the road has a pothole, it's the City's item to repair).  *Exception, if the subdivision is owned and operated by a Home Owner's Association (HOA), the City may not maintain all of the infrastructure.