A quick southerly drive down 15-501 from Chapel Hill takes you to a hidden gem in Chatham County. Outlined by new shops and growing retail space, you will find the blossoming neighborhood of Briar Chapel: one of the largest master-planned and green communities in the entire Triangle. Making your way through the winding two-lane road into the development, you begin to feel as though you are entering a quiet Carolina country retreat. As you continue down Briar Chapel Parkway, you see beautifully appointed homes lining the streets, filled with glowing families who came here to enjoy the beautiful North Carolina weather from all over the country.
Driving through the center of the neighborhood, towards the sports & activities courts, passing the gorgeous clubhouse and pool, you will arrive at Encore: an active adult community nestled privately within Briar Chapel. Encore, built by David Weekley Homes, features its own private community center focused on developing relationships and promoting activities within the neighborhood. The central hub of the community is anchored by Matt Wolf, the Lifestyle Director charged with coordinating neighborly developmental activities.
Matt, like many of the residents moving into Encore & Briar Chapel, came to the Triangle from outside of North Carolina. His goal is to foster an atmosphere conducive to building strong relationships among the neighbors residing within Encore. The energy and passion for building such a strong community was clearly evident from the moment Matt and I began our conversation and carried all the way through the end of my tour. To do this, Matt is focused on designing specific group activities for a multitude of interests to highlight the diverse backgrounds and lifestyles of the residents of Encore. Some of these activities include organized trips to artistic hubs such as DPAC, to residential evenings-out such as "Ladies' Night" and "Mahjong and Margaritas." Similarly, Matt has orchestrated popular groups such as book clubs and men's/women's golf clubs. For coffee lovers, there is even a club dedicated to enjoying the delightful taste of the dark brew every Friday.
During my visit, I was able to see all of the amenities as if I was an Encore resident. Upon stepping into the clubhouse, you are immediately greeted with an expansive, luxurious gathering space that is flourishing with natural light. To your left is a beautifully adorned fireplace, perfect for autumn gatherings when there is a crisp chill in the air. To your right is a bar-like area with a television and space for instructional classes or quiet conversations among neighbors. A few steps through the main room brings you to the private outdoor pool, a feature that is visible at almost every point inside thanks to impressive glass doors and massive windows. The sprawling patio features an amazing outdoor fireplace, surrounded by copious amounts of space for events and gatherings of all sizes. Other features that draw residents to the area are as clear as a bright blue Carolina sky: the great year-round weather, the ability to be close to family members living in Briar Chapel, and the opportunities to build strong relationships with new neighbors. There are miles of trails winding through wooded and open green spaces providing much needed room for relaxing nature walks, long strolls with your dog, and rejuvenating bike rides.
If you are interested in learning more about this unique up-and-coming community, or Briar Chapel, please feel free to send me an email: Jon@TheMovingExperienceNC.com; or, visit David Weekley - Encore at Briar Chapel to see what is available now!
