Heard about this new retirement community a couple of counties over on WUNC, my local NPR station while making breakfast this morning.
Constitution Lane doesn’t look like much now — just an asphalt road surrounded by vacant lots. But developer Brock Fankhauser has a vision.
“At 1776, our goal is to bring patriotism to the front porch of housing and the communities that we develop henceforth,” Fankhauser said at the development’s launch party last month, before leading a parade with an armored truck from the sheriff's office, motorcycles, a pipe-and-drum band and a huge American flag hanging from a firetruck ladder.
1776 Gastonia is a planned community for people — or rather, "patriots" — 55 and up. A highlight video captured the declaration with the Star-Spangled Banner swelling behind him.
“My purpose is to unite citizens and to do so under the broadest of commonalities, and that is our great nation,” Fankhauser said.
YouTube about: At NewStyle Communities, our vision is to provide our active adult residents with a quality, maintenance-free lifestyle in a superb and convenient location. The leadership team of our company has been a part of the EPCON Communities brand since 1986 and brings a wealth of experience to each of our unique development opportunities. With our ever-growing portfolio of retirement communities in North and South Carolina, our current and future locations are sure to make a positive and vibrant impact on satisfying the demand for The New Home Lifestyle.
Looks like this will be the first of several 1776 branded communities. Apparently based on this “1776® Gastonia” they have federally registered the trademark 1776. Does this mean you can’t call for a coup attempt using 1776 anymore? Not sure how to check if they really hold that trademark? I’m sure someone will tell me in the comments (hold space for acknowledging the answer here) Thanks Stwriley!
So, the answer to the trademark question is...yes, they have in fact registered 1776 as a trademark with the United States Patent and Trademark Office. This doesn’t mean that they now have exclusive rights to all uses of 1776, just that someone doing the same kind of business as they do (listed as “Real estate brokerage of residential properties” in the USPTO database) cannot also use 1776 as a marketing tool. So no other real estate developers can horn in on their scam, but anyone else doing a different kind of business can still use 1776 however they like.
And back to the rest of the original post
Here is the parent companies link www.epconcommunities.com/… They don’t seem to do a lot of branded/themed communities. The one over in Mebane just down the road seems pretty standard for these we do all the maintenance for you communities. Smaller homes (2-3 bedrooms) for those looking to downsize. Epcon communties has 21 states listed on their website where they have built/are building communities.
They do seem to want to focus at least some part of the theme on civic-mindedness. From WCNC
1776 Gastonia plans to also find ways to give back to the community. Fankhauser said for every home built, they will donate one home mortgage to a wounded veteran.
"We've already selected the couple who are going to be the first recipients of this," he said. "It's Sgt. Peter Clark and his wife, Army Specialist Kelly Clark. They were presented three weeks ago with this gift."
I don’t know what the limitations on these gifts are, but I can support helping wounded vets.
Apparently this is making a bit of a splash in the international news! as I found an article on the The Guardian
“We think that commonality and unification is a critical element in patriotism because it brings us to the broadest denominator of being in America,” Fankhauser told the Guardian. “We will shun any attempts to make this a political movement.” (Fankhauser donated to the Republican party and Donald Trump in 2020 and had previously donated to Republicans in 2003, according to Federal Election Commission records).
Still, he’s got the practiced manner of a politician whose conversations swell with lofty, vague talk about American values. It’s the kind of nationalist rhetoric common to movers and shakers across the political spectrum. It’s also the kind of discourse that can be weaponized – metaphorically and literally: The real estate company’s staff show off star-spangled handguns on Instagram, a gift from fans.
WUNC noted that “Fankhauser says these handguns were a personal gift from a friend and shouldn’t have ended up on the 1776 Instagram feed.”
WUNC interviewed someone that might be looking to live there
Ida Aldred said she knows exactly whom 1776 is marketed for — conservatives like her.
“I'm assuming that they, almost 95%, would all have to be of the same political affiliation,” said Aldred, referring to Republicans.
She was visiting her in-laws in the neighborhood next door to 1776. Her husband was already eagerly looking up the development online. Living around people with similar politics appeals to them.
“Absolutely, I would live there. Absolutely. I believe that it doesn't hurt showing your patriotism,” Aldred said.
Yeah I had a feeling that was who this was going to attract. They have plans for a couple of more of these 1776 branded communities in the Carolinas.
At least apparently the only flag that will be allowed is the official US flag. So at least all the other flags these people will want to have around will have to be hung indoors.