Love Where You Live - Bayberry Crossing

Touring Bayberry Crossing, a development of single family homes by Boynton Construction that is now entering its third and final stage, makes one thing immediately obvious. The location in the southern part of Manchester near the Glastonbury town line is as impressive as the homes. The elevation is high enough to produce some wonderful views in several directions and, “The sunsets here are really beautiful,” said Kristyn Boynton. This location is close to shopping, services, eateries, and major roads and highways that make a commute to Hartford or Glastonbury easy, yet it is peaceful and quiet.

The Boynton family has developed a portfolio of seven different homes for Bayberry Crossing. Buyers may choose from this group of colonials, ranches and capes. However, this does not mean that buyers cannot make changes. Jonathan Boynton is quick to point out that customers are free to modify these plans in an effort to achieve a perfect fit for their lifestyle. Being a full service design and building company makes this possible.

The homes in Bayberry Crossing feature open floor plans. Buyers may select a home that offers one-floor living, with the primary bedroom suite on the first floor, or a more traditional layout that places the primary suite on the second floor. The number of bedrooms range from 2 to 4, while there are typically 2 or 2 1/2 baths. All the plans feature large windows that let in ample natural light.

When completed, Bayberry Crossing will consist of 44 single family homes, 26 of which have already been sold. Kristyn Boynton reports that there has been keen interest in the development. In addition to the desirability of the homes and land, the absence of age restrictions and the fact that no home owners association is involved has enhanced Bayberry Crossing’s appeal.

A long list of standard features make these homes an exceptional value. In addition to the open floor plan, these homes have beautiful state-of-the-art kitchens with plenty of room for large gatherings. There is also a standard deck or patio, depending on the lot. Oak flooring in the public areas, tile flooring in the baths and laundry, and carpeting in the bedrooms are also standard.

The workmanship on display in one nearly finished home was excellent. The oak flooring was smooth and free of gaps, while the painting — this home had an optional color package — was flawless, with crisp and straight demarkations between the walls and moldings. The company’s promise of luxury fixtures and finishes was convincingly fulfilled in this home.

Basements can be finished and, when the lot allows it, the lower level can offer walk-out access to the backyard. Even the two- or three-car garages can have extra storage room for recreational and gardening equipment.

“We have just added a new model,” Kristyn said. “It has three bedrooms and an office,” all on one floor. This office, or den, and the third bedroom are located away from the primary suite and a second bedroom, making it ideal for intergenerational living.

“We also have a cape with the primary suite on the first floor and two additional bedrooms on the second floor, with a full bath,” she said. Jonathan noted that in this layout, the second floor is on its own heating and air conditioning zone. For people who only use these two second floor bedrooms occasionally, this zone can be set to minimize energy use.

Bayberry Crossing is served by city water and sewer systems and there are natural gas lines throughout the development. Siding and roofing have been chosen for their undeniable aesthetic appeal and low maintenance requirements.

Backing the quality of these homes is Boynton Construction, which was founded more than 40 years ago by Kenneth Boynton, the father of Kristyn and Jonathan. As a family, they have developed a track record for delivering value and quality, with Kenneth having served in the past as president of the HBRA of Connecticut, the state’s Home Builders & Remodelers Association.

“You should love the place you live,” is the motto of the company. That should be easy in a Bayberry Crossing home by Boynton Construction.

“We use wider Windsor trim,” Jonathan said. “It really stands out,” as does the wide baseboard trim with a properly installed shoe molding detail. Selecting from all of the options available is simplified by the samples of trim, cabinets and counter materials that are on site. “I can show buyers many options right here, without having to go to a showroom, though we can do that, too, if the customer would like,” Kristyn said.

She added that all the plans include large closets and storage areas, including a walk-in closet for the primary suite and a pantry for the kitchen in many models. Showers also are five feet wide with tile upgrades available. “All the doors are three-feet wide,” Jonathan said, “and we can make a home ADA [the Americans with Disability Act] compliant.” Aging in place is definitely possible in this development.

These homes are also constructed to keep utility bills as low as possible. In addition to highly efficient gas furnaces and central air conditioning units, a heat-pump hybrid water heater is also standard, as are impressive levels of insulation and windows with energy saving glazing.