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When looking for a place to live, Justin and Rhoda Goehring settled on a new home in Taylor Ridge, one of Adams’ newest housing plans under construction.

For Justin Goehring, it was a return to his roots, as he grew up in nearby Mars. For the couple, they wanted a home in the Mars Area School District for their young children.

“This is our forever home,” said Goehring, 35, as the couple’s children, Ainsley, 15 months, and Camdyn, 2½, played underfoot.

Adams is undergoing substantial growth as the local economy rebounds from the downturn that hit the nation in 2008. The township said it has four residential plans under construction, and several other existing housing plans have new houses under way.

“We’re benefitting where there’s a lot of people who work in Cranberry but want to live in Adams,” Gary Peaco, the township’s code enforcement officer said.

According to the most recent census figures, Adams’ population rose 6 percent from 2010 to 2012, to 12,361 people.

Carol Knox and her family have lived in the Adams Ridge plan for nearly 20 years and said that despite the growth, the township maintains its small-town feel.

“I feel safe up here,” Knox, 49, said.

Adams’ growth differs from nearby Cranberry’s in several ways, Peaco said.

“We don’t have the density that Cranberry has,” Peaco said. “We’re able to offer a lot of upscale housing.”

Houses that were selling for $400,000 or $500,000 four or five years ago, Peaco said, are going for $550,000 or $600,000.

“The lot sizes are a little larger (than in Cranberry),” Peaco said. “We’ve tried to keep it rural. With larger lots comes a bigger house.”

Where parts of Myoma Road were nothing more than dirt paths in the 1970s, Peaco said portions are now known as “Millionaire Row.”

Several farmers have sold large parcels of land to developers in recent years, allowing for large housing plans, including South Village at the Pointe with 158 townhouses.

“Farmers are seeing the big dollar signs,” Peaco said, “They’re seeing $2 million for 50 acres of land. Land values have become so great in this area. It’s a prime location. Whatever can be developed, developers are trying to do it.”

Location is key, with easy access to Interstate 79, the Pennsylvania Turnpike and Route 8.

The road system remains a concern, however. Peaco said the township lacks a main road that compares to Cranberry’s multi-lane Route 228 and Route 19. A bridge replacement project includes widening about a mile of Route 228, and township officials and residents hope that helps ease some of the steady congestion along the road. Long-term PennDOT plans call for widening Route 228 to at least four lanes from Franklin Road to Mars Valencia Road.

Several families said the size and reputation of the Mars Area School District drew them to the township. The school district is the third-largest in Butler County, with nearly 3,300 students.

Joe Schmitt, 31, an Adams Ridge resident, said that when a friend recently was looking at school districts in northern Allegheny County, he urged him to look at Mars because of the district’s size and lower Butler County taxes. Schmitt and his wife, Christi, 33, moved to the township in 2008, and have two children, Layla, 1, and Reanna, 3.

With the retail development and other amenities in Adams and nearby Cranberry, Schmitt said, “It’s like our own little city here.”

Still to be determined is what effect the Bishop Wuerl North Catholic High School, along Route 228 in Cranberry, just a few miles from Adams, will have on the population and the school district.

The Rev. Charles Bober, principal of North Catholic, said that he doesn’t believe people will move from Pittsburgh to Adams and Cranberry because of the school, which is set to open in August.

“Remaining where they live and utilizing busing or driving would be much more likely. However, families that are moving into the region from other parts of the country may be making a choice for Adams/Cranberry because there is a choice for a quality, faith-based alternative in the area,” Bober said.

Bill Vidonic is a staff writer for Trib Total Media. He can be reached at 412-380-5621 or bvidonic@tribweb.com.

Weaver Homes is proud to be the 7^th largest Pittsburgh-area homebuilder on The List, a ranking compiled annually by the Pittsburgh Business Times.

The Pittsburgh Business Times lists are an annual ranking of hundreds of the hottest area companies in their fields. This ranking appeared in the 09/27-10/04/2013 issue of the Pittsburgh Business Times, and is based on figures submitted from 2012. It is the 5^th year that Weaver Homes has been named to The List.

The List of Largest Pittsburgh-Area Homebuilders is based on the number of house/unit starts and the number of houses/units sold during the previous year submitted by Pittsburgh homebuilders. The Pittsburgh Business Times ranks the builders based on those figures.

Come see for yourself why Weaver Homes is the 7^th largest homebuilder in Pittsburgh!  For information about Weaver Homes, please call 855-374-2664

Here at Weaver Homes we have floor plans that will fit anyone’s needs! For example, our newest model – The Regent.  This is a great layout, with a really open floor plan – perfect for active families.

The Regent, featuring 1,837 square feet of living space, has 3 bedrooms, 2.5 baths, and a 2-car garage. This spacious floor plan has the family room, dining area and kitchen open to each other for a large, airy living space.  Plus, the eat-in kitchen has a large island! The first floor also has 9-foot ceilings, a separate den, and a convenient drop zone when you come in from the garage.

This innovative design includes a first floor master suite with a private bath and huge walk-in closet. There are two additional bedrooms and a full bath upstairs, and there is an optional finished basement. The Regent floor plan is Energy Star certified.

If you are looking for an open layout and a first floor master, this could be the home for YOU! The Regent floor plan is available at Vista Ridge, Bellevue Park, Sonoma Valley, Links at Deer Run, and as a Home Built On Your Lot.

For more information, please call 855-374-2664

In Mars Area: Volunteer of the Year, Bonnie Weaver

Bonnie began volunteering in 1990 when she approached the Mars School Board to seek permission to install lights at the Mars Area Athletic Complex at not cost to the district. Through many spaghetti dinners and focal businesses donating their time and labor, we were able to “light the field” for the last football game that season. She then decided to run for Mars School Board and was elected in 1991, where she still serves today. She has also worked with the Mars Area foundation for Education Excellence (MAFEE) as the treasurer. MAFEE is now part of Mars Planet Foundation, which Bonnie helped establish.

Small Non-Profit of the Year :Mars Planet Foundation

Bonnie Weaver serves as the President of the Foundation Board. The Foundation endeavors to enhance the educational opportunities of all Mars Area School District students beyond the regular educational program. The board members of the foundation are very dedicated to the Mars Area School district community. They work hard to help the students of the Mars Community. They are a relatively new foundation and have been able to donate well over $5,000 each year to the school district.

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