The City Homes: A different kind of house, for a better kind of living.
The City Homes: A different kind of house, for a better kind of living.
In most American cities, the default aspiration has long been the detached single-family home—more space, more land, more responsibility. And yet, for many whose lives are full, mobile, and increasingly centered around experience rather than upkeep, it’s a model that no longer fits quite so comfortably anymore.
The City Homes at Birney Park were conceived with exactly this shift in mind.
Rather than approaching the project as just another collection of townhomes, the goal was to create a small set of architecturally inspired connected city houses: residences that offer the independence of a private front door and the familiarity of a traditional neighborhood, paired with a simplicity and flexibility well-suited for contemporary living.
A team guided by very clear principles.
To realize this vision, we partnered with John Sanders and his team, whose work reflects a deep respect for design, materiality, and craft. Together, we created homes that feel substantial and enduring—with the spatial generosity and design character more often associated with single-family residences, while very much without the kind of scale and maintenance that can weigh down daily life.
The guiding principle in each City Home is livability. Rooms flow naturally from one to the next. Light enters from multiple orientations. Outdoor spaces extend the interior in quiet, usable ways—up to and including the rooftop terrace. Throughout, there is opportunity for meaningful customization, allowing each owner to shape the space to reflect their routines, their collections, and their sense of comfort.
Designed with a particular person in mind.
To state the obvious: These homes are not meant for everyone.
The City Homes will appeal to a particular kind of resident: people who travel often, who value time over square footage, who want proximity to the cultural and social life of the city without the obligations of a larger property. They exist for those who appreciate design not as decoration, but as foundation—the unassuming but essential framework that supports and enhances daily living.
In cities such as London and Boston, this kind of home has long existed as a natural counterpart to the suburban house. In Raleigh, the model is less familiar, but increasingly relevant. As Birney Park takes shape within Hayes Barton, the City Homes offer a way to live within a historic neighborhood while maintaining a sense of ease and autonomy.
The time to choose is now.
The first of these residences has recently been spoken for, and preparations are underway to begin construction this spring. As the neighborhood continues to emerge, the City Homes stand as a reminder that sometimes the most thoughtful choice is not the largest one, but the one most closely aligned with how we actually live.
For those curious to see what the future can hold, we welcome you to visit Birney Park and experience the setting firsthand.