Looking across the 206 acres that will become The Villages of Arneo, James Bashir A. Khan brings his vision alive with his vivid description of how it will look in a few years. Townhouses form a village. Apartments rise above vibrant retail and dining space. A community gathering green sits nestled in the middle of it all, with wide alleys and cart paths connecting to athletic facilities, a pond and a dog park. Behind it all, more than 2.5 miles of trails through 35 acres of woods wrapped around single-family homes.
Khan’s vision isn’t a housing development or even a neighborhood. What he wants to build is a community.
“A lot of our neighborhoods [in Fort Wayne] are really nice,” says Khan, “but they’re built for volume and not for things that contribute to the fabric of community. They’re just houses and sidewalks.”
Initially, Khan and some friends just wanted to find land where they could build houses for themselves. They couldn’t find exactly what they wanted, and somehow the nine acres they wanted became 20, then 40, then 60 as their dreams became bigger and supply was tight. Then they found a 206-acre parcel on North Clinton Street between Wallen and Diebold Roads and realized the possibility it offers.
“The idea is connectivity,” says Khan. “Lots of people tell me they’ve seen communities like this in other areas of the country. So, why not here?”
ObiCai Management Group, Khan’s company, has already invested millions in infrastructure not only to show its commitment, but also to help others visualize the community. Roads and cart paths, trees and grass, sprinklers and roundabouts are already in place and trails have been cut through the woods.
“People want to live in a nice neighborhood right away,” explains Khan. “They shouldn’t have to wait for those amenities.”
It won’t be long before the first families move in. Three single-family homes — including one for Khan himself — are already deep into construction. Eight others are in the design phase and will break ground this summer. Fifteen of 91 lots have been sold.
“Most lot sales have come from people who believe in the vision,” says Khan.
And it’s no wonder; the land is beautiful. Situated on slightly rolling hills and surrounded by trees, it’s almost hard to believe the serene space offers easy accessibility to hospitals, schools, existing retail areas, interstate highways and downtown Fort Wayne.
Khan is currently negotiating with several developers to take on the remaining parcels. It’s a big project, but it’s already moving forward. Within the next three years, he estimates, it should be easy for anyone to recognize its full scope. Khan hopes to see The Villages of Arneo completely finished in 5-10 years. He’s fully committed for the long term.
“If we want northeast Indiana to grow, we have to pay attention to quality of life,” says Khan. “From a business perspective, it would seem like the thing to do would be to maximize space, but from the larger community perspective, it makes more sense to create space that people want to be in.”
Khan wants people to understand that The Villages of Arneo is being designed to be a vibrant enclave — a place where residents can dine, shop and socialize without having to leave their community. It will be family-friendly, pet-friendly, dynamic and fully walkable. It will redefine what it means to live in a neighborhood.
“It will show Fort Wayne that we can develop this way. It has the potential to be transformative,” says Khan. “There’s a lot of fulfillment in intentionality, so let’s create something people love!”
Owner(s): President: James Khan, ObiCai Management Group
Address: 9062 Kepler Blvd., Fort Wayne, Indiana 46825
Phone: (260) 487-3647
Website: villagesofarneo.com
Products & Services: 48 villas/duplexes, 240 apartments, 91 single-family homes, 160,000-square-feet of additional apartments/hotel/or condo space, 80,000-square-feet of retail space, 65-70 acres of community use green-space, 2 miles of cart paths, 2.5 miles of trails