Lock, leave land, live in Edmond

EDMOND — “Lock and leave” isn’t just a lifestyle for high-rise living.

Caleb McCaleb is keeping it on the ground, Edmond style.

The homebuilder-developer’s latest offering, The Plaza at Town Square, will be carved from his Town Square neighborhood on the north side of Danforth Road between Sooner and Coltrane roads.

He’s promoting it as “Edmond’s latest Lock & Leave Lifestyle community.”

In a high-rise, “lock and leave” basically means owning a place with no responsibilities other than paying the bills:

No yard work, no home repairs, no security issues to worry about, nearly complete concierge service, plus a quality of life with attractions and amenities that are easily walkable.

The appeal falls across generations: It’s what many millennials, Gen-X’ers and baby boomers want. It’s especially desirable for part-time residents with second homes or multiple residences.

McCaleb said that’s what first got his attention — at the Porches at Arbor Creek, his townhome enclave north of Second Street just east of Interstate 35.

“When we built the townhomes at The Porches, we found a huge segment of our buyers either were traveling quite a lot or this was a part-time home for them in Edmond,” he said. “Some had homes in other parts of the country or in other cities in Oklahoma.”

The Plaza at Town Square won’t provide complete coddling, but close.

“Basically, when we say ‘Lock and Leave Lifestyle’ we mean that the owners need not worry about mowing, flower beds, snow removal, exterior maintenance or security on their homes. We have crews that handle all of those things and are included in their HOA dues,” McCaleb said.

That’s plenty.

“We found many of our buyers were traveling for work or play and just wanted

to be able to come home and not have to worry about their homes while away,” he said.

“Amazingly, we have found that millennials and empty nesters have very similar buying preferences and The Plaza at Town Square was designed to fit both sets.”

As for walkable eateries and shops, the Plaza at Town Square isn’t exactly a stroll from downtown or the Second Street retail corridor, which is probably forever beholden to car traffic because of the University of Central Oklahoma, not despite it.

So McCaleb is loading up the amenities.

Town Square Residents Club will be a 7,000-square-foot clubhouse with fitness center, yoga room and recreational center. Some 5,000 square feet of outdoor living area will include a fireplace, kitchen, resort pool and hot tub, event lawn, community garden, and playground.

“Lock and leave” is what people are calling this approach to homeownership, but the point is to be able to “land and live.”