Manteca’s first neighborhood with one-way streets — and Raymus Homes’ latest attempt to build affordable homes — is being proposed along North Austin Road.The Dolcinea neighborhood consisting of 41 lots is before the Manteca Planning Commission on Tuesday at 7 p.m. when they meet at 7 p.m. at the Civic Center council chambers, 1001 W. Center St.It is located immediately north of Camellia Gardens — Manteca’s first gated age-restricted community — and part of the Cedar Glenn neighborhood as well as the Heritage Ranch neighborhood to the west.The entrance to the new neighborhood is about 1,500 feet north of Austin Road’s intersection with East Yosemite Avenue.And where other at-market building in Manteca is pushing new homes past the 3,000-square-fooot mark, Raymus is going somewhat smaller than the typical footprint. And unlike homes built in early 2008 in Manteca when square footage for an average new home plunged below 1,700 square foot, the Raymus Homes for Dolcinea aren’t being designed as barebones. Instead they are aimed at buyers that want amenities but are looking for smaller footprints and relatively lower purchases costs.Toni Raymus hired a Florida architect who specializes in designing smaller, free-standing houses in such a manner that they seem bigger and have more effective use of space.
Smaller homes shrinking size not amenities