In the News

Tim O’Brien Homes of Madison introduces Ironwood Estates, a unique new neighborhood offering single-family and duplex homes in the Sun Prairie area.

The new model and neighborhood grand opening ribbon cutting took place last week with the support of the Sun Prairie Chamber of Commerce Ambassadors and two Mayors!

The Star wrote an article about the exciting ribbon cutting at Ironwood Estates in Sun Prairie, WI:

Tim O’Brien Homes cuts ribbon for Ironwood Estates

By Chris Mertes | Managing Editor, The Star

Sitting in the roughly 2,000 sq. ft., two-story ranch model home in the Ironwood Estates development, both Tim O’Brien and Don Esposito expressed optimism about the new development which offers single-family, duplex and condo lots for sale in addition to home packages.

Esposito and O’Brien were among the individuals representing the company who cut the ribbon last Friday to officially open the model home located just off Ironwood Drive.

“That screened in porch is really nice because you’ve got the restaurants, you’ve got the sunsets . . . it’s a great way to unwind at the end of the day,” O’Brien said. “It’s a really comfortable space.”

Sun Prairie Chamber of Commerce Ambassadors joined O’Brien, Esposito and two Sun Prairie Mayors — including current Mayor Jon Freund and Mayor-Elect Paul Esser — in cutting the ribbon to officially open the model home.

Esposito explained the first phase — the single-family side with 17 homesites available — is currently open. Roughly five homes are under construction already.

“So we’re building some momentum,” Esposito said.

On the other side are 17 duplex lots that Tim O’Brien Homes is actively seeking to sell to other builders.

“We will be finishing the phase in the center this summer,” Esposito said, referring to single-family homes.

Esposito pointed to a street called Scott Trail. “That’s named after Joshua Scott, who was killed in action in the Middle East,” Esposito said, referring to the Sun Prairie soldier who died May 28, 2005, supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom. “We thought it would be a nice way to honor his contribution to our freedom.”

Finally, the company will market the bottom phase, a single-family area in the southernmost portion of the development.

“It’s been great,” O’Brien said. “It’s been stagnant for so long. I remember coming here to look at it — I almost felt like a tumbleweed was going to come rolling by just because it was so vacant.

“We still have the condos here but it just didn’t seem like a lot of life,” O’Brien added. “Now you’re seeing this kind of vertical rejuvenation of this area. We’ve got the vertical construction going on — that creates a lot of excitement — and as soon as people start moving in and people start walking on the sidewalks . . . it’s really going to start coming to life.”

Esposito said Ironwood Estates represents the first development the company has taken on itself — taking it through the entitlement process all the way through the development process.

In Scenic Point — located just off Clarmar Drive where Tim O’Brien Homes purchased some lots but was not involved in the development of the neighborhood — Esposito pointed out that development is nearly finished and built out.

When asked about the typical homebuyer the company is marketing to, Esposito said it varies.

“Well, since we re-purposed this as a single-family subdivision, we envision that . . . families will be moving in here,” Esposito said.

“Probably families with [school-aged] kids, and we envision some of the condos will attract some empty nesters,” Esposito said.

“But we still see opportunities for young families and empty-nesters, and then move-up buyers for the single-family properties.”