
FAQ
Photo: Swann Ridge, Serenbe, Georgia
The Village of St. John will grow organically, inspired by how traditional European villages were built, with care for both place and people.
Many of the most beloved towns and cities in the world weren’t built all at once, nor by large corporations focused on profit. Instead, they followed a simple, powerful formula—one we’re bringing back in a modern context.
The two key ingredients include:
1) Traditional Architecture & Urbanism
In the past, homes and buildings reflected local character, drawing on regional styles and natural materials. They were built at a human scale, walkable, and harmonized with the surrounding environment. This gave rise to unique and local places of character, like the Cotswolds or Tuscany.
2) Community-Driven Design
In traditional towns, no two buildings were exactly alike because each one served a specific individual, family or purpose. This created a rich variety of building sizes and forms, reflecting the real needs of the people who lived there. Homes, shops, chapels, and public spaces grew organically over time, shaped by the people of the community.
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The Village of St. John will be designed and built based on the unique needs of the people who live here using traditional architectural forms and in a village urban environment. Whether it's a small cottage for a single person, a starter home for a young family, a multi-room house with space for visiting grandchildren, or a workshop for a local craftsman, the village will grow organically, one home at a time, reflecting the real diversity of its community.
The Village of St. John will follow the principles of New Urbanism, a philopshy drawing from historic European villages, and taught by architect and urban planners such as Andrés Duany and Léon Krier.
Here’s what will make the village truly unique:
A Walkable, Human-Scaled Environment The village is designed with people at the center, not cars, and will feature pavered streets, natural greens and urban courtyards. Our goal is for most streets to be car-free. Vehicles will access homes through rear alleys, allowing the heart of the village to remain peaceful, beautiful, and truly human-scaled.
Architectural Beauty & Cohesion Homes and buildings will reflect the Modern Cotswold style, blending traditional design elements with a modern aesthetic. The result will be a new village with a unique sense of place.
Faith-Inspired Living Rooted in Catholic values, the village will foster a sense of shared purpose. Guided by our patron, Saint John Fisher, it will be a place where faith and daily life naturally come together.
Diverse Housing Options A real community includes people in different stages of life, and our homes will reflect that. From smaller cottages and townhomes to larger family houses, we aim to provide a range of options that make the village accessible to young families, singles, retirees, and everyone in between.
Mixed-Use Spaces for Daily Life Life here isn’t just residential— a family social club, oratory, offices, workshops, and other gathering spaces will all be considered as we are designing the Master Plan. These elements may be integrated either within or along the periphery of the village, all within walking distance.
Generational Roots St. John is not just designed for today, but for generations to come. It’s a place where families can put down roots, grow together, and pass on something meaningful. Whether it’s building a new home for the family, moving near the grandkids, starting a business or designing a beautiful home, the village will foster a sense of legacy—a place worth building, belonging to, and handing down.
The Village of St. John is inspired by traditional Catholic culture and values, but is not an exclusively faith based community. Our vision is to create a place where traditional values can be more easily lived.
While many residents will share a Catholic faith, you do not need to be Catholic to live here. We welcome all who are drawn to this way of life: one that values people and family, set in the context of traditional urbanism, walkable living, timeless architecture, and a shared commitment to building something lasting and meaningful.
While the timeline may shift by 3 to 6 months as the project progresses, we’ve outlined a general progression for the key phases:
Design – Spring & Summer 2025: The Master Plan will take shape from May through July 2025. This process will include private interviews, public feedback sessions, and the presentation of urban and architectural design proposals. These designs will be refined with community input until a final plan is approved.
Engineering – Fall 2025: Once the Master Plan is finalized, detailed civil engineering, utility layouts, and architectural plans will be developed.
Roads & Utilities – Winter 2025/2026: Infrastructure work, including roads and utilities, will begin in late 2025 and continue into early 2026.
Homes – Spring & Summer 2026: Construction of the first homes is expected to begin in Spring 2026, with completion anticipated within 8 to 10 months.
The Village of St. John is named in honor of Saint John Fisher, an English priest, bishop, and martyr. He was chosen as the village’s patron from the very beginning, even before the land was secured. From the outset, we entrusted the vision of the project to his guidance and intercession.
A beautiful sign of his presence came when, after months of prayer and unforeseen delays, the land for the village officially closed on June 22nd—his feast day. We saw this as a providential confirmation of his support, and we continue to seek his prayers as the village takes shape.