WASHINGTON CO. WISC. – On Wednesday, October 15 from 4-7 pm, the homeowners association of the Oaks of Jackson hosts its first ever community block party. Sponsors for the event include planners Vandewalle & Associates, as well as builders Harbor Homes and Hillcrest, and SEH the engineer/planner. The event is free for all Oaks of Jackson homeowners, in the spirit of building an accessible and exceptional new community.
The Oaks of Jackson is a new, Next-Generation Housing Initiative designed to create high-quality, attainable homes on smaller lots. The new 20-acre residential subdivision is designed to include 101 such owner-occupied homes.
The project broke ground in 2023 with the goal of addressing a growing need for affordable housing in suburban communities, putting homes within reach of workforce in their 20s and 30s.
A robust community engagement effort across many months helped to guide the effort to best meet the goals of the community. While smaller lots had been allowed in communities decades ago, that was no longer the case. Careful zoning changes were required to make small, more attainable lots possible once again.
Jackson Village President Brian Heckendorf explained, “There have been thousands of hours dedicated to researching and planning the Next Generation Housing program — so many ‘what ifs’ and ‘can we do this’ scenarios. Questions have come up in the planning stages to get us where we are today.”
Heckendorft sees a net positive impact for Jackson and to Washington County, “It gives a more affordable option to those that may be first time home buyers as well as to those that may be looking to downsize their current living situation and possibly empty nesters that are looking to retire here in Jackson or Washington County.”