Being a good steward of the land is something to which everyone aspires. That’s because we’re all connected directly to it.
But what does being a good steward entail? It’s one thing to champion the cause, but taking tangible steps toward that goal is quite another. It’s a challenge that one Nashville-based builder takes to heart.
“Middle Tennessee is known for its rural farm setting; more open space means more freedom,” says Austin Pennington, president and CEO of Barlow Builders. “Every time you develop, you have one chance to get it right. History will tell you where to go and how to get there. So, honoring the past allows for a bright future.”
Pennington founded Barlow Builders (Barlow is his middle name and has been in his family for generations) in 2006 while he was still a student at Belmont University.
Pennington is a third-generation developer. His grandfather was an architect, and his father was a homebuilder. “My grandfather did mostly commercial work, but he taught me what proper architecture should be,” he says. “My father taught me what it means to build something beyond codes, which is the minimal standard.
“Historically, Nashville has been in a race to follow the trend. But we strive to make things better than the way we found it.”
Those characteristics can be found in Barlow-built homes and developments. From land procurement to construction and realty, the Barlow team has been involved with more than 10,000 residential lots. However, the company is not in the business of developing and turning over homesites to meet certain quotas.
“We try for lower density,” says Pennington. “More homes are not better; better homes are better.”
That’s a lesson Barlow learned back at Belmont when he purchased a site in Nolensville from his grandfather. “People will drive to price or drive to quality,” he says. “That’s when I realized that you had to build a higher-quality home on the outskirts of town. If you build it nicer, it sells faster. That’s been our strategy from day one.”
Pennington credits his team for its commitment to building the Barlow brand. “I came on board 14 years ago when Austin developed his first neighborhood in Nolensville,” says managing broker Lorraine Mineo. “It was a great product. I saw that he was going to have a lot of neighborhoods that would grow and that a small company could become a larger one.”
Mineo says that the finishes are major differentiators in Barlow homes. From countertops to flooring and high-end treatments, Barlow homes are characterized by their meticulous attention to detail. “A lot of comments that we receive from buyers are that Barlow homes ‘feel better,’” she says.
Says CFO Bryan Solomon: “The floor plans enhance the livability of the home. Every space has a purpose; everything is functional.”
Barlow has four major neighborhoods in various stages of development: Avenue Downs in Thompson’s Station, Reese in Franklin, Telluride in Brentwood, and Monroe in Green Hills.
Avenue Downs is off Lewisburg Pike and Columbia Pike and only five minutes to I-840. The majority of homesites back up to open spaces, and a walking trail will lead to Thompson’s Station elementary and middle schools.
Located off Del Rio Pike, Reese is five minutes from downtown Franklin with easy access to Mack Hatcher Parkway. The entry-level price point is $800,000 for townhomes and $1 Million+ for single-family homes.
Barlow has partnered with two other builders on the Monroe development, which is on the corner of Glendale and Granny White Pike. Homes start at $3 million and 5,000 square feet.
In September, Barlow will return to where it all began. Telluride is a development that straddles Brentwood and Nolensville.
"If you build it nicer, it sells faster. That’s been our strategy from day one.”