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Renwick
Contents
Description
Renwick is a Smart Growth/Traditional Neighborhood Development (TND) design composed of single-family homes and paired villas in six areas:
- Nora Hill includes lots that range from 85' to 95' and back up to old-growth trees.
- Hawksmoore home sites (up to 75' wide) are framed by a tree preserve areas and are set up for walkout basements.
- Cathcart Knoll home sites (up to 55' wide) are designed for alley-accessible garages located behind the homes.
- Smithwood is a traditional neighborhood design[1], also known as "new urbanism." It includes access to green space and a walking trail.
- Cameron Row features paired villas and a pocket park.
- Village Center is designed to incorporate residential options and business services such as cafés, restaurants and offices.
Features
As a smart-growth infill development, Renwick was designed at a pedestrian scale. Thirty percent of the total site is dedicated to open space. It includes pocket parks with trees, a Limestone community center gazebo in Cathcart Park, and fenced play areas for children. A trail and additional greenspace have been donated to the City of Bloomington in order to expand the adjacent Southeast Park from 9 acres to 16 acres.
History
The Renwick community was developed by WS Homes. Renwick is named for Renwick Cargill Smith, a Union Civil War officer, builder/contractor, limestone businessman, and City Marshall[2]. His father, Thomas Smith, moved to Monroe County from South Carolina in 1826[3]. He and his wife Jane were deeply opposed to slavery and were active in the Underground Railroad. Smith Farm passed down through the family and eventually became the Ramsey Farm.
In 2003, Wininger Stolberg Group purchased Ramsey Farm from Charles Hugh Ramsey, trustee of the Gail Glenn Ramsey estate. In Charles’ words:
- “This land represents an important family legacy of struggle, commitment, and joy during the six generations of Smith/Ramsey family ownership. It was imperative to us, the current generation, to strive to honor the past generations that worked the land, worshipped their Lord, cared for the ill, educated students, and enjoyed the beauty of this area. We feel the land is now in the hands of an organization who shares our vision of development that will honor that legacy.”
